The Lion Sleeps

December 1, 2013 / Steve Lakey / 3 Comments

Joe Brown was clearly exasperated. After several minutes of walking around “Brite Sparx” electrical store, he had yet to find a member of staff. Then, turning a corner, he almost bumped into a gaggle of four. Joe tried to catch their eye, without success.

“Excuse me!”

Several assistants with ‘Here to Help’ badges looked over for a second, then carried on talking. After a time, they casually ease ‘Kai’ forward. He looks barely old enough, or bright enough, to tie his own shoelaces.

“Er, yeah. Wassup mate, innit!”

“It’s about this lion!” Joe produced his plastic stone-effect toy.

“Woah! It’s not gonna bite me or summat? ROAAR! Ha Ha! I’m jokin’!”

“No, this one won’t bite, roar or do anything. That’s why I’m returning it. I bought it in your Christmas Sale, back in August. I was assured by one of your ‘crew’ that it plays music and dances at the same time. It does none of these things.”

“It might be on ‘Sleep’ setting. Hang on!”

Kai snatched the lion, and pressed a combination of hidden buttons. He put it on the floor and stepped back.

For the next minute, the toy ‘lion-danced’ its way through several musical classics such as ‘Lion Eyes’ and ‘Pride (In the name of Love)’.

“Wow! Thanks, Kai. Have you got any more left?”

This is my contribution to Sunday Photo Fiction, based on the photo prompt, and hosted by Al Forbes. Please click the link for more details.

Click the logo to view the other entries.

A Bit of a Queue

November 24, 2013November 24, 2013 / Steve Lakey / 14 Comments

A slightly dishevelled and breathless Micky flies in and takes his place at the end of the queue, next to his older pal, John.

“Alright John?”

“Yeah, not bad Micky, how’s yourself?”

“Late night, John. Late night…You here for the buffet too?”

“Yeah, but I got caught up with looking at that Doctor Who thing. Them at Number 42 watched a re-run this morning.”

“Oh, Number 42, they’ve got the 50-inch Smart TV. Nice piece of kit there, John. Me, I had a heavy night on the millet. Never again mate.”

“Yeah, okay! Don’t we look a right picture here, all in a line. Like a bunch of usual suspects, eh? Things you see when you haven’t got a camera!”

“Ha! You’re right there. You flying South again this winter, John?”

“Yeah, me and the Missus are off to Brighton, for the bad weather. It’s really quiet then, when all the seabirds come inland. We do like the change of scenery.”

“Do you think this queue is moving at all?”

“Patience lad, you’ve just got here! Mind you, one or two here could demolish the buffet by themselves, if you know what I mean?”

“Hang on John, I’ve got an idea. LOOK OUT, LADS! KIDS WITH PELLET GUN APPROACHING! SAVE YOURSELVES!”

“They’ve all flapped it, John. Front of the queue. Sorted!”

This is my contribution to Sunday Photo Fiction, hosted by Al Forbes. Please click here for more details.

Click the logo to view the other stories.

Dummy Run

November 20, 2013November 20, 2013 / Steve Lakey / 25 Comments

Dating a conceptual artist could be confusing. She never used phones – too boring and conventional. But this was extreme even for Juliet. What was the meaning of the cryptic message on my doorstep?

Was she asking me to make up, or break up with her? Had our relationship fallen to pieces?

It was then I noticed the taxi parked outside. Juliet came running towards me, carrying two white arms and a bulging canvas bag.

She had decided to move in with me! I was beside myself with joy.

If I had known she was coming, I would have tidied up.

This is my contribution for Friday Fictioneers 100 Word Challenge, using the photo prompt, and hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields.

To read the other stories, please click here.

Take Two

November 19, 2013 / Steve Lakey / 1 Comment

Amanda was one click away from making a huge mistake. She knew it, but it was so tempting. She loved the Photo Challenges, but never got the recognition she wanted. For the “Nature” theme she hatched a scheme to get loads more ‘Likes’.

She selected a photo of Giant Redwoods. But it wasn’t her shot – she’d taken it from Google Images.

Just as she was about to post, the dogs pestered her for a walk. She gave in, and took them out onto the park. Amanda took a picture with her phone and posted that instead. Her most successful yet!

Thanks to my wife Amanda who has let me use her photo and her name in the story. I’d like to point out that the story is pure fiction – she wouldn’t dream of passing anyone else’s photos off as her own, and she gets plenty of recognition!

This is my contribution for 100 Word Challenge For Grown Ups #11, hosted at Julia’s Place.

This week’s prompt was …Decisions, decisions, decisions..

To find out more details of 100WCGU click the logo.

To read the other stories for this challenge, click here.

Pomp Idol

November 17, 2013November 17, 2013 / Steve Lakey / 8 Comments

Gerry, a Tower of London Beefeater, viewed her out of the corner of his eye. She looked strangely different from last time, but it was definitely her. That’s the third time this week. Maybe she was bored…

“Hi there young man! How y’all doing? I’m loving those Family Crown Jewels!” The accent was a wobbly Texan drawl. She tottered along in high heels and fur coat.

“You know I truly love everything about your British Royal Family. They would still be ours too, if it wasn’t for that little unpleasantness back in the Seventeen somethings. Poor old George. It was simply awful what those Yankees did!”

Gerry smiled as best he could.

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“Well, Gerald, it must be real tough on Her Royalness, being in the spotlight an’ all. You’d think she would want to have a few minutes peace when no one would recognise her. Maybe go out in disguise?“

Gerry turned away briefly before rolling his eyes.

“Damn! You know it’s me Gerald, you’ve known all along! Was it the entourage or the dogs that gave it away?” The accent gradually returned to it’s native Queen’s English.

“Fooled me again, Your Majesty.”

“Ha! Wonderful! See you tomorrow.”

This is my contribution to Sunday Photo Fiction, Hosted by Al Forbes. Click here for more details.

Click the logo to read the other stories.