Another Wednesday, Friday Fictioneers. A weekly photo prompt to write a 100 words (give or take) of fiction. Over 100 people each week fight the good fight, to entertain and enlighten, shock and surprise. Follow the link, read the stories, write your own, you’d be crazy not to….
Original Photo : Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
The dampness seeped beneath her skin,
“You ok?”
She didn’t answer.
He put another piece of wood on the fire. The wet bark and moss throwing a plume of smoke across the darkness that settled like a bad taste at the back of her throat.
“Isn’t this great?”
She still didn’t answer.
Tracing over the sapphire in her engagement ring, she pictured all the other camping trips still to come. She also pictured Brian from accounting and his villa in Spain.
Six months later the 2 carat diamond in her wedding ring glistened against the Spanish sun as Brian’s paunch hung regally over his speedos,
Sipping her cocktail she mused “Who said money isn’t everything?”
helen midgley 
Why that little gold digger! Super good, Helen! Bravissimo!
Well they say diamonds are a girl’s best friend 😉
Brava! I did not see that coming. Great ending.
It’s a challenge to get a twist in 100 words, but fun to try 🙂
And you are awesome at it!!!
Love this, Helen. You wrote this so smoothly, it just crept up on me. I second that Brava!
Thank you 🙂
I am afraid that I am too much of a romantic to enjoy this story, unless the epilogue ends with Brian winning a fortune in Lotto and Ms. Two-Carat Diamond getting a Speedo-related rash.
I love the speedo related rash idea 😉
What a mercenary woman! I can’t help thinking that guy number one had a lucky escape.
I think he definitely did, although I’m not a fan of camping either 😉
I hope the first guy found someone who appreciated the great outdoors (and sapphires!).
Well told 🙂
And also a lover of camping 😉
I’d definitely go with the first guy. I’m not too sure about ‘regal paunches’!
(Minor comment: I’m not sure about ‘threw’ and ‘throwing’ so close together in lines 4 and 5.)
Claire
On second reading I thought the same, thanks for input 🙂
I’ve already got the regal paunch, but I’m not about to wear a Speedo, nor do I have that kind of money. I guess Connie will have to settle for camping. 🙂
Don’t worry I think its the speedos that are the killer not the paunch 😉
Wow. I don’t want to be Brian.
ooh good one. we always read stories about women regretting in the end that they didn’t marry for love, blah blah… well this was refreshing 🙂
I suppose you have to admire a girl who goes after what she wants. Although sometime you should be careful what you wish for 😉
The thought of a paunch hanging over a pair of Speedos… yuk
Great take on the prompt Helen, well written as always.
Dee
I was going for the yuk factor alright 😉
You got a yuk from me on the dunlop disease line (his stomach dunlopped over his Speedos) but a well-crafted story. I guess that was the right choice for her, but that wouldn’t be for me.
janet
Dear Helen,
Hmmm…sapphires vs diamonds? Hunk vs Hulk? Of course you never told us what Mr. Camper looked like I’m just assuming. 😉 Money can’t buy happiness but it can buy comfort.
Nicely done story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Oh Helen, this is wonderful! What a great writer and poet you are! She is very devious and incredibly smart! Wow, good story and I don’t think she is that reluctant – I think she is an opportunist! Good job Helen! Nan 🙂
Not everyone is a camper or thinks it’s fun! Deliciously good, Helen. She knows herself and her limits.
I like campfires but i also like villas.
Can’t we have the best of BOTH worlds?
Didn’t the Beatles sing, Can buy me love?
oh, sorry, that was Can’t buy me love…
Randy
In my younger years I would have been put off by her attitude but now closing in on my retirement years, broke, and having married twice for love rather than money only to be alone now; I commend her sensibilities!
You’ve told so much about her in such an economical way. Great dialogue. I think she made the right decision – camping’s not all it’s cracked up to be.
paunch hung regally over his speedos, YUCK!!! I’m not sure money would be able to counter that…. Besides I love camping. Well told, my dear.
Helen, Good story. I don’t like camping, but I think I’d look for other things about the person. I’d put up with the camping if the guy was a nice person otherwise. If she’s a good wife to the wealthy man, all well and good. It’s possible to learn to love someone if they’re a nice person. I would gently discourage the Speedos if possible. I would definitely look for someone who loved having a family. Well written. 🙂 —Susan
Oh, boy! She made the wrong choice. I could never trade love for a paunch and a Speedo, even for a giant diamond. Great story, Helen!