Time again for Friday Fictioneers. A 100 words of fiction based around the weekly changing photo prompt. Addictive, delicious and so very entertaining. Follow the link, read the others and join in yourself, it’s the most fun you can have with your clothes on.
Photo Copyright : Claire Fuller
Sally spent her nights in the abandoned smoke house on the edge of town. A heavy stench of fish still seeped from the blackened oak boards.
Most of the rats and other night crawlers had moved on. Things that couldn’t be repaired she’d use as firewood, things she could sell or barter were piled in the corner.
She lay down on the bed of rags, her breathing heavy and her belly extended and rigid. The baby would come tonight.
Across town the Earl of Middleham savoured his brandy. “I think I’ll call you Sally” he drawled, his eyes hungrily undressing the comely young housemaid stoking the fire.
helen midgley 
Oh dear. Use ’em and lose ’em. Very original take on the prompt. Well done!!
Thank you 🙂
The cad! Nice story.
Claire
Thanks Claire, I have a bit of a secret passion for historical fiction, schhhh don’t tell anyone 😉
The dirty rotter. I wonder how many “Sallys” there have been?
Good story!
One less Rat to worry about.
DJ
Good job, Helen, and something very different.
janet
EW! What a creep!
Dear Helen,
You certainly gave birth to another direction for the prompt. I hope Sally the First (probably not the first) has someone to attend her. As for the Earl, I hope a chandelier drops on his head. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Dear Helen,
Consider ‘distended’ instead of ‘extended’. I think it reads better. Of course, your call and all, just mentioning it. Your story is a good one, contrasting poverty and plenty, pain and pleasure, lust and loss. Well done.
Aloha,
Doug
Helen, Good story that stood well on its own, but would make a great hook for a short story or novel. The Earl better be careful. Some young woman related to one of the girls he used and cast out may poison him. They work around the food. I think he’s playing a dangerous game. At least in the movies that could happen. Well written. — Susan
That earl will have rat-poison in his brandy..
Do you think any little boy says, “When I grow up, I wanna be a jackass.”? I like this take on the prompt. Totally unexpected.
It takes some skill to shed new light on a story in the final sentence. Well done.
Marie Gail
Great take on the prompt – wasn’t expecting to read that genre of story from this prompt. That takes some doing. Well done. I hated him.
“A Tale of Two Sallys” – good story with a sad but true to life twist. Guess there will be three Sallys sooner or later.
What a brute! Poor girl pushed out in the cold world abandoned … pretty much what could have happened at the time! Great story.
Sally’s predicament comes through powerfully. The contrast with the Earl’s lack of concern, or even awareness, is striking. Great ending.
Helen, I love this one. The dry delivery at the end makes it all the more bitter. Really excellent story telling!
I agree with Doug, distended would be clearer.
Sounds like the earl has a revolving door policy. Good read!
Dear Helen! Marvelous! This is why we don’t have a monarchy here. Nan 🙂