Very pleased to be able to participate in the Bard of the Isles ‘Tuesday Challenge’
This week’s TUESDAY CHALLENGE posted by Phil Parker was :
Write a story of precisely 100 words that must include the word ‘kerfuffle’ (a Celtic-derived word which means “a commotion or fuss, especially one caused by conflicting views.”).
As usual, we’ll put them together and post them on our blog. Feel free to include your social media details too.
A 100-word story – GO!
I have been very tardy with my creative writing recently, too many real-world commitments and projects have consumed my time. However, my current works in progress include a SciFi story, and this Tuesday Challenge prompted just the very word which one of the characters in my story would use.
So, here are the two versions of this very short story, the first it the exactly 100-word version, kindly published here on the Bard of the Isles website and the second is the unabridged version, which has now grown over the past two days into a decent chapter.
Ladies & Gentlemen, let me introduce ‘The Chronicler’
The Chronicler
‘The last rays disappeared below the horizon as the fire burned low.
He stoked the embers with a wizened billet of driftwood, and tossed it on.
The sparks flew, blue and lavender.
Fitting he thought; the same colours, of the sun in its dying, once drenched the surface of the distant ocean of his youth.
He knew they all considered his fire-pit an eccentricity; the old man who tinkered with ancient artefacts.
He relished the kerfuffle it required; he had made it with these hands.
The flicking light danced across ink stains and old scars.
Wounds of learning and joy.’
Below, I have included the slightly longer version, which I prefer myself. 100-words is quite a challenge. I am seriously looking forwards to next Tuesday.
The Chronicler
‘The last rays disappeared below the horizon as the fire burned low.
He stoked the embers with a thongs, made by his own hand many years ago and added another wizened billet of driftwood.
The sparks lit up blue & lavender. Fitting he thought; the same colours, of the sun in its dying, once drenched the surface of the distant ocean of his youth.
He knew they all considered his fire-pit an eccentricity; the old man who tinkered with ancient artefacts.
He relished the kerfuffle it required.
He had made it with these his hands, he stared at them in the flicking light. The flickering light danced shadows across ink stains and old scars.
Wounds of learning and joy.’
I hope you liked them, let me know with a comment what you think.
My thanks to Damien Larkin, for introducing me to the Bard of the Isles magazine and website, and the British and Irish Writing Community Facebook Group. Damien is a Co-Founder of the group as well.
You can find Damien at his website
https://www.damienlarkinbooks.com/
and on Twitter at @Damo_DangermanF
Damien Larkin is a full-time stay-at-home father of two loud (but happy) young children.
When not tinkering with apps as a side project, you can find him reading everything and anything to do with psychology, history and science fiction.
He enjoys turning terrifying nightmares into novels and currently resides in Dublin, Ireland.
You can order his latest book ‘Big Red’ by following this link.
You should seriously consider it, as who wouldn’t want to read about fighting Nazis on Mars.
Thanks as well to Phil Parker, administrator and co-founder of the BIWC group for welcoming to the group and setting such a great challenge.
Phil Parker, describes himself as an avid reader of speculative fiction and author.
He has been a judge in SPFBO5 and he says that he enjoys sharing his love of this huge genre with others. Nearly as much as he love eating pizza and holidaying in Italy.
You can find Phil at his website
https://www.philparker-fantasywriter.com/
and on Twitter @PhilSpeculates
About Bard of the Isles from their website.
‘Writing can be a lonely business. The British & Irish Writing Community offers support and inspiration to ensure we are not alone, there are others just like us, struggling to find the right words and summon the ideas that elude us.
We help with:
‘Writer’s Wisdom – articles by authors based on their own experiences.
Links to writer’s social media and their websites so you can find out more about them.
This magazine promotes the members of our community in different ways, by:
Showcasing their stories.
Promoting their work with offers and interviews.
We’re a community of volunteers, we don’t aim to make money, only to bring people who love reading and writing together.’
They are currently open for submissions and you can read all about how to submit here.’
Paper Never Refused Ink! 
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