The December 3, 2020, Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story that includes family traditions. It can be related to any holiday or situation. How does the tradition impact the story or change the character? Go where the prompt leads! Respond by December 8, 2020.
“Family Traditions”
“Grandma, hurry up or we’ll miss the first song.” Kallie impatiently tugged at Grandma’s sleeve.
“I’m coming. Don’t rush me!” Grandma chided.
The church was packed. Typical for the Christmas Eve service.
“Kallie, I saved you seats,” whispered a voice. A few titters of laughter rumbled through the back row of pews.
“Thank you, James,” Grandma murmured as she heaved her body into the seat. Kallie blushed crimson.
James grinned. He only had eyes for Kallie. “Of course. Christmas Eve wouldn’t be the same without you both.”
The trio joined the congregation as they sang, “Silent Night, Holy Night.”
©2020 Colleen M. Chesebro
Remember the little things this year… be safe, mask up, and spread joy in the best way you can!
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Author: Colleen M. Chesebro
Colleen M. Chesebro is a Michigan Poet who loves crafting syllabic poetry, flash fiction, and creative fiction and nonfiction. Colleen sponsors a weekly syllabic poetry challenge, called Tanka Tuesday, on wordcraftpoetry.com where participants learn how to write traditional and current forms of haiku, senryu, haiga, tanka, gogyohka, tanka prose, renga, solo-renga, haibun, cinquain, Etheree, nonet, shadorma, Badger’s hexastich, Abhanga, and diatelle poetry.
Colleen's syllabic poetry has appeared in the Auroras & Blossoms Poetry Journal, and in “Hedgerow, a journal of small poems,” and in various other online publications. She’s won numerous awards from participating in the Carrot Ranch Rodeo, a yearly 99-word flash fiction contest sponsored by carrotranch.com, an online writing community. Recently, she created the Double Ennead, a 99-syllable poetry form for Carrot Ranch.
Colleen has published a collection of poetry, flash fiction, and short stories called, “Fairies, Myths & Magic: A Summer Celebration,” dedicated to the Summer Solstice. She contributed a short story called “The Changeling,” in the “Ghostly Rites Anthology 2020” published by Plaisted Publishing House.
Colleen Chesebro’s poetry blog is called Word Craft – Prose & Poetry at https://wordcraftpoetry.com/
Her author blog is found at https://colleenchesebro.com where you will find her poetry and short stories.
View all posts by Colleen M. Chesebro
How lovely 😍
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Thanks, Sis ❤️
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Such a sweet story.
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Thanks, Miss Judy. I figured it was time for some Christmas magic. ❤
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Definitely needed.
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Sweet. ❤
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Trying to get back into the swing of flash fiction. LOL! 😀
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I know this ❤
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You do a good job of creating a sense of immediacy, Colleen. I can hear the choir sing.
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Thanks, Charli. I’m out of practice! My goal is to be present here every week! 🤣❤️
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Sweet, sweet Christmas magic!
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Absolutely! I could see this scene play out in my mind. ❤️
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Me too!
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Yay! I always worry about that aspect of writing. Making it believable is a good feeling. ❤️
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It’s lovely. I can even imagine writing a story in 99 words. I stop after 50k only. 🌸
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It’s a good lesson in brevity. 😍
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