Inside the Mind of Isadora

Category Archives: Flash Fiction


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Friday Fictioneers – Sunflower Memories

 

Bright sunflowers had greeted Nadia each time she’d visited her baba Oksana. 

As a small child, she’d watched her grandmother cook traditional Russian meals while recounting tales of her journey to the new land she’d eventually call home.

She’d traveled on a crowded boat with few belongings. The small amount of sunflower seeds she’d brought to eat were almost gone by the time she’d arrived. 

Oksana decided to plant the leftover sunflower seeds in remembrance of her home; left behind.

Imprinted in Nadia’s heart, memories of her baba Oksana’s smile and love of sunflowers.

Nadia planted sunflowers at her grave.

2019©Isadora DeLaVega

Word Count:100 words

Genre: Flash Fiction

Photo Prompt:©Ted Strutz

To join Rochelle and her 

Friday Fictioneers challenge: 

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*****The dictionary terms and basic forms for grandfather and grandmother in Russian are dedushka and babushka. They’re often shortened for children to ded (grandfather) or baba (grandmother).


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Friday Fictioneers – The Honeymoon

Dear Mom & Dad,

I’m sure this ‘Thank You’ note seems quite contrary to my persona, but it’s no-less sincere.

I’ve realized how my past ungrateful behaviors have hurt you. I apologize for it all.

The incredible gala you created for my marriage to Harry left me breathless. 

As I’m sitting on the balcony with this magical view of Portofino, I’m tearful of the years we’ve missed together. Milestone celebrations; each lost along the way.

Your description of our honeymoon get-a-way was on target, to the last detail. 

Spellbound describes how I feel today.

All my love,

Meghan

2019©Isadora DeLaVega 

~~~~~~~~~

Word Count: 100

Genre: Flash Fiction

Photo Prompt: CEAyr

 

To join Rochelle and her Friday Fictioneers challenge

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***** The names of the characters in this fiction story is in no way associated with the Royals of England.

          I simply needed two names for my characters. I have no clue about Meghan or Harry’s lives. Thanks 😎


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Friday Fictioneers – Foolish Games

“Quiet she’s walking this way,” Patricia whispered. 

Francesca approached cautiously. 

They huddled together excluding her.

Shelia chastised Patricia’s meanness. “Invite her!”

~~~~~

“Hey, Francesca, want to come to my party?”, Patricia asked, while handing her a paper.

An invite? She couldn’t believe it.

“Sure,” she said. “I’ll ask my Mom”.

~~~~~

“Please, Mom”. “Patricia is the popular girl.”

“Fine, one hour only.”

~~~~~

The instructions read: ‘Go 2 blocks passed the deli on Elm Street.’ Desperate, Francesca asked a passing older woman.

“No dear, there’s no Cherry Lane around here”.

A heavy rain began to fall, the perfect cover for a fools tears.

2019©Isadora DeLaVega

~~~~~

 

Genre: Flash Fiction
Word Count: 100
Photo Prompt: J.Hardy Carroll

To join Rochelle and her Friday Fictioneers challenge

click here

~~~~~

***** Bullying is the use of force, threat, exclusion or coercion to abuse, or intimidate aggressively toward others. The behavior is often repeated and habitual in an event to overpower another.

***** Although I attended a Catholic parochial school which should have made bullying null and void, it did not. As the only Latino child in an all anglo school, my ethnic difference provided a great deal for students to use against me. Bullying comes in many colors and ethnic backgrounds; perhaps, one day it will be erradicated.

 

 


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Friday Fictioneers – We Did All We Could

When the ambulance arrived they rushed him straight to the operating room.

We paced outside the coffee lounge waiting area. 

It seemed like hours but only minutes had passed.

No one dared speak for fear of causing a deluge of emotions in the nervous mother.

Her woeful cries, when she first heard of her sons accident, rang in Isadora’s ears. She wasn’t sure she could bring comfort to her mother if anything happened to her brother, Vincent.

Hours passed. 

It didn’t seem possible, they hadn’t heard anything.

Finally, Dr. Ramundi, approached. “I’m sorry. We did all we could.” 

Anguished cries. 

2018©Isadora DeLaVega

 

Genre: Flash Story

Word Count: 100

Photo Prompt:Yvette Prior

To join Rochelle and her Friday Fictioneers challenges

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to read more photo prompt stories – click froggy above

~~~~~~~

          *****Although this story is fiction, it’s been influenced by the recent death of my grandson, Vincent.

                                     

                                                Vincent Alfonso Carrozza, 23, passed away on Monday, Sep 17, 2018

                                                           at Greenville Memorial Hospital in South Carolina.

                                                           My granddaughter, Isadora, was named after me.

                                                 My grandson Vincent’s middle name was my husbands first name, Alfonso.

 


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Friday Fictioneers – The Class Trip

The crowd increased with every passing minute.

Deidra hated crowds. 

She felt the air disappearing around her.

Misty’s teacher had insisted all students attend the ceremony. 

“Extra credit for anyone who takes a snapshot of President Trump.”

Deidra turned to her daughter.

“Look, I’ve got to get some air. I’ll be right back. Don’t move.”

Deidra felt panicked anxiety.

She heard gunshots.

A guard grabbed her arm.

Deidra turned. 

He pulled tightly as she tried to release his grip.

“Ma’m, please,” he said. “I think your daughter’s been shot.”

“Misty?”

“Tye-dye jacket; blond hair?”

“Yes!” 

Unbearable, howling anguish cries!

2018©Isadora DeLaVega

 

Genre: Flash Fiction

Word Count: 100

Photo Prompt: Roger Bultot

 

Rochelle hosts Friday Fictioneers

if you’d like to join in click here

if you’d like to read some incredible 100 word stories

click the blue froggy above


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Friday Fictioneers – The Pink Dress

Mother asked me to get one of Oma’s dresses for the viewing.

Walking through the house, I could feel Oma in every room. 

She was with me; guiding me. 

Small things meant a lot to her; like working in the garden, a walk in the park or sitting on her front porch listening to the birds sing.

Oma kept an impeccable home. Her treasured crystal, Rogaska, bowl on her dining room table always had fresh flowers or plants.

Opa loved her pink gown from their 75 anniversary. 

He’d said, “My heart fluttered when we danced.” 

This will be the dress. 

2018©Isadora DeLaVega

 

Genre: Flash Fiction

Word Count: 100 words

Photo Prompt: Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

To join Rochelle and her Friday Fictioneers challenge

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Friday Fictioneers – The End of the Road

We bickered about off-road adventures from the moment we made our plane reservations.

“Where’s you sense of adventure?”

“I don’t have any”.

“You promised you’d come along and not gripe. The taxi driver said to follow the dirt road and we’d find the little out-of-the-way hostel”.

“Umm … I’m not an expert hiker but this sign is telling us something”.

“I’ll look down the side of the cliff. You know, get my bearings”.

The panic on his face said it all.

On the jagged black mountain cliff, lay the charming little cottage they called, ‘Sheer Drop Inn’.

2018©Isadora DeLaVega

 

Genre: Flash Fiction
Word Count: 100
Photo Prompt: Bjorn Rudberg

Rochelle hosts Friday Fictioneers
if you’d like to join in click here
if you’d like to read some incredible 100 word stories
click the blue froggy


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Friday Fictoneers – Institutionalized

Venom flowed through her veins. Hate was a mild word for what she felt for him.

She had him taken to an institution. He would be there for life.

Her mother died shortly before he was placed there. Doctors said her frail body was from malnutrition and improper medical care. At 88, she needed home health care. Instead, her mentally challenged son was her only caretaker.

Why was she angry at him?

It helped soothe her guilt.

Banned from his mothers funeral by her, he raged. The perfect storm for him to be taken away.

Lord grant her soul redemption.

2018©Isadora DeLaVega

Genre: Flash Fiction
Word Count: 100
Photo Prompt: Sandra Cook

 

 

 Rochelle hosts Friday Fictioneers
100 word challenge to join in click here


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Friday Fictioneers – Lurking in the Shadows

It had been weeks since I visited Henrietta. To soothe my guilt, I picked up her favorite sparkling wine. At ninety, she wasn’t a fine wine drinker. Five bucks would do. I purchased her favorite dark chocolates too.

I could see bright lights on in the kitchen. She usually kept them on low.

She’d say, “I have a budget, you know.”

Finally, Henrietta opened the door. She seemed dazed.

“Hi Henrietta,” I said.

“Who are you?”

“It’s Ella.”

She grabbed the Gazela and slammed the door.

Curiously, I peered through the window.

Behind the huge spiderweb, lurked a man’s shadow.

2018©Isadora DeLaVega

 

Genre: Flash Fiction
Word Count: 100 words
Photo Prompt:©Victor & Sarah Potter

To join Rochelle and her Friday Fictioneers
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Hidden Deep Inside

The closet door flung open.

“What are you doing in there?”, he growled.

Before I could answer, I was being pulled up by my hair and pushed towards the kitchen.

“Get in there and help your mother.”

I guess he doesn’t want to know.

“See what happens when you hide from work,” she said.

Hide from work? How about I was hiding from the jump rope he just beat me with while you were talking to Mrs. Rosen about styling her wig.

There’s a place I go to tell my troubles. Hidden deep inside the closet is my peaceful place.

2017©Isadora DeLaVega

 

Genre: Flash Fiction
Word Count: 100
Photo Prompt: Rochelle

To join Rochelle and her Friday Fictioneers in this challenge

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*****In 2015, an estimated 1,670 children died from abuse and neglect in the United States. In 2015, Children’s Advocacy Centers around the country served more than 311,0002 child victims of abuse, providing victim advocacy and support to these children and their families. info:wikipedia
For more information click here: http://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org/media-room/media-kit/national-statistics-child-abuse/