‘Sangria’
(c) Janet Webb
Every Friday authors worldwide gather around the virtual fireside of fellow WordPress blogger Rochelle Wisoff to share flash fiction stories of 100 words, prompted by a common photograph, and exchange constructive criticism. Readers’ comments are also welcome. This week’s photo has been provided by Janet Webb. Thanks, Janet, for this symbol-rich image!
Oh, and Happy Valentine’s Day fellow FFers.
Here’s the story Janet’s photo has inspired. Unfortunately, this week I couldn’t get it down to 100 words and really, it would have been better even longer than it is.
Strawberry Blood
Dice was snickering at whatever he was skim-reading.
“Mornin’, Sgt. Hey – that photo somebody’s posting-in every day? Listen to this from the profiler,” he sneered.
“Sir.”
“‘The strawberry represents love, also blood. Also symbolising The Virgin, it’s the holy blood of Christ. Strawberry flowers – white – … purity; …leaves – trifoliate – …Trinity. …glass of wine therefore represents The Eucharist, in which wine is tran…sub…st… ”
“Transubstantiated, sir.”
“Yeh, that,… ‘into blood. This reasoning … reinforced by the name of the drink – Sangria – …deriving from blood. ‘The strawberry in the glass is dissected. …woman’s hair is a type of red known as strawberry blonde. She’s wearing strawberry lipstick/dress. She’s a ‘painted’, ‘scarlet’ woman. Repeats of the photo arriving suggest …sender is forewarning his murder of a redheaded prostitute, whom, after drinking her blood, he will dissect. I suggest initiating interviews with the city’s priests, …’ Profilers? Loonies! ”
The phone rang. I picked up.
“Sir, …a disembodied head – red.”
Ann Isik
163 Words
Poetic Mapping: Walking Into Art 
Great story – I can see this as an opening to a murder mystery movie. Really, really, creepy good. Thanks for your imagination! Strawberry Blood – awesome! Nan
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Thanks for reading and the nice comments about my not-so-nice tale. One from my dark side. 🙂
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Thanks Nan. I thought I’d acknowledged you already. Sorry. Old age! Happy to have given you goosebumps! Ann
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Dear Ann,
Very clever story. All the clues are there. Stellar.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle! Stellar … I’ll treasure that word …! Ann
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Enjoyed the focus on red and its allusions. Would love to read a longer version of this.
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I’ll post the longer version. It amounts alrgely to the words I’ve replaced by ellipses in my attempt to achieve the 100 words and failed anyway! Thanks for reading and for your interest. Ann
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Good story. Great beginning for a crime drama. Either that or the vampires have crossed over from another story and are at work in this one.
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this is really great. what a great mystery story. i don’t mind the extra words. happy valentines day too 🙂
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I guess they should be paying more attention to the profiler!
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Clever format for this bloody tale. Great title, actually.
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Thanks Patrick. I didn’t make the word count and had to chop bits out so it lost a bit in translation. I loved this week’s photo prompt. Gave me something to get my knife into! 🙂
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Whoa … a love mystery! A Valentine’s post.
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A refreshingly different kind of love where one party ends up dissected and bloodless.
Did you get my message about buying your set of cards by the way? I asked if you shipped to the UK. If so, I’ll go ahead. Ann
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Yes…and I loved your story. The Paypal account will indicate 3.00 shipping added and out they will go to you with a Valentines surprise. No blood I promise!
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And no dissected redheads, please. I’m a vegetarian. 🙂
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A bloodless Valentine’s surprise! Wow!
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Love murder and mayhem. Yes I got your message and emailed you. It is all set! If you go to my card page and it takes you to Paypal, there is a small mailing charge added for international of 3.00 US dollars. I will even add a non bloody valentine’s surprise!
http://susanmedyn.com/small-giclees-and-cards-shop/
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Your email must have been logged into my spam folder, sorry. Anyway, all’s well that end’s well. Ann
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Whoa…. a love mystery!
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