© Marie Gail Stratford
“I think we’re ready. Cleared the floor. Conversation nook ready. Cheese and biscuits on the table. Iced water, plenty of it, in the fridge.Music playing. Can’t wait to dance the night away.”
“Now we just need some guests.”
“They’ll be here soon.”
“Where are they .”
“People always come late to a party.”
“Three hours late? Are you sure you invited them?”
“No, I thought you were inviting them.”
“Well I didn’t invite them.”
“Nor did I.”
“I guess no-one is coming then.”
“Looks that way.”
“You idiot.”
“Not me. You’re the idiot.”
“We might as well play computer games.”
“Yeah!”
Rochelle hosts Friday Fictioneers each week. All are welcome to join in and write a 100 word flash, then add their link via the blue frog found on her site. Otherwise use the blue frog to see other people’s responses to the photo prompt which this week is courtesy of Being MG
About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Well done!
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Thanks Barbara.
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Computer games? I’m all up for that! Excellent story! 🙂
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Thanks Miles. A bit of fun.
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Cheese and biscuits and ice water? I suspect both of them invited loads of people but… Nice take on the prompt, Irene.
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Thanks Sandra. The iced water was because the story started off on a different tack and then wrote itself. I think if anyone had turned up they may have been disappointed.
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Dear Irene,
What we have here is a failure to communicate. At least the two of them will have a nice evening and plenty of snack food. Nice take.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle. Probably enough snacks for a week or two. Cheers Irene
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Haha that’s so funny… They both forgot the crucial ingredient.
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Glad you had a laugh.
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I’ve been to parties like that!
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They are the kind that everyone immediately starts discussing where other parties are on and then mass exodus.
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At least they have snacks. A cold beer might be nice to wash down the biscuits though! 🙂
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I agree. The story started off as something else and then it decided to write itself and I forgot the beer. LOL
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This is so funny, I love it. They could still dance the night away…
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They could but they thought they’d be dancing with different partners.
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I’m wondering if those two chairs – I think they’re chairs – are the speakers, the people having fled for better company?
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Now you could be right there sharon. They may have heard of someone else having a party.
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Ha! My nephew found his wedding invitations in a box (unmailed) one week before his wedding. He and his fiancee had a similar conversation!
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I can just imagine the bride’s dismay. Is that why you left so unexpectedly. The invite just arrived.
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Good option. At least they remain friends.
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Yes not an issue to fall out over and in years to come it’ll make a better tale than if the party had happened.
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ha. That’s one party where there is no clean up needed. Nicely written fun story.
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Now that is possibly the best thing about it and it hadn’t entered my head. No clean up. Glad you enjoyed it.
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Somebody hand them a phone! 😉
Well written!
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LOL. Thank you Lynda.
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I thought maybe the guests didn’t come because all you were serving them was ice water. LOL! Cute story!!
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Thanks. The ice water got in because the initial story was different but somehow it ended up writing itself. Should have thought to change it to beer.
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There’s always a bright side.
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Yes no mess to clean up.
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Indeed!
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Dancing is still an option. Ha!
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Just not the romantic type.
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I think computer games is a great solution.. sounds like they had forgotten the beer as well.. 🙂
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Yes the evening will be fun anyway. The beer – well that was my mistake.
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Social illiteracy is so contagious but happens all the time. They will probably have fun playing with each other anyway! Good story! Nan
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They were probably too busy on their phones texting that they forgot to ask the right questions. Thanks Nan.
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From “Cool Hand Luke”: What we have here is a failure to communicate! Great take off on this idea, Irene. Bet they had a good time anyway!
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Yes I’m sure they did. I’ve never seen Cool Hand Luke although I have heard of it, years and years ago. Must see if I can rent it.
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Another piece of delightful idiocy ! – careful you don’t lose your reputation for being somewhat ghoulish, Irene … [grin]
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Oh I’m sure that will return M-R. Just as soon as I’ve lulled you into a false sense of security.
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I believe you ! 🙂
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Many wouldn’t but thanks for trusting.
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darn, who’s going to eat all the cheese? the mouse? 🙂
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LOL loved your comment.
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ha..well told…party for two …
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Yes, a little lonely.
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Who’s on first indeed? Fast, witty banter, Irene. Nice job!
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Thanks Dawn
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Sounds like my sort of planning!
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I’m sure you aren’t that bad. 🙂
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Computer games when the dance floor is ready? 🙂 The conversation sounds very familiar 🙂
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Yes I’d be dancing that’s for sure.
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Pfft, computer games. How bout a bit of the old slap and tickle, ay?
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They needed to invite some of the opposite sex for that to happen. That’s what they probably had hoped for. Not going to happen tonight.
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Yay! Internet party 😉
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All bloggers gather for the virtual party. Could be fun.
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At least they will have lots of snacks to nibble on while they decide which ‘games’ to play.
Nicely done Irene
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Enough to last for weeks Dee.
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That was fun. So much technology, so little communication.
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Yes that seems to be what happens with technology. we forget how to communicate.
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That was a fun and funny story! Nicely done! They should all just have a virtual party the next time, and feast their eyes on all the yummy (non-fattening) food dancing on the screen.
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Sounds like a plan. 🙂
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Always good to have a backup plan.
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Yes it makes for good planning.
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I actually dreamt last night that I’d prepared a birthday party for my husband and forgotten to invite anybody. Now here I am reading your story about the same thing. Weird. Good story – love the voices.
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Thanks Margaret. That is a bit spooky — as if I was privvy to your dreamworld. Perhaps it is a hidden fear of all of us.
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