Hey, everyone. Over the past few weeks, I’ve read several amazing flash fiction stories prompted by Suzanne Burk’s weekly photo challenge. I decided to take part this week.
If you’d like to check out the challenge, visit Soooz’s blog by clicking here.
Photo by Bryce Barker on Upsplash
The clock was ticking. Only one week remained until Janie’s manuscript was due and she found herself staring at a blank computer screen. The pivotal moment, the last few chapters, eluded her like a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. So close but just beyond her reach.
I’ll never finish this manuscript by the deadline. There isn’t enough time.
She rose from her writing desk then walked to the window. The falling snow made the yard and surrounding woods look magical. A true winter wonderland. A myriad of birds—finches, buntings, and cardinals—flocked to the feeders. They fluttered about, often fighting with one another. She watched—mesmerized by their movements.
Janie didn’t realize how long she had been there until her cell phone chimed to indicate a new text message.
Probably another reminder from my agent.
Choosing to ignore the message, she glanced at her watch. Fifteen minutes had passed since she first looked out the window. Fifteen wasted minutes.
Oh well, that’s not a lot of time.
She walked back to the computer to stare at the blank page again. Music always inspired her. Maybe it would help. Looking at her vast musical library, she came across the album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
The Beatles always lifted her spirits. Lots of good songs on this album. “With a Little Help from my Friends” was a favorite.
I can use all the help I can get now.
“Getting Better” was another cheerful tune.
Things can’t get worse, can they?
Then she saw it. “When I’m Sixty-Four.” Janie recalled seeing a video from the film, Yellow Submarine. Using cartoon illustrations, they stated how many minutes were in sixty-four years, then proceeded to count down the last minute of the song.
Janie immediately felt encouraged. One hour is sixty minutes. One day contains 1,440 minutes and a week is 10,080 minutes.
I can do this. One minute can be a very long time.
Discover more from Joan Hall
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
38 Responses
This one’s hitting a little too close to home right now! lol (And your countdown made me think of “Live Like We’re Dying” by Kris Allen.)
Nicely done, Joan.
Too close for me too, Staci. (Though not as much as you.) It does make you realize how long a minute can be.
I feel the pain, lols. Nice one, Joan 🙂
Lots of us can relate!
I loved where you went with this. For some a minute can go very fast, For others, a minute can last a very long time. It’s all in the person.
So true, Michele!
Sounds like your writing weekend. Good job today.
Except for the winter snow, pretty much.
What a great response to the prompt, Joan! And you are right…A minute can seem like forever when you’re waiting for something important to happen, or water to boil. 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
It’s all in the perspective, isn’t it? Or whether we’re having fun or not. 🙂
Joan, that was wonderful! I’m so glad you had the time to participate with Soooz’s prompt this week. What a great take on the photo. I loved the inclusion of the Beatles, and the winter sights beyond her window were vivid and beautiful!
Thanks, Mae. From one Beatles fan to another! I used to feed the little birds each winter and would see such a sight from my wndows.
When I was told I had 5 years to live, I calculated how many minutes I would have. That simple act gave me a sense of direction, the importance of each minute, and I planned my life accordingly. I love the song “Living in the Moment” by Jason Mraz.
Well done, Joan. Each minute can be long or short!
Wow, Karen. I didn’t know that about you. Minutes are precious. We never know which one will be our last. I’m not familiar with that song, but we should all live in the moment.
Great take on the prompt, Joan:) I made me pause and think about all the minutes I waste and its our choice what to do with them.
I waste too many of them. I need to remind myself of this story when I’m wasting time.
Excellent response to the prompt. Gosh, this particular photo prompt is getting a lot of great responses. It’s an inspirational image.
It has gotten a lot of attention. Funny how people can see a photo or a word prompt and come up with vastly different stories.
Well done, Joan. Sometimes the minutes fly and other times just crawl. Great images in your writing.
So true, John. One minute can be a VERY long time. And yet so short.
😊
I’m so delighted you found time to enter Joan! I love this take on the prompt. Some minutes seem endless, but I’m grateful for all of them.😊 I look forward to featuring this over the coming weekend. Thanks again!
Thanks, Soooz. I hope to participate more often if the muse will cooperate. You’re so right. Each minute is precious.
😊 My muse is just back from a very long vacation! Happy dancing down under.
Mine has been on vacation the biggest part of the year! Glad yours is back. 🙂
Ditto! Has yours rejoined you? I hope so. The frustration we writers go through when this happens is energy sapping.
I finally got back to the WIP that I started last November. It needs a lot of work but I’m getting there. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel so to speak.
I hear you. So long as that light at the end of the tunnel isn’t a train. 😁
That’s true!
I saw myself in this one, Joan, lol. Love the Beatles mention!
I think a lot of writers can relate. My deadline isn’t as close as my character’s but I’m in the “messy middle” of a story now. The Beatles are my favorite group and they often inspire me.
There comes a time in your life when minutes grow even more precious, as you begin to realize you don’t have quite the same number of them ahead of you as you once did. This reminded me of how precious every one of them is, and how much we can do, or say, or WRITE in even one of them. Great flash fiction, Joan! Way to go! 🙂 <3
Thanks, Marcia. We need to live fully in each moment.
Exactly! 🙂
Brilliant, Joan. I loved how you developed the story and through songs, led us into the slow passing of time. Very well done! 🙂
Thank you so much, Gwen!
A lovely interpretation of this prompt, Joan.
Thank you, Robbie!