Friday Flash Fiction
  • Home
    • About Friday Flash Fiction
  • 100-Word Stories
  • Longer Stories
  • Poetry
  • Authors
    • A-C
    • D-F
    • G-I
    • J-L
    • M-O
    • P-R
    • S-V
    • W-Z
  • Submissions
    • 100-Word Submissions
    • 500-Word Submissions
    • Poetry Submissions
    • Technical Help
    • Writing Good Flash Fiction
    • Terms & Conditions
    • GDPR Compliance

Pleasure Sail, by Jim Woessner

22/2/2021

5 Comments

 
SPORT
Thirty knots of wind. Double reef in the main. Engine’s quit. Waves breaking over the bow. The The mule jib pulling us over the swells. Where’s the line between pleasure and pain? Chaos reigns. My wife is upset. The sandwiches have fallen into the bilge. One kid is puking. The other screaming. It was supposed to be a pleasure sail. Whose insane idea was this? Suddenly I wake up, rub my eyes, get out of bed. The sheets are soaked with sweat. In the shower I step on a bath toy. It’s my son’s plastic sailboat lying on its side.
5 Comments
Sue Clayton
23/2/2021 02:20:12 am

Sails set for choppy waters.

Reply
Mary Wallace
23/2/2021 04:56:09 am

I think a picnic might be safer.

Reply
Swapan k Banerjee
23/2/2021 08:52:16 am

Your style of writing is often dreamy, but always rooted in reality. Not to forget, in this case, your sound marine diction. You're a very fine writer, Jim.

Reply
Jim Woessner
24/2/2021 09:48:24 pm

Nice of you, Swapan. Thanks. It's true in terms of reality. Don't they always say, write what you know? Living on SF Bay, I've done a lot of sailing and have had my share of mishaps, including a sinking. What is life but a knife's edge between chaos and catastrophe?.

Reply
Candace Arthuria Williams
25/2/2021 02:17:12 pm

Harrowing, Jim. Glad it was only a dream. Get right back on that boat.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    "Classic"
    100-Word
    Stories

    Since Friday Flash Fiction began in September 2013,
    ​100-word stories have remained its 'beating heart'.

    Normally, 100-word stories are scheduled for 07.00 BST (GMT in the winter) on the following Friday.

    Subscribe to Newsletter
    We occasionally send out little newsletters running competitions – and subscribers are also our voting panel. If you'd like to join us, please click the Subscribe to newsletter button below.
    No spam, we promise!

    Friday Flash Fiction
    Rules
    Kinda obvious, really...
    • Fiction only
    • Stories of 75-100 words only
    • Don't be nasty or cheat
    • Include your name and a story title

    Archives

    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013


Picture
Website by Platform 36

Photos used under Creative Commons from YLegrand, Tony Webster