Photo: WPC Challenge – Narrow

Posted on July 29, 2016 by Etol Bagam

A narrow island for the pelican…

This post was written in response to the Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Narrow.

Isolated

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Etol Bagam

They lived in an isolated island. The rest of the world was very close, though, separated from their island by a narrow canal. In years past, some tried crossing the canal to the other side, but were swallowed alive by the sea creatures that populate the passage.

But it hasn’t been like this forever. Legend says that in years long gone the water was safe and the tide was low enough that passage between the lands was possible every day. But for many generations none of them have ever seen anything like that.

They tried bridges and boats, but nothing would survive the water.

One day the tide goes low again and they can see the legendary walkaway linking both pieces of land. They cross together, into the city, all happiness.

But at the last minute, she decides that the island is her home and turns her back to her fellow islanders. She stands there, frozen, deciding if her decision was right. Only a few minutes away from becoming the only inhabitant of the island…

This post was written in response to the Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers, with a photo prompt by TJ Paris.

To check other stories inspired by the same prompt, click the blur frog below:

Façade

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Etol Bagam

Few knew about the castle hidden inside the island.

Cleighton and Yakira were twin siblings, but very different. Their mom used to say that Yakira was her diamond, while Cleighton was just clay.

That made the boy grow up with sadness on his heart. One day, his counselor mentions he’s very lucky. A diamond is pretty, but it is what it is, while clay can become anything.

He then goes out and reinvents himself, becoming very successful and rich.

He builds a castle, but keeps a low profile, not to show to his family how much he has conquered.

The castle is magnificent, but lays hidden in the subterraneous of the island, topped with a tea house as a façade, to make sure no one would try to explore further.

His family believes he lives in a shanty home and in poverty… Little they know…

This is my first attempt to participate in the Monday’s Finish the Story challenge, hosted by Barbara W. Beacham, in which we need to create the story as a continuation of the first sentence provided by her (Few knew about the castle hidden inside the island) and inspired by the picture below.

The story above makes reference to 2 real facts.

the tea house that indeed exist in Fannette Island, in Lake Tahoe
the story about a kid whose mom tells her all the time that her brother is mom’s diamond while she is clay, and that’s why she needs therapy

I felt sorry for the kid and then decided to give her a happy ending. ;o)

The first draft for oer 400 words, though, so I had to chop it a lot. Hopefully it still contains enough to make sense.

(PS. I’m NOT a psychologist and the kid is NOT my client. I just ‘heard’ the story in facebook)

To see other stories created in response to this prompt, click the blue frog below.

Forever mine

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Etol Bagam

Summer used to be on my great-grandmother’s house. A few miles from it there was a beach. It was a rocky beach and at the end of it there was a promontory that was covered up with water at high tide, leaving a few rocks surface like islands.

The last island was my hideout. I would walk there just before high tide and wait until water would isolate me from the beach.

Time passes and so does my great-grandmother. The house is sold and I don’t go back for several years.

Adulthood comes and life is tough. I have no one, I feel solitude. I want to hide again.

One day I’m on a business trip, driving by the beach of my childhood, and see that the promontory is for sale. For sale?

Well… I buy it. I build a fortress in there. That’s my new-old hideout. Forever mine now.