Yet another awesome picture prompt for Friday Fictioneers from Rochelle Wisoff!
A Coward’s Apple
They marched him down along the market square, dirty feet leaving footprints of blood and dust behind him. He didn’t look up, didn’t acknowledge the jeers and shouts from the gathered merchants. Some dug into their carts for the oldest fruit or vegetable, the ones that wouldn’t sell, and lobbed them at the man. They were careful not to hit the guards in their pristine white armor—they didn’t want to join the thief, after all.
Ashamed, I could only hide and watch as my father was led away, and clutch the thing he’d shoved into my hands—an apple.
Check out other stories for this prompt, here!
Very inspired piece from the photograph, and you set such a scene… nice work!
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Thank you! It’s such a great photo =)
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You’re welcome! If you’re ever looking for further inspiration I’m running a flash fiction challenge called Literary Lion, would be great to see your interpretation of that if you ever have room on your blog!
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They can throw their own wares at the man, but won’t allow him one to feed his family. Such a shame.
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Sadly, it happens all the time. Though, maybe not just like this.
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Great story. Fruit is precious as a jewel when you’re starving.
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Thank you!
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Great take on the prompt, and the irony of throwing fruit and veg at someone who’d stolen it to stay alive ….
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Thank you! It’s a great picture, would love to visit it one day.
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I think “coward” is a bit strong. No point them both going down?
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I meant to leave it open to interpretation, where the coward could be directed either at the person hiding, or the person it was stolen from. I probably did a poor job of it though, lol.
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Heart-breaking story . Well written.
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A bleak and sad world where starving people get in trouble for feeding their children. Sadly, it’s still true in too many places. Great story.
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Thank you 🙂 And you’re right, it is.
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Harsh punishment for stealing a single apple! Man oh man. What would the punishment be for something really horrid, like rape? When times are tough, every little bit counts but it is ironic that the crowd is willing to throw their potential profits at the poor hungry thief!
Great story, I was there.
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Sad. The apple wouldn’t taste as sweet after that. Harsh world, to be punished for a single apple.
Leo @ I Rhyme Without Reason
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Very true.
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Beautifully written. so sad for a young one to see such horror.
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Thank you 🙂
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