Long considered a crank, friends of Henry Frick laughed at his wild imaginings. Even his wife, Alice, after enduring decades of conspiracy theories, turned a deaf ear to whatever fantasy enthralled him at a given moment. Homeland Security no longer took his calls nor did the local police.
Like the boy who’d called wolf once too often, Henry was ignored.
When he saw the creeping mold leaching color from the planet, no one paid attention.
Alice, fading into muted grays, told him to be quiet.
The world had become black and white and no one noticed.
No one – except Henry.
__________________
Word count: 100
Photo credit: Sandra Crook
Author’s Note: This flash fiction story is written in response to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields’ Friday Fictioneers in which she challenged readers to create a 100 word story based on the photo above. Rochelle’s site can be found here.
Odyssey of a Novice Writer 
Ethereal and evocative, an in so few words too!
Once more, I loved it! ❤
Thanks, pal of mine! ❤
You’re always welcome 🙂
The use of narrative through the piece is so creative. I enjoyed this more because of the lack of dialogue.
Glad you enjoyed it, Glynis. With such short pieces, it often seems a tale is either all dialogue or all narrative. It’s a challenge to find a happy medium. 🙂
I love American History so this really resonated. I live in NY so his house, now a museum, is down the block. He was quite something that Henry. A nice surprise.
My using the name ‘Henry Frick’ is a coincidence. :). I chose it because Henry seemed a common name and Frick sounded funny to me. Putting them together gave me a vision of a rather odd yet mundane fellow – sort of an ‘every man’ kind of person but with a twist. I had no idea there was a famous Henry Frick until I read your note. How peculiar! I just googled him and he sounds like a fascinating fellow. Even though my Henry isn’t connected with the famous Mr. Frick, I hope you enjoyed the brief tale. Thanks for reading and commenting – I appreciate it! Also, your comment suggests to me I might try googling any future names I come up with just to make sure they aren’t connected with someone well known. Probably a good practice! 😄
Great job, Kate!
Thanks, Adan!
Wow! Great job! I especially loved “Alice, fading into muted greys..”
Thanks, Jan. I have to admit, that was my favorite part, too! 🙂
Ooo, Kate, this is brilliant. I hate when I have to stop reading what you write at 100 words. This could be a great novel!
Hi Noelle! I am so happy you liked this one! It was fun to write – and I felt some sympathy for Henry. Although I wonder… is the world losing color or is Henry crazy? That’s up to the reader to decide. A novel, huh? Maybe something sci-fi? I’ll have to think about that… 😀
I appreciated your remark about hating to stop reading when I write the 100 word flash fictions. I have a story that is around 1,200 or so words that I may put on my blog. I’d like some feedback on that one from readers. Maybe I’ll post it this weekend if I can find the time. It needs some polishing. Right now I am finishing up one book review, and I am in the midst of reading the latest adventures of a certain young woman with a penchant for solving murders that you and I both know… 🙂
Ooo, Kate, this could be a novel or at least a novella. I hate it when I have to stop reading what you write at 100 words! Brilliant!
Thanks, Noelle – that’s a kind thing to say. 🙂
Great pairing of story and photo.
Thanks, pal – I appreciate the feedback! 🙂
Spooky when only Henry can see what the rest of the world is blind to notice. Sad to be ignored. Eerie to be alone. Love it. ❤
Thanks, Tess! Writing the story, I couldn’t quite make up my mind if the world was under attack or if Henry had crossed the line into insanity. I’m still trying to decide… I’m so glad you liked the story, my friend. ❤
I do like the story. Let the reader chose. ❤
You know, Tess, I really appreciate your support. You are certainly encouraging to other writers. It means a lot. 🙂
Anytime, Kate. I like to think we all support each other. ❤
Oh, what an awesome piece! Really eerie 😀
Hi Mishka! Thank you for the encouragement – and for retweeting the story. I’m grateful! ❤
Dear Kate,
I enjoyed your intro as much as your story, which I really liked. Poor Henry. To see what no one else sees coming would be tough. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
I have to admit, when I first saw the photograph, I didn’t have a clue what I was going to write about… but in the end, I came up with poor old Henry. Thanks for the prompts, Rochelle, which are always interesting and challenging.
A well crafted story. It’s not quite the same but close enough. Many scientists take this grey goo doomsday scenario very seriously:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_goo
My word, Malcolm! I thought my story was scary – until I read that Wikipedia link!
Thanks for the compliment – ‘a well crafted story’ – too bad you can’t see that I’m beaming as I say ‘thank you.’ 🙂
I enjoyed your story. Great takeaway from that photo with only some color in the background. 🙂
Thank you, Susan! It was just the bit of color in the background that gave me the idea of color leaching from the planet. 🙂
A perfect story for this photo prompt! Poor Henry. No one believed him. Only he believed it. It seems only he was affected. Great story!
Thanks! I appreciate your taking the time to read and comment. 🙂
Very nice.
Thank you. Means a lot coming from one of my favorite writers.
Wow, what a compliment. Thank you.
What an imaginative take on that photo–loved it!
Hi Willow! It’s always a treat to have you stop by. I’m glad you enjoyed the story.
I’m missing your poetry, Willow… you have a wonderful ‘voice.’
Thanks, Kate. I’m still not feeling well, below my inner “threshold” for creativity, but I’ve been reading a fair amount, most recently Frances Mayes’ Under the Tuscan Sun, giving myself a mini-vacation in Italy!
A mini-vacation in warm Italy would be lovely… perhaps I should pick up Mayes’ book! On a more serious note, I miss you and hope you soon feel better. 🙂
Oh, this was deliciously scary … Poor Henry, but what a good story!
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed. 🙂
Thank you! I’m tickled you found it both delicious and scary. Poor Henry, indeed. He’s either crazy or the world is in big trouble. Either way, not much good one can say for what is going on in ‘his’ world. 🙂
Well done!
Thank you! 😀