Bill took Agnes’ arm and steered her to the pavement. ‘One too many prosecco?’
‘Come on, follow the white lines home,’ Archie called back to them.
‘Remember that time you followed the wrong white line…’
‘…all the way off the end of the boardwalk.’ Bill and Archie finished off Agnes’ story.
Archie took Agnes’ arm. ‘Another holiday over.’
‘Same time next year, Bill?’
‘Of course, wouldn’t miss it.’ Bill waved them off.
He felt the pain in his midriff.
He didn’t want to ruin a perfect evening. He would tell them later that he wouldn’t make their annual get together next year.

Written as part of the Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).
To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
This brought tears to my eyes. Such a sad story, beautifully told.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Jennifer.
LikeLike
elegant and spare, Iain
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Neil
LikeLike
O Bill. I hope he makes it to next year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Sheena
LikeLike
Sweet story, expertly told, and with excellent sting in the tail.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you CE, much appreciated.
LikeLike
What a poignant story – of course I hope he recovers and joins them next year. So well told.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Jilly
LikeLike
Oh sad, but at least he had this year.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Di, and many happy ones beforehand too.
LikeLike
That’s what matters, the memories.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sharp magical story writing.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Michael, much appreciated.
LikeLike
Beautiful and touching story, Iain. I really do hope that he will be there for their annual get-together next year.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you
LikeLike
Sad story, beautifully told. Hopefully, things look up for him and he’s there next year.
LikeLiked by 2 people
There is always hope. Thank you
LikeLike
A sad tale well told Iain.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Mike
LikeLike
So well told. It is bound to happen eventually. Sadly, we don’t live forever. Beautiful friendships to be treasured.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Dale, unfortunately, that’s life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is. So best take advantage of every moment you do have… you never know…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good sense of foreboding in this piece. Cancer? Suicide? Could be either of them.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks. My thought was cancer, and he had already had bad news about it…
LikeLike
Dear Iain,
Sweet but sad tale. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Rochelle
LikeLike
A sad tale, but well told
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Trent. Congratulations on your book 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was a roller coaster ride of emotions. Nicely done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLike
Great take, Iain. My parents are in their 70s now and there have been those people they’ve known for years and those reunions and they’re starting to drop off. In a few weeks time, they’re celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. There’s such a hotch potch of people coming and quite a few who have passed away. We’ve also been revisiting old photos lately. It’s a great time for reminiscing and catching up.
Best wishes,
Rowena
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Rowena. It’s sad looking ahead and knowing this time is coming to us all, but as you say, a chance to look back and think about a lifetime of memories.
LikeLike
Oh so sad! At least it seems they had many good years together.
LikeLiked by 1 person
they made the most of the time they had, who can ask for more?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Poor Archie. One hope is that it’s just really bad gas. But, a slim hope.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Clutching at straws, but you never know!
LikeLike
You paint the picture expertly; the three friends who have so many shared memories that they first prompt and then complete each others anecdotes. And having shown us this beautiful friendship, very delicately you show us that it will be broken within twelve months.
Grief and sadness are the inevitable companions of joy, alas. Let’s be thankful for the joy while we have it, and even more thankful for the memories later.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you Penny, you sum it up nicely.
LikeLike
I can fully understand why you don’t want to destroy that last evening together…. I hope there will be a lot of Prosecco at the funeral…
LikeLiked by 2 people
They certainly will give him the appropriate send off.
LikeLike
It rings very true, the sick friend choosing not to spoil the mood of the others. Maybe they should get together more often.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That may be one of their regrets. Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, no. How sad, and how kind of him not to burden his friends at that moment.. I hope, though, that he will contact them soon and let them be with him as much as possible.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh! And yet, I understand why he wouldn’t want to spoil their evening, hopefully he will let them know soon. Well done, Iain!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Sascha
LikeLiked by 1 person
Humorous right up until that last bit. Very sad, nicely done.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe he will surprise them and himself by living longer than expected. One more holiday, it just has to be.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are an optimist then 🙂
LikeLike
Hopelessly so…
LikeLiked by 1 person
So very sad Iain. Well done.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Sandra
LikeLike
A touching write. Beautifully crafted,
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
Expertly done, like something from the Hallmark movie channel.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think that’s a compliment… 😉
LikeLike
thats a wonderful ritual and you had to end it with a twist.. life is fragile. Liked this one Ian
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Aks
LikeLike
Poor Bill. There’s such a melancholy in this. Reads wonderfully.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Carol
LikeLike
i appreciate him for being considerate not sharing bad news to his friends. at least, for the time being. hopefully, he’ll make it next year.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, I suppose he has a little hope he might make it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh no, sad ending. It’s was lovely and sweet and then foreboding… well told
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Laurie
LikeLike
That’s sad. Maybe there is a miracle in his future.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Not sure if Bill believes in miracles – maybe he will now!
LikeLike
Some people are considerate like that, they will never let their personal tragedy intrude upon another’s happiness. Nicely done.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, good to see you back 🙂
LikeLike
He was fortunate to know, I think.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Some prefer to know, others prefer not too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope he recovers and joins them for their annual get together next year. Very sad and beautifully written story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww… this was sad, yet quite good.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Jennie
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome, Iain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A nice build up that makes the ending so much better, although sad. I don’t go to many reunions, they mostly seem to be about ticking the attendance sheet to check who has died.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s one way to look at them! Thanks James
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ouch! Nuf said. Oh! Except so well done.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Alicia
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have a sense Bill is going to keep putting off telling them what he needs to.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He may well never build up the courage to tell them, or the desire.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a bittersweet ending. Nicely told.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! I see. Yes, we do have a similar theme to our stories. Great minds think alike. Nicely done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A well told tale! I feel for Bill and wish him well, though I doubt it will do him much good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I fear you are right. Thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, that was a punch to the gut (Pardon the pun!) towards the end. Great buildup to the unexpected end, Iain. Well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Varad
LikeLike
Sweet and sad! I was walking along with them until the end 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much 🙂
LikeLike
So emotional. You wrote it gorgeously.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Lisa, lovely compliment 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😦 Lovely and warm story of a lifelong friendship, Iain. Then, I got to the last line, which made the story even more beautiful, but oh, so sad. Even so, it made me want to read it again, to treasure even more, such a friendship.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Jane, very kind comment 🙂
LikeLike
Ah so sad and so very well told
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Dahlia
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a beautiful story and so sad.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Deborah
LikeLike