There’s an image of the Virgin Mary in my toast, picked out in darker browning. There is, really! I knew yesterday something special was going to happen when I saw that starling with the one milky eye.
On the bird’s sighted side there were empty plastic bags, daily commutes and nastygrams. But on the other side! Oh! On the other side, jewelled castles, miracles and daring quests.
And now, here in my breakfast, the annunciation of my very own miracle. I kneel, head bowed, and pray – for peace, healing and for Tara in Accounts to notice me.
Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here.
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Neil MacDonald Author 
Yes, Tara …Great ending! 🙂
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Thanks, Reena
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From his thoughts here, I think I can see why Tara in Accounts has been ignoring him…
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Yeah, I’m with Tara too, though in all fairness, he has a good heart and a great imagination
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Lol! 🙂
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Tara in accounts to notice me… lol
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🙂
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Lovely twist. I can see follow up story’s.
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I don’t think I like him enough to give him any more stories
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Ha ha, this was fabulous
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Thanks so much
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Dear Neil,
Perhaps he’ll find Elvis in his tuna sandwich at lunch. Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think it’s a certainty
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Here’s to Tara noticing him. Lol.
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I don’t think Tara will ever notice him
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Life is cruel, no matter what the sandwich says. 🙂
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Haha! This one was good. Maybe he should try talking to her, but I get the feel of a shy person locked in his own imaginations. Good one, Neil.
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He tells ,me he tried talking to her, but he stammared and dribbled a little
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Prayers are answered all the time, why shouldn’t this one?
Your story made me smile.
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Thanks, Dawn
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Saint Theresa said that more tears were shed over prayers that were granted than ever were shed over prayers that were refused. Pass the preserves! 🙂
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Thanks Joshua
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He’ll sell the toast for a lot of money and then Tara will notice him.
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Tara’s not impressed by money
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Good one! Thanks for the morning chuckle!
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If you chuckled, my job is done
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From heaven to earth in one swoop. Guess he knows which side is buttered!
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that’s easy, toast always falls buttered side down
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😊😊😊
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Tara in accounts is missing out on a pretty cool guy 🙂
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he does dribble a bit
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Maybe he ought to leave the bread on Tara’s desk while she’s not looking 😉
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I;ll suggest it to him
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Guess we’ll have to see if it all works out. “Signs” are such funny things, but how we interpret them can be even funnier.
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You’re dead right
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I feel that last line. Most certainly. Well done, Mr. MacDonald!
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Thanks, Miles
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Excellent. Loved all of it not just the last line. V clever.
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Thanks, Derek
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Loved that story! I hadn’t identified the hole as the Virgin Mary but, yeah, that’s definitely her by the manger. The description of what the pigeon saw out of its milky eye was wonderfully imaginative as well.
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I like tjhat bird a lot. It appears in several things I’ve written
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Tara in Accounts doesn’t know what she’s missing. On the other hand… perhaps she does. Loved it!
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She knows. Thanks, Sandra.
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Ha!! I love it. I hope Tara notices him as well as all of the wonderful possibilities in the starling’s milky eye! 🙂
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The world loves an optimist
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🙂
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Since it’s the Virgin Mary he saw, not Cupid, there may not be much hope for him and Tara. Wait— is there an arrowhead near that heart?
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We all see what we want to see in the toast
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This is a hoot! Thanks for an afternoon smile.
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Thanks for smiling, Alicia. It’s good to know bathos still works
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Oh, cheeky! To see salvation from single life in a slice of bread – that’s the kind of imagination Tara could use. Great Neil
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Thanks Lynn. Tara needs to be cautious. He’s mad as a box of frogs
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Maybe it’s a sign to find someone else.
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I think anyone will do for him, anyone at all
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Haha – excellent twist Neil 😀
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Thanks, Dahlia
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Hahaha good one. Come on Tara!
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Thanks, Laurie
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Love how you brought this down to earth with the simple request at the end.
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Thanks, Cindy
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We see what we see and we pray for what we desire… Poor bugger doesn’t stand a chance in hell…
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Nope
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That’s asking for a lot!
DJ
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No sense of his own limitations, this boy
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Brilliant, Neil, absolutely brilliant. I love this. Your story is more whimsical than my photo!
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That’s high praise, Kelvin, thanks
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Haha…this is so funny! I do hope Tara in Accounts does notice him although I doubt she would!
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There’s no chance she’ll notice him
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Tara in Hindi means star, so I can understand why he is attracted to her 🙂 Love your imagination Neil. Who would have thought of putting the Virgin on toast? 😀
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Thanks. Some people see Mahatma Gandhi in their toast
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That would be very far fetched considering he probably never ate toast 😉
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That’s what makes fiction great and non-fiction even greater. There’s no end to what people can see
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Hi Neil! What an amusing tiny tale! I couldn´t help smiling at the protagonist´s outlook. It´s sweet, endearing and funny all in one. The conclusion was the clincher….lol ´.. pray – for peace, healing and for Tara in Accounts to notice me.´ Keep writing! Cheers!
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Thanks so much, Tina
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Loved the way you look at things.
Be it the fear and negativity instilled in the kid by the beautiful monument, or this miracle in the bread.
The ending made me laugh. May be these are the things which makes us human 🙂
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Thanks so much
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Let’s hope the portents live up to his expectations. Great characterisation.
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Thanks, Sarah
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The first two prayers seem pretty altruistic that third one though…Then again maybe Tara in accounts is the key to peace and healing.
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Tara in accounts is the key to everythig
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Ahh! Now I understand.
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Ha! Ha! That last line was such switch around after those altruistic thoughts. I think he might be already stalking her.
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I think you may be right
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And that’s how signs and omens work – you can take them to mean whatever you choose! nicely written
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You read my intention perfectly
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Beautiful story! I love the image of the starling dividing two worlds. And the mention of Tara – classic in more ways than one.
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Thanks so much
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Great twist and I love the way he connects everything to his priority, everything is a wishful sign
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Thanks, Michael
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