When the water turned solid he knew things were getting weird. Elongated raindrops hung from the branches like stretched taffy. He wondered if they might taste sweet. The air itself crystallised out and dropped in blue-white chunks from the sky, shattering musically on the ground.
So, it wasn’t really a surprise when a unicorn stepped into the clearing.
“Hello unicorn” he said.
“Hello man,” the beast replied.
“What’s happening?”
“You’re having an episode.”
“Oh, okay. I hope it doesn’t stop. It’s pretty.”
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.
Fancy sharpening your skill with writing exercises? The Scrivener’s Forge offers a new exercise every month to hone one aspect of your craft. Take a look at this month’s exercise on creativity
Neil MacDonald Author 
…How many fingers am I holding up?
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As many as I can imagine
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Loved this. The tone was spot on and brought a grin to my face.
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Thanks, Sandra
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I like this. Just the right tone to take the edge off the wintry image.
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Thanks, Jane
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🙂
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Hello Neil,
Love the unicorn. That’s quite an episode. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle. I know, it was a cheap trick – who doesn’t love unicorns
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Talking unicorns are the best kind of episodes to have.
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He was lucky that time
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An episode. Love it.
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Thanks
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My granddaughter is almost 2 1/2 years old and I have to keep reminding myself that the last time she saw snow she was nearly a year younger, almost half her lifetime ago. Small wonder every leaf, every icicle, even a stick or water puddle is like an undiscovered treasure to her. We take the world for granted while the very young see it as a profound wonder to explore. That’s how I experienced your story just now.
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I’m glad it had that resonance for you
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This is great
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Thanks, Joshua
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I wouldn’t mind having such an episode!
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That’s what I thought too. He’s having fun
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There are worse episodes… 😁
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I don’t usually have unicorns in my episodes… lol! Love the story! ❤
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he doesn’t either. That’s why he’s so thrilled with this one
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😂
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Lovely story, Neil! You win our hearts with your descriptions of the beauty of the world he is seeing.
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Thanks so much, Penny
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Now that really made me smile. Thank you.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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My work here is done, then
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Snow and ice really would look like some bizarre hallucination to someone who’d never seen it – nicely (and humorously) painted, Neil!
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Thanks, Joy
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I’ve got enough Dayquill in me that I could really see unicorns…hehhehe! Good write!
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Thanks, Jelli
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You conveyed the protagonist’s perceptions so well. His lack of surprise at seeing the unicorn was a great way to show that he was aware of his own hallucinations.
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Thanks Magarisa
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Oh! The unicorn made me smile. And man’s reaction, “Hello, unicorn,” as if unicorns appear every day. Lovely take on the prompt!
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Thanks, Alicia
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Love this. Continue the episode by all means!
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Thanks, Sascha
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Lovely, lovely story. Cheers to the madness in all of us, may it live long and prosper 🙂
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Thank you so much
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Episodes like that should happen more often. I like the image of crystalising air.
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Thanks, Liz
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I enjoyed your take on the prompt.
Wouldn’t life be dull without Unicorns and crystallised blue-white musical chunks dropping from the sky?
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Mine would be incomplete without them
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More disturbed meanderings – and lovely ones too. Gorgeous imagery, Neil
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Not all my character’s episodes are scary
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🙂
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Oh dear… but what a lovely episode to have. I love the unicorn but I sure hope he is okay
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He’s absolutely fine
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I hope man and unicorn meet again as I enjoyed their conversation
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Thanks, Michael
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Nice story Neil, The mind IS a funny place!
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Thanks, Nan
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Hahaha! What a vision! Thinking of sweet icicles! Loved that part to bits.
I should feel a bit sad for the man for he may be losing his mind. But then, when such a the visions that you get, it’s hard to be truly sorry 🙂
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That’s exactly what he feels. He may want to be sane, but not too sane
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Brilliant, love it 🙂
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Thanks so much
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It sounds a bit like the time my husband gave me too much cough medicine. Things start floating in the air but I couldn’t touch them. Good writing, Neil. 🙂 — Suzanne
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What was the name of that brand of cough medecine?
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😀
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I would rather stay with the unicorn than to wake up…
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His thought exactly
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I really enjoyed this. The dialogue between the man and the unicorn although brief is so innocent and pure. We should have more episodes with unicorns. My Friday Fictioneers
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Thank you so much
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THAT was delightful!
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Thank youl, Dawn
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A nice drift into fantasy! I enjoyed it…
Scott
Mine: https://kindredspirit23.wordpress.com/2017/12/11/fall-of-our-discontent/
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Thanks so much
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Love the conciseness of your story – an engaging and magical tale.
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Thanks very much
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