The first shaft of morning sun lifts the courtyard from shadow, like an old-time cinema organ rising from the stage. Yes—another message. I smell gardenias and a hint of sulphur.
Hunkering down, viewing from a distance, turning round suddenly. I try stratagems to decipher the chalked words, but I can make out only the word all.
A threat or a promise? Give me all your money? You have been naught, you shall be all?
Of course, I could wait through the night to catch my mystery correspondent. But if you peek, Santa doesn’t come.
Perhaps the word is allo?
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
Neil MacDonald Author 
Enigmatic and enchanting.
Love it.
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Thanks so much
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Is he going to write something back? 😀
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Eventually that may occur to him
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Dear Neil,
Intriguing. I love the scent of gardenias with a hint of sulfur. I don’t think this will be all there is. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sadly, you only allow us 100 words, so that is all there is
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Sulphur along with gardenias? Your message is most certainly from the devil in the guise of a free-wheeling tease of a killer queen. (To avoid complications, she never gives her entire home address.)
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I foresee a Faustian pact
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Good points to ponder.
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Thanks, Joshua
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In time, ‘all’ will be revealed I’m sure. An intriguing piece indeed.
Here’s my story.
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Thanks, Keith
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A good story with mystery and a hint of the mystical, Neil. I wouldn’t trust the sulfur unless a lightning bolt had struck. I tasted it one time when that happened. Just don’t hunker near a tree. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Yup. The sulphur isn’t a good sign
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Ah, the mystery! And now to live without the knowledge of further correspondence. Nicely done!
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Life’s a bit like that
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A spooky tale for a season of spooks! Great story.
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Thanks so much
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That scent could be a cause for caution…
Love where you went with this.
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Definitely, he should proceed with caution. Thanks, Dale
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“I try stratagems to decipher the chalked words, but I can make out only the word all.” Bang on! This was my first observation in the picture.
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Glad you made no more sense of it than I did
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It’s the sulphur that’s making the hair on the back of my neck rise. And combining it with gardenias is a master stroke.
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Thanks, Sandra. I was quite pleased with the perfume combination
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Sulphur could mean big trouble, or maybe a lit candle?
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I’m going with big trouble
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Gardenias, sulphur, and Santa. What an interesting trio 🙂 This is so imaginative. It could go in so many different directions. Great writing, Neil.
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Thanks so much, Linda
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Surely if they can make words appear before vanishing they could at least have the decency to make them meaningful, or at least make sense. No time for these cryptic games in the modern world!
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I wonder the same thing about the words that appeared today
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As the others have said, creative use of the prompt. I like how you took some flights of fancy here with the gardenias and santa Claus. It’s fun to read things when it feels like the author has enjoyed writing it.
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I did have fun with it. Thanks
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Creative! I was looking at those scribbles trying to decipher them … and there you went and made that very aspect, your path. 🙂
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We all see what we’re primed to to look at
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perhaps, eh? 🙂 As long as it keeps us creative!
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Sounds like a dangerous combination of scents in the air. I’m afraid I would have to peek and would bring witnesses.
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It’s entirely possible the messages and even the whole playground would disappear under those circumstances
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I thought it was “allo”. Maybe he should reply.
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Maybe he will
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I thought it was ‘allo’ – a message from Santa? It’s only October!
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It may well have been, but I prefer the more enigmatic all.
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Ah another chalk story. Love it. Your version gives hope and intriguing mystery
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Thanks Laurie. Maybe it’s threat along with the hope
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All I can think is “All means all” the mantra of Inclusion. But now im wondering if maybe the poor guy IS waiting for Santa.
I like your wisps of gardenia and sulphur-makes me think of how (I have read that) some, who experience seizures, may have a brief sensory experience beforehand, such as a smell, like a warning, before beginning to convulse.
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I’m glad you saw the seizure hint
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😁😁😁
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Very imaginative, Neil. I like the stratagems for trying to understand the ‘messages’ and (of course!) the scent combination. I also liked how Santa sneaked in!
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Thanks, Penny
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A compelling read, Neil. I was captivated by it.
The scent of gardenias is one of my favorites.
It’s a shame there’s only 100 words.
Isadora 😎
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Thanks so much, Isadora
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Fascinating. I studied the faint letters and got nothing. You got a haunting thought.
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Thanks so much, Eugenia
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nice one
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Thanks so much
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Gardenia and a hint of sulphur. Grandmother is satan? (kidding.) Good story. Would love to know the mystery correspondent.
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Thanks so much, Sascha
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Or the word could be appalling, which your post is definitely not.
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Indeed it might. Thanks
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Gardenias and sulphur… what an odd combination. An intriguing piece.
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Thanks so much, Magarisa
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You so often leave me wondering…this time is no different…
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Oh dear! That’s not good
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It is on me though, Neil. Not you at all.
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The customer is never wrong
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