
There was this crowd of people, all staring off into the distance. So, I watched too, of course.
“What are you looking at?” I asked the guy in front. “I see nothing.”
“Hope,” he said, turning. He had a weird far-away look in his eye.
The Second Coming? I wondered. Lights in the heavens? An ice-cream van?
A flock of sparrows stitched patterns in the sky.
And, you know, it was a kind of miracle.
.
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

Love the atmosphere in this tale and the natural conversation. Great job!
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Thanks so much
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Dear Neil,
I love the image of sparrows stitching patterns…lovely turn of a phrase.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks so much, Rochelle
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Yes, it’s always gratifying when our familiar bird population returns each year. And worrying, when they don’t. A few years ago we seldom saw a sparrow, but they’re going strong again now.
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Thank you, Sandra
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Whatever works to keep hope alive.
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I’m with you on that
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Mick Jaggar knew a girl with far-away eyes. I wonder if she found what she was hoping for?
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We can only imagine
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I love the line “stitching patterns” – it’s so vivid and a perfect example of something and everything they could be looking at. Beautiful story.
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Thanks so much
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Hope … like “A flock of sparrows stitched patterns in the sky” … is worth waiting on.
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Thanks so much
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I saw a Mumeration of Starlings off Aberwrstwth (spelling!!) pier one evening, it was awesome. Love the birds.
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Thanks so much
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The sparrows were sharing lessons! Glad the onlookers enjoyed the sight.
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Thanks, Anita
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lessons learned. one is never to lose hope. 🙂
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Except when ye enter here
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What a very philosophical man that spectator is. Lovely story.
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Thanks so much, Margaret
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I’ve watched those sparrows from Brighton beach – mesmerising!
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You know then whereof I speak
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I love this conversational piece, Neil. Originally, I sort of wanted to go there and then well… didn’t!
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Thanks so much. Dale
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Lovely read. I enjoyed the humorous take on what hope meant to the narrator: “The Second Coming?…Lights in the heavens? An ice-cream van?” -Angela
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Thanks so much, Angela
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They are wonderful to watch, as I often do at Eastbourne Pier.
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Starlings are, of course, better
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Interesting how the ideas of what “it” might be digressed from the second coming to an ice cream van. The birds stitched across the sky.
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He’s very open to all possibilities
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Nice!
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Thank you
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My mind went to the geese who stitch their own patterns all winter long here. I love that phrase, Neil.
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Thanks so much, Linda
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Awwww that’s a lovely moment. Great build up to the twist reveal.
But I think I’d have wanted the ice cream van haha!
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It was the best of all the conjectured alternatives. Thanks so much. Laurie
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I can watch the birds for hours when they flock together and weave patterns in the sky. A smooth story indeed.
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Thanks so much, James
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A very nice sentiment. Here’s hoping we all see those sparrows soon.
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They are visible only to those who are saved
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Hope is a necessary part of life. One must find it wherever one can.
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Absolutely
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Aww…this is lovely.
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Thanks so much, Dawn
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It’s always mesmerizing to me, watching a flock of geese flying in their V, each bird conserving energy by flying slightly above the bird in front, then the lead bird will drop back, allowing for the next in line to take his place. Fascinating.
Nice write, Neil.
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Thanks so much
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Love the imagery. Well done.
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Thanks so much
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Hope was a interesting word I did not expect
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Thank you, Michael
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Lovely.
I think it’s called a murmuration. Beautiful and mysterious.
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Thanks so much, Patrick. If it’s starlings, it’s called a murmuration
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I really like the stitching sparrows.
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Thanks so much, Jilly
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I liked the imagery in this story. ‘Hope’ is powerful.
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Thanks so much
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