#FF — Benched


PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

She’s a creative type. He’s a concrete thinker. She lets her body lead. He’s a chicken. Yet the chemistry between them is undeniable. Each feels hot wire currents from the other. But how will they bridge their opposing polar aspects? She jumps in and goes downtown; he flies the coop after her.

They surface as hot, greasy slabs of meat, sizzling and well done.

She jumps up, goes to shower, then says, “Gotta go!”

Can I get your number?,” he asks, feeling the afterglow.

It was fun, but no repeats is the agreement I have with my husband.”

[100 words]

Notes:
I was stumped by this image and so used a formula I have used before, which is to make a list of what I see and then try to write a story with those things in it. This is the word list I used:
Chicken wire
slatted bench
concrete slab
body of water
downtown
bridge

I wish I could say this was my idea, but I stole it from a funny series I watched last week on Netflix, called, “Alpha Males.” It’s about four guys who are best friends and have different relationship scenarios with their partners. One of the guys’ girlfriends wants to have an open relationship, which he is opposed to at first but ends up agreeing to, with some ground rules. One of the ground rules is “no repeats.”

Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the shining host of Friday Fictioneers.

62 Comments Add yours

  1. Neil MacDonald's avatar neilmacdon says:

    Well, that turned out differently than I expected. What fun!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Glad to hear you were surprised. Thanks, Neil :)

      Like

  2. Lisa, I find it brilliant how you used these visual cues to put together your story!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Christian you humble me with your praise. Thank you <3

      Liked by 1 person

  3. elmowrites's avatar elmowrites says:

    I felt all those elements flowing from the story as I read it, so I loved reading your process for this one. And I can see how that would be a useful ground rule, though I’m not sure this particular conquest is going to like hearing about it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks much for your thoughtful comment.

      Like

  4. Lisa, I love all the metaphors here pulled from the picture. Great job and such a clear picture painted too.
    -David

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Happy you liked the story, thank you :)

      Like

  5. Sadje's avatar Sadje says:

    An unexpected twist in this story

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Sadje's avatar Sadje says:

        Always a pleasure

        Liked by 1 person

  6. memadtwo's avatar memadtwo says:

    That was a rude awakening! And that’s a good approach to a prompt. (K)

    Liked by 1 person

  7. James McEwan's avatar James McEwan says:

    I like how you captured the intricate relationships of human behaviour, even turning infidelity away from the stereotypical male activity.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks much, James. That show I mention covers the gamut of male and female relationship behavior. I think it strikes a fair balance.

      Like

  8. Iain Kelly's avatar Iain Kelly says:

    Thanks for the insight to your technique, very revealing, and resulted in a good outcome – for you, not so much for the guy in your story!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      I appreciate your comment, Iain, thank you :)

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Wow you are a master of the simile and metaphor, well done!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks much, Mason. Glad you enjoyed the story :)

      Like

  10. Sandra's avatar Sandra says:

    The hot greasy slabs of meat metaphor might prove a little difficult for me to forget. But very well done. :)

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      :) Thanks, Sandra! I had “sweaty” at first then changed it to greasy.

      Like

  11. James's avatar James says:

    This isn’t the first story responding to the prompt with a little marital infidelity. Yikes.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      The heart looks dingy and faded in the image and I wanted to manifest it somehow in my story.

      Like

  12. Fun story and I love your process.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks much, Dawn!

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Liam's avatar Liam says:

    That is quite a vivid description of the post-coital moment.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      When it’s hot it’s hot! ;)

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Badfinger (Max)'s avatar Badfinger (Max) says:

    I love how you got that from that picture…that is good imagination.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Max :)

      Liked by 1 person

  15. Love how you ran with this and created such a fun read Lisa! 👏

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks, Cindy! Once I made the word list it fell into place.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. That’s awesome… you’re most welcome!

        Liked by 1 person

  16. Dear Lisa,

    Thank you for sharing your process. At any rate, the outcome was unexpected and clever.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Rochelle, you are welcome and thanks, glad you enjoyed the story.
      Shalom,
      Lisa

      Like

  17. Justawriter's avatar Justawriter says:

    I didn’t see the ending coming! Very creative and well written.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Bill's avatar Bill says:

    Well done, Lisa.

    Interestingly, I made a list, too. I didn’t know it was formulaic. When I look at the prompt now, I see the heart as the theme and everything else as scene or background.

    So I read your story, then your notes, then the story again. I like what you did here.
    And, a deal is a deal. One and done is not uncommon with swingers.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you for your thoughtful comment. One and done makes sense for swingers I would imagine.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Bill's avatar Bill says:

        Right. No falling in love. :-)

        Liked by 1 person

  19. Dale's avatar Dale says:

    Normally I don’t like when people explain their story; however, this is not that. I love how you explain to us your “how-to” to create this wonderful and original and fun piece. Well done, you!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks a lot, Dale. I usually don’t like to explain my story either. This time my block and how I got past it seemed right to share. Also, writers and other creatives like to drive it like they stole it and I wanted to give credit where credit was due. Thanks again <3

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Dale's avatar Dale says:

        Yes. And you weren’t explaining your story per se as some do (way too much).
        Your story stood alone and it was interesting to see how it came to be not what it was. Big difference.

        Liked by 1 person

  20. poetisatinta's avatar poetisatinta says:

    Love how the story turned out and the way you got your inspiration, I might give it a go at some point thanks Lisa :)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      AJ thank you very much!

      Liked by 1 person

  21. plaridel's avatar plaridel says:

    thanks for the tip for stirring the muse . i may use it one of these days. :)

    Like

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      You’re most welcome. Happy Friday, Plaridel!

      Liked by 1 person

  22. Michael's avatar Michael says:

    A great story,… humanity in a nut shell, I reckon

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you for reading and your comment, Michael.

      Like

  23. authorfleurl's avatar authorfleurl says:

    Wow. They surface as hot, greasy slabs of meat, sizzling and well done. That sure is a new take on that afterglow. Well done, great story!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      When I go hot, I go hot. Thanks, Fleur!

      Like

      1. authorfleurl's avatar authorfleurl says:

        Lol! Absolutely, turn up the heat! I liked your quirky descriptions, they beat reading standard steamy scenes!

        Liked by 1 person

  24. Ali Grimshaw's avatar Ali Grimshaw says:

    Creatively sizzling. I really enjoyed hearing about your process for writing this. Well done.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks much, Ali!

      Liked by 1 person

  25. Danny James's avatar Danny James says:

    Now that’s an open relationship.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Yeppers :) Thanks, Danny.

      Like

  26. You many have got the idea from Netflix, but the writing is still your own. Well-written, and in such few words. Nice one!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks much, Brit :)

      Liked by 1 person

  27. Nobbinmaug's avatar Nobbinmaug says:

    I did a mental checklist of the things in the picture as I was reading your story. It clicked when I read your process. I may have to borrow that next time I get stuck. Fun story bringing everything together.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks, Nobbin!

      Liked by 1 person

  28. Heather Musk's avatar Heather Musk says:

    I really wasn’t expecting it to end like that but I enjoyed it, thanks for sharing. An interesting take on different relationships.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks much, Heather.

      Like

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