PHOTO PROMPT © Brenda Cox
It was just another Friday for Lu. Riding bus one-fourteen after work, he planned on getting off at Mandarin to pick up his bottle of vodka, a six-pack of ginger beer, and his favorite bento before walking two blocks to his apartment to binge-watch, “Lost.”
They were stopped at the light when he saw her cascading auburn hair. To others, she was just another tourist taking pictures. To him, seeing her alchemized his long-ossified heart to living tissue again.
He yanked the cord and stumbled down narrow steps.
“Mariah!!!!,” he screamed as he ran, watching her disappear into the crowd.
[100 words]
Note: I couldn’t help but notice the guy on the upper deck of the bus looking at the camera. He inspired my story. FYI there is a little truth in here also, as I used to have my Friday at 5 routine of stopping at the deli on the way home, getting my favorite hooch, mixer, and custom-made sandwich.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the inspiring host of Friday Fictioneers.
Tao Talk 
Love it. Love all your details and the combination of the vodka, ginger beer, bento box, and watching Lost. And that he yells “Mariah!” at the end.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks much, Melissa. Glad you enjoyed it :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
awesome story Li! :-) love it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks again, Carol Anne :)
LikeLike
Very interesting story Li. And you’re very observant too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sadje, thank you :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re most welcome
LikeLiked by 1 person
He does look like he’s watching the photographer. I hope he finds her. (K)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Forget the dinner, he found something much better. Good photograph spotting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, T! Maybe they can have dinner in a romantic little cafe and catch up with each other.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What great use of that little detail in the picture
LikeLiked by 1 person
Neil, thank you very much.
LikeLike
Aw, I hope he catches her… and that she wants to be caught!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! Thanks for reading and your comment, Jen.
LikeLike
Why should I be terrified? Is Lu just living a routine life, surviving, and an alcoholic with problems. Is it really Mariah (whoever she was/is) or an apparition of his sadness. Let’s hope it is who he expects, and she is pleased-otherwise run and keep running you poor tourist.
You gave us a good story that creates more ideas.
LikeLiked by 1 person
James, I’m glad it got your mental gears turning. Thank you for your lovely comment.
LikeLike
I, too, wrote my story about the fellow on the right side of the bus. Great minds think alike, I suppose. I hope he catches her.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cool, Alicia! Same here.
LikeLike
I hope it’s her and she wants to be caught. Well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too! Thank you :)
LikeLike
Great story, Li. I never noticed that guy looking at the camera! He looks guilty as sin!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks much. Maybe he has ill intentions??
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. I don’t trust him!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful. I adore the phrase “To him, seeing her alchemized his long-ossified heart to living tissue again.” I think many of us noticed that guy. :
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gabi, he is hard to miss! Thanks much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like an excellent Friday afternoon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope Mariah remembers Lu…and it’s good intentions. You taught me another word…. ossified
LikeLiked by 1 person
Max, thank you and I hope so also. Happy Sunday! I got to spend time with my granddaughter at the library yesterday. Life is good :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is awesome! The more time you can the better.
I’m making dinner today…Gumbo.
LikeLiked by 1 person
YUM on Gumbo! What all do you put in your gumbo??
LikeLiked by 1 person
Polish Sausage, chicken, salad shirmp, green peppers, celery, onions, garlic… and a lot of seasoning… I’ve had this recipe for 20 years after someone invited Jen and I over to eat…it was great so she gave me the recipe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds SO GOOD. I would use Impossible Sausage but other than that wouldn’t change a thing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll send the recipe…it’s really easy…and I promise…it’s great!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Max! I love eating gumbo just never made it, and usually get it at a restaurant.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thats me…and it’s a toss up at restaurants…people make it so different…. I just put it in a crockpot for around 6-7 hours on low…
You can do HI for 3-4 hours.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If you are of a mind to share the recipe, I would take it :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
It should be in your box now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Got it! I just saved it as Crockpot Gumbo Max Recipe. Thanks again, (and please thank Jennifer for reminding you it goes in the crockpot.) I cook a lot of stuff in the crockpot, and you really can’t go wrong using one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love a crockpot…when I was single that was my way of having a home cooked meal…load it up before I went to work…when I got hom it was ready…we use it a lot also.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Lisa,
You have a good eye for detail. ;) Hopefully Lu will catch up to her. That is, if it’s a good thing. If not “Run Mariah! Go like he wind!” Either way, a good story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rochelle, thank you and glad you liked the story :)
Shalom,
Lisa
LikeLike
I hope Mariah is real and not a figment of his imagination born from loss. There’s always hope, I suppose. Anyway, he had a distraction from his every day. A lot of story in so few words. Nicely done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brenda, your comment expands the story even further. Thank you very much <3
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m very glad to hear that. :) You’re welcome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m certain he’s not going to lose her this time. Well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sandra, thank you for your lovely comment.
LikeLike
Wow. This is so visual. Every element was captured so that I could see the moment so clearly. Including his shock. Well done
LikeLiked by 1 person
Laurie, thank you :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved that you entwined your Friday routine with the image of the man on the bus. He’ll never find Mariah, but he can have sweet dreams about her 😁.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks much, Brit :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
So it isn’t just another Friday for Lu. I love the details of Lu’s routine, and the huge disruption when he sees her. I hope he catches her and there’s a beautiful reunion. Lovely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy you enjoyed the story, thank you :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved it! Always dream something like this happens to me for some reason.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome! Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person