Little Liar

FF - 17.01.18 - funfairPHOTO PROMPT © J Hardy Carroll

 

Little Liar

‘Can I go on the twisters Mummy?’

‘You’ve no tickets left sweetheart.’

‘I have.’ Misty pulled a string of tickets from her pocket.

‘Where did you get those?’

‘I found them on the floor.’

The lie settled over Misty like a cloud. It crept under her skin, warming her blood. That lady will never notice. She was too busy eating her burger to pay any attention to her bag. It was easy pickings.

Misty’s sweet smile revealed nothing as she gazed up at her mother. Baby blue eyes blinking in the sun.

‘Go ahead.’

Misty ran off squealing with delight.

***

To my fellow fictioneers, I managed to have my first flash fiction piece called ‘Sometimes I Smoke’ published in the Cabinet of Heed online magazine. It’s just over 200 words. Click the link if you can spare a minute to have a quick read. Thanks!

***

This piece was written for the Friday Fictioneers hosted by the lovely Rochelle Wisoff-Fields – Addicted to Purple. 

Each week a photo prompt is given and the challenge is write a flash fiction piece of no more than one hundred words.

Find other Friday Fictioneer stories here.

 

Author: Jennifer Kennedy

Mother, teacher and writer. I love all my jobs but writing holds a special place in my heart. I hope you enjoy reading my short stories as much as I enjoy writing them!

56 thoughts on “Little Liar”

  1. Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist – Sunshine Coast Qld – I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
    Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist says:

    I can see this happening. Realistic.

    Reply
  3. Iain Kelly – Canonbie Ave, East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire G74 4, UK – 41 year old writer, avid film viewer and book reader, employed in the media industry as a television editor.
    Iain Kelly says:

    Ah Misty – the start of a criminal career? Congratulations on your publication.

    Reply
  4. rochellewisoff – Missouri – A Kansas City native, Rochelle's been married to her first husband Jan for nearly 50 years. A trained graphic artist, her passion is creating not only watercolor paintings, but word pictures as well. Her most recent novel about a middle-aged woman battling anorexia is under contract with literary agent Diane Nine www.ninespeakers.com
    rochellewisoff says:

    Dear Jen,

    Hopefully Misty’s conscience will get the better of her. But I’m not sure there’s much hope of it. Well done and congratulations on the publication.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Reply
  7. pennygadd51 – United Kingdom – I write. I've written many pieces of flash fiction, dozens of short stories and two novels, with a third in progress.
    pennygadd51 says:

    “The lie settled over Misty like a cloud. It crept under her skin, warming her blood.” What a vivid description of how Misty felt as her first successful lie followed her first successful theft. Nicely written!

    Reply
  8. James Pyles – James Pyles is a published Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror author as well as the Technical Writer for a large, diversified business in the Northwest. He currently has over 30 short stories published in various anthologies and periodicals and has just sold his first novella. He won the 2021 Helicon Short Story Award for his science fiction tale "The Three Billion Year Love" which appears in the Tuscany Bay Press Planetary Anthology "Mars."
    James says:

    Light fingers Misty strikes again.

    Reply
  9. Sandra – I used to cruise the French waterways with my husband four or five months a year, and wrote fiction and poetry. Now I live on the beautiful Dorset coast, enjoying the luxury of being able to have a cat, cultivating an extensive garden and getting involved in the community. I still write fiction, but only when the spirit moves me - which isn't as often as before. I love animals, F1 motor racing, French bread and my husband, though not necessarily in that order.
    Sandra says:

    The child will go far. Probably in the wrong direction, but far. Congratulations on your story, I enjoyed it.

    Reply
  11. Lee Dunn – Lee Dunn has been writing since the age of 18, but found that work got in the way for the ensuing 48 years. In his home town of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, he reveled in his independence at an early age, and spent as much time as he could exploring the city’s Arts scene. He was introduced to poetry and prose by the works of two literary giants, namely J.R.R. Tolkien and J.W. Lennon and thence fell in love with the written word. His work includes poetry, short fiction, and personal essays, and ranges in theme from the surreal to the horrific, nostalgic, and themes on the human condition. He has been published on Spillwords.com, The Dark Poets Club, Journal of Undiscovered Poets, Crepe & Penn Literary magazine, and the Shelburne Free Press.
    Lee Dunn says:

    These stories are something else, and congratulations on your publication in Cabinet of Heed.

    Reply
  12. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) – I love to write poetry in all forms and matters. Almost unpublished but busy writing poetry daily. Love to see the music and color in words and grab my poetic license with English.
    Björn Rudberg (brudberg) says:

    It’s not the stealing but getting away that might curse her… I got caught very early and stayed away from stealing… I will always remember my father after it happened.

    Reply

    1. I stole something once when I was young and got away with it. But the fear of being caught and the guilt afterwards stopped me from ever doing it again.

      Reply

  14. And so it starts… until they get caught. Nothing worse than when they can look you in the eye and lie.
    (Loved your story “Sometimes I Smoke”!

    Reply

    1. It’s awful when they lie to you, I think most kids test the waters with that. Maybe not the stealing though. Ha. Thanks so much for reading Sometimes I Smoke! X

      Reply

  15. This would be true for so many self-absorbed iPad toting kids today!

    Reply
  17. Lynn Love – UK – I'm a writer, living in Bristol in the UK. I've had a handful of short stories published but I'm still working on that Holy Grail for fiction writers- securing a literary agent. So, if you're an agent or have an Auntie, Uncle, second cousin, best friend who is one...
    Lynn Love says:

    A whole lifetime of nefarious activity lies ahead of her. She’ll get a taste for it, I’m sure. Huge congrats on the publication – well done you!

    Reply
      1. Lynn Love – UK – I'm a writer, living in Bristol in the UK. I've had a handful of short stories published but I'm still working on that Holy Grail for fiction writers- securing a literary agent. So, if you're an agent or have an Auntie, Uncle, second cousin, best friend who is one...
        Lynn Love says:

        My pleasure 🙂

  18. Lynn Love – UK – I'm a writer, living in Bristol in the UK. I've had a handful of short stories published but I'm still working on that Holy Grail for fiction writers- securing a literary agent. So, if you're an agent or have an Auntie, Uncle, second cousin, best friend who is one...
    Lynn Love says:

    Read your flash on Cabinet of Heed – so heated, so passionate and frustrated. Smouldering and beautifully written. A deserved publication

    Reply
      1. Lynn Love – UK – I'm a writer, living in Bristol in the UK. I've had a handful of short stories published but I'm still working on that Holy Grail for fiction writers- securing a literary agent. So, if you're an agent or have an Auntie, Uncle, second cousin, best friend who is one...
        Lynn Love says:

        My absolute pleasure 🙂

  19. Joy Pixley – In my day job, I'm a sociologist. In my spare time, I live in the fictional world of Eneana, where magic is real and the gods are capricious and the legends are sometimes (a little, maybe, almost) true, and the most important thing is still the hearts and lives of everyday people. The image I'm using is from a woodblock print my mother did of me reading when I was much younger.
    Joy Pixley says:

    I love the description of how the lie felt to her, and how she managed to smile sweetly to her mother to cover it up. Methinks this is not the first time she’s taken something that isn’t hers, or lied to her mother; or at least, it will not be the last. Well done! And congrats on your flash publication!

    Reply
  20. Kate Frances – UK – Everywhere I look I see potential stories. Sometimes I’ll annoy even myself for using brain power creating a tale about some trivia I spot while waiting in the bank queue, or sat at the traffic lights! If I can one day write something which others enjoy reading, my goal will have been reached 🎉 I laugh. A lot. Humour is often in my stories and laughing is a tonic we should all attempt to take daily. Come laugh with me ...
    Viola Bleu says:

    Wow!
    Again, cleverly written and so thrilled that many people are following you and reading. Naughty Misty 🙈🤣x

    Reply
      1. Kate Frances – UK – Everywhere I look I see potential stories. Sometimes I’ll annoy even myself for using brain power creating a tale about some trivia I spot while waiting in the bank queue, or sat at the traffic lights! If I can one day write something which others enjoy reading, my goal will have been reached 🎉 I laugh. A lot. Humour is often in my stories and laughing is a tonic we should all attempt to take daily. Come laugh with me ...
        Viola Bleu says:

        I’ve done it once before … the ant story!
        Must get back into it x

  21. Oh my, her future does not look bright, on a path that could lead to no good place. Her ability to steal so easily and then lie so sweetly about it (hmm). Lovely writing! =)

    Reply
  22. Anna Rymer – Mum of two and a lover of books, stories and magic. I'm also a Writer, Performing Arts Postgraduate and early stage Fiction Editor.
    Anna Rymer says:

    Oh the little bugger! What a wonderful vibrant character. This is great writing- the way you describe the lie creeping and settling is brilliant! 👍👏😀
    Oh and great title – you can Just hear it – ooo the little liar 😃

    Reply
      1. Anna Rymer – Mum of two and a lover of books, stories and magic. I'm also a Writer, Performing Arts Postgraduate and early stage Fiction Editor.
        Anna Rymer says:

        She should – she’s ace 🙂

  24. kindredspirit23 – I am a very spiritual person and try to always understand that no one is bad or good, but merely trying their best to understand and live their lives to the best of their knowledge. I have two wonderful adult children, who are living their lives to the fullest and best for them. I live in a small Indiana town with my cat Tamika. I have sold 6 short horror stories that were published in 2013. I published a Kindle book anthology of my horror stories in fall of 2013 and have recently posted my 900th post on my blog. I am working on a novel and trying to get healthier.
    kindredspirit23 says:

    Congrats!

    Reply
      1. kindredspirit23 – I am a very spiritual person and try to always understand that no one is bad or good, but merely trying their best to understand and live their lives to the best of their knowledge. I have two wonderful adult children, who are living their lives to the fullest and best for them. I live in a small Indiana town with my cat Tamika. I have sold 6 short horror stories that were published in 2013. I published a Kindle book anthology of my horror stories in fall of 2013 and have recently posted my 900th post on my blog. I am working on a novel and trying to get healthier.
        kindredspirit23 says:

        You are welcome.

  25. great read. Misty has a hard road ahead of her if this is the path she chooses

    Reply

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