The Chateau Outside of Paris (FF)

 ©ceayr

FF - Friday Fictioneers

I was dirt poor all my life.  I slept where I could sleep, I stole what I ate, and I took advantage of whoever I could take advantage of, whoever came my way. 

It was a cold Thursday I chanced upon the chateau outside of Paris with doors unlocked. I ate cheese and caviar, slept on satin sheets, and began taking what I could when the front door opened.

I reached for the nearest lamp, but the family was forgiving. They wanted to sell the chateau provided it go to someone who would truly appreciate it, even if they had to wait for payment til such a person "got on his feet."

In time I paid them, every franc of it. 

Today I have homes outside of New York and Barcelona. But the home I truly appreciate, and always will, is the the chateau outside of Paris.

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For some reason this week I looked at the picture prompt above and didn't come up with anything funny. And for those of you who are thinking "how is that different from every other week?," I'm glad I stuck you with over 140 words to read, serves you right!

What an admirable protagonist we have in this week's story, pulling himself up by his chaussures straps!  Especially as compared to the author, who whines for half an hour if the cable goes down in the middle of a Shameless marathon. You'll sure have nothing to whine about, however, but plenty to appreciate if you check out the work of the other Friday Fictioneers on the weekly prompt by clicking here.

Wish I could put you up in the chateau outside of Paris, but I got it booked through the end of July.  You can't beat Airbnb!

Dabbling in Real Estate (FF)

© Amy Reese

FF- Friday Fictioneers

It seemed like a real estate opportunity too good to be true.  And for only $100,000, developer Lance Philtrum was ready to jump on it.

It was a virtual mansion with eight bedrooms, five bathrooms, two swimming pools, tennis courts, a private beach, and plastic replacement windows.   The only drawback was the rickety stairs leading up to the house.  

Philtrum was back for a second look at the property and was climbing the decrepit stairs when a hand darted out from under one of the steps and tripped him. Philtrum tumbled to the ground.

"Damn troll!" he exclaimed. "That's it; not a penny more than $99,000."

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Actually I guess the title "Dabbling in Real Estate" is kind of a misnomer for this piece since Lance Philtrum is an experienced real estate developer, but I just happen to like the word "dabble."  I hope you'll use it sometime today; I know I will.

If you'd like to dabble in the works of the other Friday Fictioneers relative to the above picture prompt, click on the word dabble above, which I have now already used for the day as promised.

Thanks, all you internet trolls.  Watch out for that third step!

Chateau by the Mediterranean

"What a timeshare!"

I couldn't believe it!   A chateau by the Mediterranean for a week!  

The rental agent was showing me a picture of a chateau by the Mediterranean.  For a week! 

"Sylvan,  are you sure I can afford this?!" I sputtered.

"Sure  you can, Mr. Block," said Sylvan. "Long as you can rub two nickels together."

Well, that much I could do.  Though I probably couldn't rub them together long enough for them to become sexually excited.

"There's just one thing, Mr. Block," added the agent.

"Yes, Sylvan?"

"It's a package deal. You'll be sharing it with all the other Friday Fictioneers and their families, including the ones who don't regularly post.  A total of over 500 people, including multiple screaming children."

"Oh, well, I guess that's okay ...."

"Oh, and Mr. Block?"

"Yes?"

"You'll be sleeping on the pile of rubble." 

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Still sounds like a pretty good deal to me!  What do you say,  Fellow Fictioneers?