image courtesy Stacy Plowright
They were bickering again. This time it was about him not taking the weekend off to visit her mother. As usual it had gone from there to blaming each other for their imperfect lives.
His daughter was supposed to keep an eye on them but had chosen to throw a tantrum. She was being no help to him. Taking care of his children was enough to drive a man crazy.
Zeus called the Nephelai and asked them to show themselves and their cloud carriages to the squabbling couple. If a sight as beautiful as this didn’t stop them, nothing would.
this story was written based on the photo prompt at the top. For more stories on this prompt here’s where you need to go: http://madison-woods.com/index-of-stories/083112-3/
thecontradictoryoptimist
100words-Over 100stories-More than 100days 
I loved the way this moved from the mundane to the mythological. ‘cloud carriages’ – lovely. Well done
Thank you Sandra. I think yours was just brilliant!
You got the same mythology inspiration I did! Those clouds certainly do it. It’s a shock going from the humdrum to the celestial. I wonder, though, if you have a character or two too many in the humdrum part. I wasn’t quite sure about the daughter watching them (the children, the bickering couple?). Or are the two paragraphs different scenes from different apartments there? Just a bit confused on that. I agree with Sandra about the cloud carriages! Just right!
Here’s mine: http://wrasselings.blogspot.com/2012/08/friday-fictioneers-clouds-in-toronto.html
According to Greek mythology Zeus is the father of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Zeus also had Demigods for children who live on earth as normal humans. The husband in the couple is Zeus’s Demigod son. Hence what I meant was as the Goddess of Love it was Aphrodite’s duty to watch over her half brother’s love life.
The celestial start from the second paragraph..
Does that help?
It goes much deeper than I thought! I was envisioning everyday mortals with those difficulties. It’s tough when the readers aren’t as educated as the writer. 🙂 Great job.
Fueled by a recent interest in the Greeks. Thank you 🙂
I like this, the way the gods came in the picture, very brilliant. Mine is here
http://boomiebol.wordpress.com/2012/08/30/where-are-you-friday-fictioneers-831/
Thanks 🙂
I love your imagination with this.
Good story–successful humanization of Zeus and his demigod offspring. Hope the cloud carriages do the trick.
I hope so too
Ahhh, so that explains what causes those storms!! Gods bickering 😉
You mixed the human and gods very nicely. Good job.
Thank you!
Oh my goodness, what creativity you’ve used during this piece. Awesome job!
Thanks Jess!
Wow, this is the ultimate example of “I’m telling mom!” Hope the poor man finds some peace. Nicely done.
Thank you 🙂
nicely done
Thank you! 🙂
Cloud carriages! Novel! 🙂
Good work!
Thanks Parul
Inventive! Never would’ve gone there on my own. Thanks for the ride and thanks for the comments on my story.
Thank you Rochelle
Dear Ms. Contradictoryoptimist,
Third sentence in this otherwise delightful story is confusing (there/their wise). Which is it, please? No matter which I pick the sentence still means something. The question derails my train of thought just outside of the station, which is why I mention it.
Particularly enjoyed the cloud carriages and the characterization of the gods as merely mortal re their behavior.
Aloha,
Doug
http://ironwoodwind.wordpress.com/2012/08/31/satisfaction-brought-them-back/
Dear Doug
Thank you so much for pointing that out. I must have been a little hungry when I wrote that considering I ate up the ‘to’ that should have come after ‘there’. The edit has been made thanks to your observation. 🙂
So happy that you enjoyed the piece otherwise. 🙂
Happy to help and happier still that you’re not miffed that I was puzzled and said so. Cool.
Aloha,
Doug
Not at all miffed! It was a blunder on my part and I’m happy you pointed it out so I could correct it 🙂
Interesting transition. Took me a couple reads to figure it out.
Glad you liked it
Cloud carriages – wonderful. Lovely story.
http://adrarasdreams.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/fridayfictioneers-storm.html
I wish I could ride in one. I think it would be beautiful 🙂
A fine and unique take on the prompt. Nicely written. Mine is here: http://readinpleasure.wordpress.com/2012/08/31/friday-fictioneers-harmattan-rain/
Thank you 🙂 I really liked yours too.
Nice try, Zeus, but i’m not sure they will notice the sky! I love how this prompt has inspired mythology stories – I think Stacey will be a fan too.
I’m over here – http://elmowrites.wordpress.com/2012/08/31/friday-fiction-white-pegasi/
I know! I do too. Really liked your story 🙂
Way to throw me for a loop at the end! (I love when that happens) Really nice story!
Thanks John 🙂
My son and daughter in-law are fighting. She left, took the kids, and appears to be using them as leverage. Could you send some cloud carraiges over this way?
Sending them right over. I hope they see the beauty around them and stop fighting..
Nice twist. I wasn’t expecting the mythological characters. Very creative.
http://ebooksscifi.wordpress.com/2012/08/31/fallout-copyright-2012-ilyan-kei-lavanway/
Thank you Ilyan
Superlative, love the word play
Thank you. everything isn’t so dark..
Been reading Percy Jackson huh?
not of late but, thought of it – yes:)