Copyright Roger Bultot.
Flotsam, the kind of debris that ends up in the sea by accident… accidents of carelessness, misfortune, or simply caused by the passage of time. The flotsam on the pavement outside their apartment comprises chipped crockery, torn clothing, empty plant-pots, broken picture frames and the like.
Jetsam, on the other hand, is the stuff that is deliberately thrown overboard, sometimes in distress, occasionally in anger or just as a last resort, simply to lighten the load.
Which was I, she wonders, turning the rubbish over with her toe.
It’s not often I come in under 100 words, but here I am at 89, and couldn’t think of anything else to add. I suspect the Friday Fictioneers leader has no problems hitting it right on the button each week. Thanks for all you do, Rochelle.
castelsarrasin 
Lovely meditation on rubbish, Sandra
LikeLike
Thanks for reading, Neil.
LikeLike
Ah, from general rumination to personal pain in one elegant step.
You know the rest of my comment by heart now…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you CE. Glad you liked it.
LikeLike
Brilliant composition!
LikeLike
Many thanks, Reena.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Sandra,
Which one indeed? Brevity is the soul of whit. In this case truer words were never spoken. Brilliant writing as always.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
It felt strange, knowing I’d got to the end so soon. 🙂 Normally I’m struggling to get weed out redundant words or phrases. Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is just fantastic 😊 The last line really hit me with a shaft of commiseration and memory. Really good job.
LikeLike
Many thanks Eugenia. I’m so glad you liked it.
LikeLike
My like button isn’t working, but consider your story “liked.” I stopped short today, too–92 words. Unusual. This photo kind of tells itself, doesn’t it? I can just see that woman toeing her way through the rubbish 🙂
LikeLike
The wonders of WP! I thought it was a really inspiring photo prompt this week. Thanks for reading, Linda.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was inspiring. Something we’ve all seen at some point.
WP is working with me to get the problem fixed–I hope 🙂 A couple of others here on FF have told me they’re having trouble, too.
LikeLike
Ouch. I think we’ve all felt like this. Nailed the last line.
LikeLike
Goes with the territory, I guess. 🙂 Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent piece. I love how you use the two words to highlight the character.
LikeLike
Thanks for reading, Josh.
LikeLike
Beautifully written, and exquisitely painful. A needle under the fingernail. What an amazing writer you are.
LikeLike
Thanks so much, Penny. I’m glad you liked it, painful though it may have been. 🙂
LikeLike
Sandra, What a thoroughly believable and powerful meditation of someone in pain. Well done.
LikeLike
Many thanks, Dora!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ironically, during COVID I’ve been sorting and disposing.
Your story addresses that but in a more thoughtful manner.
Brilliant of you to have said so much about trash and make it super interesting, Sandra.
Have a great day … Be Safe
Isadora 😎
LikeLike
Thanks for reading Isadora, and stay safe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jetsam as in jettisoned, I guess, though I’d never though to inquire before. Poor woman, thrown away like trash.
LikeLike
I’ve wondered that same thing myself more than once. Informative as I didn’t know the diff between those two words. Great writing, as usual, Sandra.
LikeLike
Not sure where the idea came from, but I realised as I started the piece that I didn’t either!
LikeLiked by 1 person
An interesting reflection. I hope she realizes she is not rubbish, but a treasure waiting to be found! Great writing, especially in so few words.
LikeLike
Someone else’s rubbish, another person’s treasure. Hopefully that’s the way it goes. Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A lot depends on the conclusion she reaches to that question. Nice meditation Sandra.
LikeLike
Thanks for reading Iain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope that your character opens a door to a bright future.
LikeLike
I’m hoping so too, Michael.
LikeLike
Powerful last line! I guess you are what you believe to be not what the other person believes you to be.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We tend to forget that, don’t we? Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
Brilliantly done, Sandra. Why use 100 when 89 will suffice?
LikeLike
Many thanks Dale. Usually I’m in the business of taking words out and converting them into word saving gerunds so it was unusual to find myself in this position. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know what you mean. My brain has started thinking in 100 words! Sometimes I write it and need no tweaking and it surprises the hell out of me. Other times? Not so much!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow powerful stuff, equating people to flotsam and jetsam is a sad comparison, but true
LikeLike
Thanks for reading! 🙂
LikeLike
A reflective and almost philosophical take. A perfect story in 89 words.
LikeLike
Many thanks, glad you liked it.
LikeLike
Beautifully written, Sandra. I can actually picture her turning the rubbish over with her toe as she asks herself a very searching question.
LikeLike
Many thanks! 🙂
LikeLike
Poor woman, discarded. Quite a searching question she’s asking herself.
LikeLike
Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
flotsam and jetsam, i learned two new words today 🙂
LikeLike
Pleased I could be of service. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
A reflection of someone in pain, brilliantly written. An incredible last line.
LikeLike
Many thanks, Brenda.
LikeLike
Indeed, two seafaring words applied to lost landlubbers. Well done, Sandra.
LikeLike
Thanks, Bill.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well done!
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLike
Yes, there is always those feeling at some point of our lives. A well observed story of human pondering.
LikeLike
Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! Wonderfully written. Flotsam and jetsom…great juxtaposition! And by the way, I don’t think you need to go one word over 89. This was perfect.
LikeLike
The last line caught me in the heart. I think we have all been there at what point or the other. I hope she is able to move on. Well written.
LikeLike
Many thanks!
LikeLike
Ooh. I really like this. Wonderfully told and you didn’t even need the full 100 words.
LikeLike
Flotsam floats whilst jetsam sinks (I think). Enjoyed your piece.
LikeLike