A Drift of Quills for May 2020

We are a bit late this time around, but here we Quills are, returning to what I think has become our favorite type of post. Specifically, we each created a flash fiction tale for the same picture. This time, Robin Lythgoe selected the inspiration. Here it is:

I did not find a title for this pic, but it is offered by Maria Eduarda Tavares. (You'll find it here.)

It seems we Quills couldn't even agree on whether the pic was of a boy or a girl. I thought it was a boy when I first saw it. Robin wrote about a girl. And I'm not sure Parker ever did commit ...

I almost went with a story that would have been under ten words long (which I will share with you later), but in the end, after much ado, I came up with a story that is still (title and all) under 500 words. Here goes!

The Contest
by Patricia Reding
Copyright Patricia Reding 2020

“It’ll be fun!” they said.

“You’ll have the time of your life!” they said.

“The amazing things you will learn about yourself! Why you’ll carry those lessons with you forever afterward!” they said.

And then there were the naysayers. There are always some of those, are there not? 

“Are you out of your mind?” one asked.

“You’ll be a laughingstock,” suggested another.

“What if you … You know … I mean … Well, what if you have to leave early? It could be so embarrassing, don’t you think?” pondered yet another.

Weeks passed and for the most part, of those who’d been supportive, what “they said” was accurate. Daniel took each new challenge seriously, practicing for days and hours on end. His focus grew sharper as he committed the smallest details to memory. His overall physique changed; his core grew stronger. His growing self-esteem even came to the attention of those who followed his journey. And then there were the unintended benefits! He could not have anticipated that he’d experience such new-found grace. And while his career came with amazing personal relationships, this experience brought friendships he could never have imagined.

Excited for what was to come, he’d arrived early to find the stage set. Blue lights sparkled through dry ice, creating a smoky, ethereal effect, reminiscent of clouds. And peeking out from among them, shone miniature glow-in-the-dark stars that technicians shot into the air for another special effect. 

But that was then … and this was now. 

Dazed, Daniel tried to process what had transpired. He’d never missed that connection during practice. And certainly, he’d never fallen before. How embarrassing! His partner would be so disappointed in him. 

The audience sat silent, apparently too stunned to know whether to laugh or to worry.

With their jaws set, the judges filled out their reviews.

Daniel, the star millions knew as Harry, lay stunned. He thought back to all those who’d supported him when this journey began. This much of what they’d said, was true: he really had experienced something extraordinary. This also, from what the naysayers had said, was true: he’d made a fool of himself. He’d spontaneously changed the routine in the moment, overcome with the audience’s zeal. As a result, he'd missed the connection and fell from his perch above, in a blaze of ridicule—and glittering stars. 

Daniel determined he’d hold on to at least some of what his supporters had said. He really had learned amazing things about himself. As to the naysayers, he was determined he’d stop their comments from echoing in his mind forevermore, even as the words of his oldest and dearest friend passed through, mockingly. “But, Daniel,” his friend had asked, “Are you sure you want to do this? To put your reputation on the line for this? Are you serious? For Dancing with the Stars?”

Yes, I know this is not my usual kind of story. It is not even fantasy, although it includes a character that played a fantasy character ... Still, this is what came to my mind when I first saw the pic. I mentioned I'd share with you, the extremely short tale I almost settled on. It went something like this: "Harry Potter Voted Out From Dancing With the Stars." Ha!

​Well, it's time to move on. Let's see what Robin Lythgoe, author of As the Crow Flies, has for us. (Be sure to follow the link below to her site and the rest of her story.)

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Dusted
by Robin Lythgoe
Copyright Robin Lythgoe 2020

Darcy Channing heard the scratch of a fingernail on the door before she heard her name whispered. She opened one eye to look at the cellphone on the nightstand.

3:22 AM. Ugh. Nothing good ever happened at this time of the night ...

Thank you, Robin! 

P.S. Broaddus, author of A Hero's Curse, is next.

It's your turn, Parker! What's that, you say? You have a title, but your story is only 11 words long? Hmmm. Well, have you an introduction? Very well then, we'll go with that for starters ...

​(Readers, be sure to follow the link, below!)

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Short stories, fantastic tales, spun from a single picture. It's flash fiction month! Our picture was chosen by the lovely Robin Lythgoe, and I've been thinking of a single storyline ever since. This may very well be the shortest short I've ever written...

Fairy Chaser
by P.S. Broaddus
Copyright P.S. Broaddus 2020

(Find Parker's story here.)