This week’s photo prompt comes from Dale Rogerson.
The challenge is to write a fictional story in 100 words.
To find out how to get involved, click here
To read other contributions from some excellent writers, click on the Blue Frog
Eye Of The Beholder
Mamma fussed over the wedding veil.
‘Oh child,’ she said. ‘I will miss you but my heart soars at the freedom you will have. The world will know your beautiful soul.’
Anna remembered these words as she wrote:
Dear Mamma,
I am very lucky. Rich people come to my husband’s gallery and pay the price of a house for my paintings.
Anna couldn’t tell Mamma she saw little of her new life through the narrow, netted slit. She asked her husband why she had to cover herself, here where women were free. He got so angry that afterwards she was glad her shameful, broken face was invisible.
©Siobhán McNamara
I can see how you may have got from the image to this grim story. I saw a head in it too, but didn’t follow that line of thought
Thanks Neil, it was the first thing that came to me so I just had to follow it through
Oh dear. I wasn’t ready for that. I understand how the prompt moved you to write this. Well done.
Thank you Graham, the low, narrow space made me feel a bit claustrophobic and it stemmed from there
Oh my heart breaks for Anna!
To promise freedom and then to crush it is a particular type of cruelty
Such an intriguing take on the photo, and quite unnerving too! Very well done.
Thank you Sandra 🙂
Dear Siobhán,
That such barbarism exists in the world is frightening and maddening You said so much in few words. The ending line stirred all kinds of emotion. Brava!
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks Rochelle 🙂
Well told. Tragic and all too real.
Thank you 🙂
Alas the prisoners of women is universal… even a gilded cage is still a cage.
and yet, the caged bird still sings.
She may yet find strength in her art
Great use of the prompt. It is so hard to understand the pressure put on women to wear a full face burka.
It really is difficult to understand. I got a serious shock when I met a woman here in Donegal in the north west of Ireland walking along with her husband and daughter. The woman was wearing a burka, the man a smart suit, talking business on his phone, and in between them a little girl skipping along without a care in the world. My blood ran cold at the thought of what the future would hold for the girl, and yet I had no idea of whether or not the woman was wearing the burka by choice.
Excellent take Siobhan, and topical too. Loved your writing here.
Thanks Iain 🙂
it seems the both of us are thinking a little grim today. Nice story
The prompt is certainly provoking some sinister stories this week
So much for freedom… horribly topical!
Thanks Dale, and thanks for a great photo prompt
Glad you liked it!
Very grim. Poor woman.
So much within her reach and yet the cloth that separates her from it may as well be a fortress
Woah that caught me unaware and sideswiped me.
Sadly, some people have it really tough. Thanks for reading 🙂
I’m afraid you’ve nailed it all too well. It’s one sadness that she has to be so restricted, but so much worse when a simple question brings such abuse.
She really is trapped there. I’m hoping she’ll find a way out of her prison
Perfect writing this. The trapped image of the women came through beautifully.
Thank you Neel 🙂
Such a tragic and chilling story. Nicely written!
Thank you 🙂
Such a tragic tale that was well told.
Thank you 🙂
I hope her art brings her joy and strength. Let the caged bird sing.
Thank you Tracey, I have a feeling she will grow and find strength
Oh, that ending was a kick. I liked the way you got the situation in hand, then knocked it out.
Super story! 🙂
Thanks Kent 🙂
The ending was very hard to take, excellently written and perfectly delivered
Thank you Michael 🙂