Wednesday, December 20, 2017

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Post 1655. December 20

Write...Edit...Publish


Imagine if you will a crowded street. People pass by seemingly unaware of the busker standing in a doorway playing an accordion. He stops, stands motionless for a moment or two bearing an expression of terror, then staggers forward and turns. A flash of light bounces off a steel blade protruding from his back and in seconds his white shirt blushes blood red. He collapses into a heap, like a puppet with broken strings, the instrument beneath him wheezes a tuneless groan. The onlookers gasp.

                                                                             

The curtains swept across the stage and there was a stunned silence for a second or two followed by an eruption of spontaneous clapping. It was the interval and the audience made its way to the gilded bar where glasses clinked and chandeliers sparkled; a roomful of amateur sleuths each with their own theory as to whom committed that dastardly deed. Was it the man with the dog or the boy in the hoodie? Could it have been the lady in dark glasses or the beggar with the white stick? A shrill bell rang time, and they made their back to their seats in eager anticipation of the outcome of this grisly tale.

An hour or so later the man with the dog, the boy in the hoodie, the lady with dark glasses, the beggar, and a reincarnated busker joined hands for their final bow, basking in the glory of appreciative applause. Then the audience shuffled their way from the warmth of the auditorium into the chill of the street beyond.

Close by, an accordion player was squeezing a jolly tune. Suddenly his fingers stopped dancing on the ivory keys and he tumbled to the pavement. The departing theatregoers turned and stared, for as one mystery ended, another was about to begin.

As the Bard wisely said, all the world’s a stage.




Click on the badge to visit WEP and to see a list of other participants.











I look forward to reading your thoughts on my piece.

39 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. ...in the harshest possible way! Cheers Denise

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  2. A very clever flash fiction piece perfectly in tune with the "End is Beginning" theme. I loved it!

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  3. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.

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  4. The theater goers would be wishing it was only another performance.

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    1. It could just be a set up - an elaborate way of getting the play into the headlines!

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  5. Whoa, Keith! Loved it. Love your writing style.
    This prompt has encouraged a few time/warp-ish flashes. Loved this. I love how you've expressed the little things - the accordion wheezes a tuneless groan.
    Now having the theatre goers experiencing what they just saw on the stage certainly underlines Shakespeare's assertion that 'all the world's a stage' for sure.

    I'm glad you came across the WEP challenge and wrote to the prompt.
    Thank you for participating. I hope you enjoy the experience and meet many new blogger friends.
    We have a whole list of our prompts for 2018 published at the WEP website: https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com.au/p/challenges-2018.html

    Would love to see more of you next year.
    Meanwhile, have a very happy Christmas!

    Denise :-)

    Denise :-)

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    1. Hi Denise. Thanks so much for your kind words. I've been writing 4 or 5 stories a week for the past 11 years and I think I'm beginning to get the hang of it! Looking forward to future promps.

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  6. Oh and Keith, we post the direct link to the WEP list, but when I click the title of your story, it doesn't take me there.

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    1. Duly corrected. Sorry, I didn't spot that in 'the rules'!

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    2. Ha ha. 'Rules'. What's that? It's just that a direct link enables your story to stay alive so people don't have to go hunting if you're a prolific poster. Even so, a DL allows us to access your story any time if we need to.

      Thanks again!!

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  7. Hi Keith - loved this take ... theatre goers experiencing something worse than they could ever have imagined ... such a great read - I think I'll be worrying tonight ... cheers Hilary

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    1. I can't have you worrying Hilary! Thanks so much for your conntinued support, I really appreciate it. By the way, I came across this challenge whilst reading your blog - thanks for pointing me in its diirection!

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    2. So Hilary, thanks for pointing Keith in our direction!

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    3. Hi Keith - I'm glad you've come over to join us ... Denise, Nila, Olga and Yolanda do a great job for us running the WEP ... cheers to you all - Hilary

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  8. An intriguing twist. Was it one of the theatre goers practising what they had seen, or something more...

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  9. Oh nice. And I agree, there is always one more mystery to resolve.

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  10. An interesting take on the prompt with a theater scene. The same scene repeating itself over and over again show after show. What interested me the most was the reaction from the people. In my opinion, the scene had become an every day thing. The people clapped but their emotions were not stirred.
    Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a successful crossover into 2018.
    Shalom aleichem,
    Pat Garcia

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    1. Thanks so much for your incicive comment Pat. Seasons greetings to you.

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  11. The play could have gave someone a rather dastardly idea. Always another mystery around the corner, let's just hope one isn't at the center of it and dead haha

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  12. How quaint: theater and life interweave like that.
    Happy holidays, Keith.

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  13. That would freak me out if something like that happened and I was a witness to it. This was a very ingenious way of blending the illusion of theatre with the gritty reality of life on the street. Who would want to kill a busker, anyway? BTW, who did kill the busker?

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    1. I have no more idea than you, but I promise it wasn't me! Cheers

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  14. Nice interweaving of the two types of drama, fictional and real life. Somehow it is quite sad though.

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    1. It is but then so is life for some. Thanks Sally

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  15. Most would keep walking. We see too much death each day and choose to ignore it for the 'news' on the lives of the 'stars'. Nonsense and propaganda at it's finest!
    Great thought provoking piece! Thanks for your participation in the December WEP Challenge!
    Wishing you the Happiest of New Year's!

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    1. Thanks so much for your generous words Yolanda. Happy New Year.

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  16. Congratulations on being Runner-UP in this challenge. Wear your badge with pride.

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  17. Hi Keith - yes congratulations on being runner-up ... well deserved ... cheers Hilary

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    1. Thank you for introducing me to the competition Hilary.

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  18. I like how you merged the story with reality, Keith. Congratulations on the award.

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    1. I couldn't have been runner up to a more worthy winner! Well done Adura.

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