Sunday Photo Fiction is a weekly challenge presented by my old friend Al Forbes.
The idea is to write a short story (200 word max) inspired by what you see in his picture (below).
Leaves remind me of trees, and trees make me think of Aix, maybe my favourite town in the world.
Click on this link to enter your tale, and see what others have written.
Copyright Al Forbes
Aix-en-Provence
Aix is an ancient and wonderful town.
It is less than two hours from Medville, in the heart of Cezanne country.
The Cours Mirabeau is probably my favourite street in the world.
The road is wide, with water cascading from great moss-covered rocks as though in a novel by Steinbeck, and with the magnificent La Rotonde fountain at its western end.
The sidewalks too are broad, and lined with glorious plane trees losing their autumn leaves.
The buildings, many constructed as 17th century town houses, are now hotels, restaurants and grand cafes.
I venture upstairs in one such to answer nature’s call.
The ceilings are twenty feet high, the walls adorned with 200 year old oil portraits.
I become distracted, quickly lose my bearings.
Seeing a somewhat ramshackle door behind piled chairs and tables, I slip through.
Two rough-looking individuals in Phrygian caps seize me, drag me to a window and toss me onto a waiting tumbrel.
The cheers from the toothless crones, les Tricoteuses, are terrifyingly enthusiastic as I am hustled towards the guillotine.
Very nice story C.E. Another one of your wonderful surprise endings.
Happy you enjoyed, Joy!
A wrinkle in time and off we go…
at time warp speed, anything can happen. wonderful turn and twist in the writing that somehow overcomes disbelief in short lines and few words. I know, that’s what you do!
When in Aix, I’ll go to the Cezanne from now on 😉
I’ll skip the restroom up the stairs.
You never know…
In a magical place, magic happens every day.
WOW LOVED IT
WOW LOVED YOUR COMMENT
Thank you, really!
Knew I shoulda made that left turn at Albuquerque.
Is that near Avignon?
Vive La Revolution.
C’est tout rock n roll!
Dear CE,
Leave it to you to send a poor shnook looking for a restroom, though time to the guillotine. I love the subtle switch. Well done, sir. Are you familiar with O. Henry?
Shalom,
Rochelle
We went to school together
You’re very well preserved.
I really wanted to be there, until the guy lost his head! Nicely done.
It is a fabulous town.
And not everyone falls into the late 18th century and gets decapitated!
Wow!! Poor lad! 😀
Indeed!
Wonderful story. Scary, for the guy about to lose his head.
Aye well, these things happen in fiction!
Glad you enjoyed, Mandibelle
Fabulous writing, as per usual!
Well gee, honey, thanks a lot…
You know I canna lie…
You lured me in so nicely with your picturesque, relaxing descriptions, only to twist it hard at the end – surprise! Boy, if you’re going to suddenly find yourself stepping through a time portal, that is definitely *not* the part of history where you want to arrive.
I love to lure ladies, Joy, in a fictional way, of course.
The twist is what I do!
Excellent. Just as you are used to one style you bring in developments and suddenly it’s not what I anticipated. I love that! Well done.
Thanks Graham (is that really your name?)
As my strap line says, nothing is quite what it seems
Yes. Graham is my name!
This would be what you call a wrong turn! Great piece of work, really captures the imagination 🙂
You are too kind, Angie, very happy you enjoyed.
I love a story that turns on a dime – nicely done!
Thanks,Jesse, that is kind of my thing!
Whoops. Definite wrong turn there. Sounded like a beautiful area.
Great town, Al, ancient but vibrant, artistic and photogenic, culture and cuisine.
Amazing place.
You made it sound that way as well 🙂
I love the switch here. Excellent.
Cheers, Steve, that is what I do!
You do it well, Sir!