The Unicorn Challenge.
A magical new weekly writing opportunity from her – Jenne Gray – and me.
Visit her blog every Friday to see the photo prompt, and post your amazing story in her comments section.
Or on your own blog, and stick the link down in her comments.
The rules are:
Maximum of 250 words.
Based on photo prompt.
That’s it.
To hear me read my story, just click here:
The Mansion
She promises to marry me if I build her a mansion with 100 rooms on the hilltop overlooking the town.
She is 6 years old.
For the next 10 years I spend every spare moment at the builder’s yard, the carpenter’s, and the glazier’s.
That’s when I’m not with her.
We’re inseparable until I go off to the city to study architecture.
She is now 16 and very beautiful, with many suitors.
The most persistent of these is Lionel Languid, the rich man’s son.
But for 5 years she resists all advances and, on my return, our engagement is announced.
I start to build.
She asks me to forget our childhood agreement.
I delay the wedding, keep on building.
She pleads with me.
We get married, but I postpone the honeymoon as construction continues.
She moves out of our cramped hut into the lavish living quarters I have designed for her in the West Wing.
I continue with the main section, the entrance hall, the drawing rooms, morning rooms, dining rooms, library, ballroom.
She begs me to move in with her, says we are like strangers.
I start work on the master bedroom, the nursery, the family rooms.
Time passes, or flies by, for I work constantly.
When I finally have a manor worthy of her, something I can offer her with pride, I call on her private rooms and find Languid is already there.
I burn down the entire structure in one night, while they still sleep.
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Human emotion is such a downfall!
An excellent story and I always enjoy listening to your engaging voice.
Thank you, Chris, you are very kind.
You realise that flattery will get you anywhere and everywhere!
Ah — the undoing of many a workaholic. Languid waiting in the wings, until he’s not.
Yep.
It doesn’t do to forget who when we focus on what.
there you go again! simple, engaging with a hook at the end that doesn’t merely put an end to the tale, it invites a re-reading.
...cool
Thanks, Clark, I hadn’t seen it that way, but I’m happy you did!
What a pity …. but it was all his doing.
And now it’s become their undoing.
Superb storytelling.
Thanks, Nancy.
If a beautiful lady feels ignored, she is liable to find her own entertainment.
Ah sì. Questo è verissimo.
Mi piacere.
An efficient cuckold would have simply eliminated the delightfully named Lionel Languid and sold the mansion for a fortune. But then again the symbolism of all his dreams going up in smoke is compelling. Strong piece, CE.
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Master storyteller is an understatement. Your prose is lyrical. Love to hear your stories.
I have to say, Rosemary, that you are fast becoming my favourite visitor here.
So much praise could turn my head!
Have you considered entertaining us further by contributing your own writing to the Challenge?
Thank you.
Oh my goodness. I am terrified to participate in YOUR challenge!! But I am thinking about it.
So he was only able to listen once…?
I suppose it just let’s us see we need to be careful what we wish for.
I was going to say ‘Cool ending’, but I won’t.
Excellent story as ever.
Carpe diem and all that, Jenne.
Life is for living.
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The master builder builds mansions.
He’s lousy at building bonds.
The master story teller once again builds suspense.
You are too kind, dear Lady