It’s the summer holidays and I’m counting down the days until my little darlings go back to school. I’ve got about fifteen minutes before I’m interrupted again, so here is this weeks attempt at the Friday Fictioneers flash fiction photo prompt. Thank you as always to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for being our host. When I looked at this beautiful photo I was flooded with a number of ideas. But one held it’s ground. The idea that artistic people in the past used to believe they had a Muse. If muses were with us today what would they say? What would your Muse say about you ?
PHOTO PROMPT – © C.E.Ayr
Bemused
By Heidi Busby Brown
Joseph sat next to Isobel on the edge of the rooftop. A gentle breeze blew her golden curls around her face.
‘Look at the masterpiece he created, isn’t it magnificent Joseph?’
‘It’s ok…I suppose.’
‘You suppose?’ She chuckled and rested her head on his shoulder, ‘how’s yours doing?’
‘Not good.’ He sighs.
‘Why?’
‘She just sits there, staring at the screen. Wearing a….’ He shakes his head.
‘What?’
‘A onesie.’
‘That’s awful.’ He nods.
‘She’s blocking me. The book of face has won.’
Isobel gasps, ‘say it’s not so brother!’
‘I have failed.’
‘No! She must finish the series, I have to know if Julia chooses Mark or Luke!’
‘Will you help me?’
‘Of course I will. You know I love a challenge.’
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heidibusbybrown 
To be blocked by your children… who’s drowning in the book of faces…sad
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Pretty good for fifteen minute fiction! Mine was written between packing one box and the next – perhaps we both work best under pressure?
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Thank you Liz, a bit of pressure can be great but do wish I had more time for this one lol Hope your packing is going OK 🙂
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The book of faces is evil. I admire how fast you can write. Good story.
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Thank you so much, I was worried about this one as time and my kids were not on my side lol 🙂
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Good dialogue, but I’ve got to admit I’m not sure what’s going on. I would guess the brother is trying to paint a woman who isn’t posing properly. 🙂
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Sorry Suzanne that it’s not clear. In my head they are muses, sent to help. Isobel was inspiring the artist that did the painting on the wall in the photo and wanted to show her brother. Joseph is the muse for a writer. Does that make more sense ? 🙂
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Thanks, Heidi. That makes perfect sense. 🙂
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‘The book of face has won’ haha – story of many a writer’s life. Cleverly done and I love the title.
P.S. 15 minutes???? You put me to shame 😉 very well done!
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Thank you cheryl ! You are a star and yes the book of face often wins over actual writing lol. Although I don’t wear a onsie I can be found in my dressing gown hunched over the computer 🙂
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How is he write up related to the photo prompt?
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It’s my interpretation of the ‘photo prompt’. You used it to write about a concrete jungle and homeless animals. I saw the art on the wall, which made me think about muses and how it used to be believed that artistic people had a muse. See comments for further info.
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I too needed an explanation and after reading some of your replies, the story is so much clearer. After I read it few more times, I find it quite beautiful.
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Thank you for taking the time to read. Sorry for it not being clear, what would your muse say if you had one? 🙂
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She is probably somewhere drinking and laughing at me. 🙂
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Perhaps she’s with mine and there is a party going on 🙂
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I have added a bit about muses in my intro, hopefully my story will be less confusing now. 🙂
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I re-read this after seeing that they are muses. Very good!
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Thank you for re-reading , I appear to have been to subtle with this one. What would your muse say if you had one? 🙂
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Once I got the “muse” thing, I also saw how clever your title is!
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Thank you, I like playing with words. You are only the second person to spot it! In my head the title was supposed to give the muse thing away but it didn’t work lol 🙂
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Thanks for the background on the muses, I saw a totally different story. Definitely a writer blocked, but with her husband and a best friend to urge her on. Still lovely, either way!
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Thank you Yolanda ! What would your muse say about you if you had one ? Mine would be drunk and possibly have a photo of me with darts stuck in it. As I haven’t had a lot of time to write over the summer holidays 🙂
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That’s a creative angle on the prompt. I like the voices of these two – I can imagine them perching on the rooftop comparing notes. Joseph needs to try a little harder.
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Thank you Margret ! I think if I had a muse she is drinking cocktails having given up hope lol 🙂
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