Light filtered through the bottled patchwork like a stained glass window on a Sunday morning, only it was a Saturday, and Gully’s head throbbed so that he could barely lift it.
Smoke stung the tops of his eyelids. Gully choked and forced himself to sit. A redhead lay across from him in a singed, pink polka-dotted dress. The bar had burned to a crisp.
“Rats in the kitchen,” the townsfolk said of the yellow bottle.
“Paradise” blue was not offered.
All that was left was “Danger” red.
He lived to touch the glistening glass. Tomorrow he’d go to church.
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Genre: Strange (99 words)
Photo Copyright: Marie Gail Stratford
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I woke up this morning to smoke and I thought my house was on fire. It turns out it was the smoke that had drifted down from the King Fire, which has now burned more than 95,000 acres. It rained and everyone thought it was out. It was only 55% contained, but I’m sure it’s getting better. It’s strange to wake up to smoke, and thus inspired my story.
Thank you to the lovely Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting the Fictioneers, and to Marie Gail Stratford for this very unique photo.
Click here for incredible stories from the Fictioneers.
Amy – is amazing enough to say and compliment – you have elegant post!
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Aww, thanks Mihran. You are always so kind.
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Amy – I love your style – It makes me feel to play on the piano – I adore you:)
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Oh, how nice! You must play a song now. 🙂
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wow – This is my latest clip – I hope you well enjoy the melody and lyrics.
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Loved it, Mihran!!! You’re so talented. Thanks for sharing it with me.
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Loved the first paragraph, it put me in mind of a 40s/50s private eye book, if you read it in the right tone.
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Thanks, Alistair. That is my favorite sentence! I like that it put you in a 40s/50s era detective book. 🙂
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Dear Amy,
I’d say Gully’s one lucky guy. I love the way you brought stained glass back to going to church tomorrow. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
I think he is one lucky guy, too. He’s been given a miracle. I’m proud of the stained glass image. Glad you liked it. Thanks so much.
Shalom,
Amy
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Bummer that the King Fire is close enough to be an inspiration … good luck! …. Meaning, Gully knows he’s lucky.
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This fire has been burning for weeks! We all hoped a little rain would just wipe it out. Not so simple. Gully thanks his lucky stars.
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Yuk … Be patient … and let’s hope for good things.
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So it was a two-pronged inspiration? A good writer draws from multiple sources and brings it all together.
Did your heart skip a beat when you woke up and smelled smoke?
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Yes, I guess it was two-prong. I take inspiration from wherever I can get it, Mark. Thanks.
It was a freaky experience. To smell it, but not to see it. I woke up super early, like 3:30, and couldn’t go back to sleep. When the sun came up it was really hazy and they cancelled my kid’s jog-a-thon.
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Three things: First, glad the fire missed your place. Second, wonderful story and elegantly told. Third, we (Nan and I) loved hearing the musical clip left by Mihrank. It goes with your story.
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The fire is actually pretty far, but it’s so big that we all feel the effects of it. It’s better today. 🙂 Thanks so much, Mike. I appreciate that. Glad you liked it. I thought the same thing about Mihran’s clip. I think it goes with it, too! It works perfectly.
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After I thought kaleidoscope, I thought church window. Glad I went with the first idea – you did such a nice job with the stained glass idea.
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Thanks, Alicia. Glad you thought so.
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Well done, Amy! Gully will certainly be in church after that. I hope those fires aren’t too close to you xxxx
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Thanks, Dianne. No, we’re pretty far, but the smoke was everywhere. Now it’s cleared out. xoxo
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Great imagery and the metaphors woven through this. Sounds like he got scared straight.
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Thanks so much, David. He was a lucky cat this time.
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i guess going to church is the least he can do. 🙂
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I don’t think he wants to take his chances. Thanks. 🙂
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Talk about lucky! Great story, sorry it came from such unsettling sources. But you did well with it.
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Thank you, Jackie!
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Wow! I’d definitely say he is a lucky soul…and heading to church isn’t a bad idea. Nicely done!
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He may not always be so lucky. Thanks so much, Tiffany.
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Glad you could find something positive, inspiration for a story, out of something so negative, Amy. Those wildfires that take weeks to contain sound nightmarish to me.
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Thanks, V. I can’t believe it’s gone on so long, but it’s getting better. Any day now it will be out, which means probably another week or so.
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Amy, I’m sorry you had such a bad awakening, but I’m glad it inspired your creative story.
janet
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Thank you, Janet. It wasn’t so bad, it was just strange. And I felt lucky too.
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Hi Amy, I finally got a free minute to stop by. Great story, but I’m sorry to hear the fire was close to your home. Such devastating loss for those other home owners. Hope you and your family are doing well!
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Anka, thanks for stopping by. The fire actually is probably about 30 miles away. So, not too far, but it’s just that it’s so big!! We’re doing great? How are you? How’s baby?!
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I’m hanging in there. Thanks for asking. We’re deep into soccer season. So we’ve been super busy. As for baby, my little love muffin is going to be ONE in three weeks. Yikes!
How are you and your boys?
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What?!! I can’t believe it! I can’t believe he’s already going to be ONE! What happened to the time?
I’m over at your blog. I haven’t been getting your posts in my email. Hmm…I will be catching up a bit.
It’s a mixed bag right now with my boys…both good and difficult.
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I hear you. It seems the older the child, the more challenging life becomes. But for now, I’m in blog heaven. My hubby is putting the kids to bed so I’m playing catch up, too!
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Oh, yay!! Good for mama! I like your blog name. It suits you
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the first sentence certainly set the atmosphere for this story. I’m glad to know that you’re okay!
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It’s definitely my favorite sentence. Everything is going to be okay! Thanks, KZ.
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Ah.. when you live in the smell of fire it’s scary.. Seems like Gully leaves repentance for Sunday.. 🙂
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It was a bit odd to wake up to it. It was all around me. I think Sunday repentance is probably a habit for Gully. 🙂
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Going to church is never a bad thing. Having the bar burn down around you had got to be an omen.
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Maybe Gully shouldn’t take his chances. I’d be thanking my lucky stars. Thanks, Russell.
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I agree with Russell and I say Gully got off easy. I hope the red-head was merely unconscious. I’d like to think she was, anyway.
Good story, Amy! Bravo!
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I’d like to think the redhead is unconscious, too. 🙂 Let’s just leave it at that. She may or may not help him go to church. Thanks, Kent!
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Good story, this sense of ambiguity makes me want to know more.
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Thanks! Thanks so much for reading.
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