Sue Vincent runs a wonderful writing prompt, #writephoto, each week, using her own photography as inspiration. Maybe it’s the snot monster talking, or maybe, once again, Sue has come up with a great image, but as soon as I saw this week’s photo I heard the first line of a story. And here it is:
‘So that’s the last of it then, is it?’
‘Well, yes.’ I shuffled sideways, as though I could hide the patch of green. ‘I’ve used all of it.’
Master Pinchface advanced on me, bony finger extended. ‘And you call this a Wasting then, do you?’
‘Um.’ I looked around. I mean, the place did look pretty much like a wasteland. Or at least the start of one. The grass dead and tumbled, the soil rising as dust to the sky. Except for that one patch. ‘Well…’ My voice cracked, and I felt myself flush.
‘Let me get this straight.’ The Master glared at me, eyes red under his hood. ‘You were given, at great expense by the Council, a bag of Wasting dust. And your job, your only job, was to render this,’ he grimaced, waving his arm, ‘place,’ he spat the word, ‘a wasteland. Am I correct?’
I nodded. My mouth twisted and I shuffled a little further away. It hadn’t been my fault, really it hadn’t. But she had been so pretty, sitting there in her russet gown, wings all silvery like the moon on harvest night. I’d not had the heart to sprinkle the dust where she sat, combing her long dark hair and singing, her voice like chiming bells. And then when I remembered it was too late, the bag flapping empty in the wind. And now she was gone.
‘So tell me,’ the Master went on,’ what is the golden rule regarding a Wasting?’ He raised feathery eyebrows, shrivelled lips pursed.
I cleared my throat. ‘Um, the rule is, Let no green remain, or the land will grow again.’ I bit my lip. ‘I didn’t mean to,’ I went on. ‘And I think, well, it’s not too bad, is it?’
‘Not too bad?’ Master Pinchface’s voice rose to a shriek, tattered sleeves catching the wind. ‘You must be joking!’ He advanced on me, pointing his finger again. Too late I saw the tip had started to glow. The last thing I heard before my world went dark was laughter. Silvery, like bells on the wind.
———–
Master Pinchface moved forward, the pointed toe of his boot pushing at a pale stone lying on the grass, all that remained of the young apprentice. He shook his head. Taking a small bag from his pocket he opened it, spilling black dust that swirled across the small patch of green grass, turning it to brown. Now that, he thought with satisfaction, was a proper Wasting.
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Helen Glynn Jones 
Humorous in the telling…but not in the essence… xx
Thanks, Sue. Yes, that’s why I thought it might have been the snot monster talking… 😊
If it is, you should write more when you are ill 😉
Haha, yes, let the hallucinations take over 😀
I wouldn’t advocate it, but I have always found the creative process interesting whenever I’ve been forced to take morphine, for much the same reason 🙂
Yes, on the occasions I’ve been forced to take it I’ve found it agrees with me a little too well. And, as you say, the creative process becomes a lot more interesting. I can certainly see why artists through history have used ‘enhancements’ from time to time…
So can I. But I think the dangers outweigh the benefits.
Definitely! Which is why, unless forced, I’ve stayed away 🙂
Forced by circumstance, I should add!
Me too… it ws that or cease to function altogether!
I swear you come up with some crazy stuff when you’re sick. I think I came up with the idea of having a trophy husband and wanting to be a gypsy when I was with fever.
Haha, that sounds pretty reasonable, actually 😀 I mean, why not? But yes, being unwell can lead to some interesting trains of thought…
Excellent writing Helen, well done..
Thanks so much, Michael 🙂
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This is great, Helen. Loved it. 🙂
Thanks, Diana! Hope you’re well 🙂
Oh, this is fab. Really enjoyed it. There’s a whole world to me n this story!
Thanks so much, Sarah! That means a lot 🙂
Like this!
Thanks so much, Traci! x
You’re welcome!
Nasssty Pinchface! … great story. 🙂
Thank you *blushing* He was a bit of a nasty old so and so, wasn’t he?
Lovely magical story, but that’s not the end. The apprentice is imprisoned within that stone. Pinchface will NOT get away with it. And who was the girl? Hmm… intriguing! 😁 sorry you’ve been ill, hope you’re feeling better now.
Hi Ali! Feeling a lot better now, thank you 🙂 Hope you had a lovely Mother’s Day yesterday (was it Mother’s Day in Ireland too?).
And yes, I think you’re right, it’s not the end of the story, is it…? 🙂
Hi Helen… so did you write any more, or have you been too busy? I’m intrigued to see where it might go.
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Enjoyed this one a lot. Excellent character building.
Thanks, Carl! Much appreciated 😊
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I really love this concept of writing to photographs. Very cool!
It’s a great prompt, one of my favourites in blogland. I’m just working on this week’s now 🙂