“Any requests?” the musician asked, kicked back in his corner of the coffeehouse, away from anyone else.
The gentleman with sea-mist eyes seemed to smile at him, or perhaps someone else who just happened to be in the same line of sight.
“Any requests?” he chirped again, plucking at strings to check their tuning. One was out, not by much, but enough to be worth fixing.
“I have a request,” said the gentleman with sea-mist eyes, now two steps from the corner away from anyone else. He lent in, the words curling from his lips. “Care for a challenge?”
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Published by Carol J Forrester
Carol J Forrester is a writer and a history geek. Her debut collection 'It's All In The Blood' came out November 2019.
She has a 2:1 BA degree in history from Bath Spa University, enjoys judo at least twice a week, and tries to attend poetry events around the Midlands when she can.
Her flash fiction story ‘Glorious Silence’ was named as River Ram Press’ short story of the month for August 2014 and her short story ‘A Visit From The Fortune Teller’ has been showcased on the literary site Ink Pantry. Her poems ‘Sunsets’ and ‘Clear Out‘ were featured on Eyes Plus Words, and two of her poems were included in the DVerse Poets Pub Publication ‘Chiaroscuro’ which is available for purchase on amazon.Her poem ‘Until The Light Gets In‘ was accepted and published at The Drabble and her poem ‘Newborn’ was published by Ink Sweat & Tears.
She has been lucky enough to write guest posts for sites such as Inky Tavern and Song of The Forlorn and has hosted a number of guest bloggers on her site Writing and Works.
View all posts by Carol J Forrester
Dear Carol,
I’m guessing the gentleman with the sea-mist eyes a musician. Therefore in your story, the prompt is the gentleman challenging the soloist to a musical duel. Am I warm?
Shalom,
Rochelle
I love the idea and I can see where it has come from. I wrote the piece with more romantic inclinations in my own mind but I think I might prefer the idea of a musical duel.
Aha! Thats cool…
I hope that the guests in the coffeehouse get to enjoy some nice music!
Let’s hope they do.
I can picture those eyes! What a stunner! This left me wondering what the challenge could be… And I liked that.
I’m glad that you liked the mystery, thank you for the comment. 😀
That’s an entertaining request – am sure ! 🙂
Nice one Carol !
Thank you very much. 😀
Oh I thought it might be a duel of instruments too.. I thought about dueling banjos….. great movie, great song.
Disappointingly for me I cannot claim that idea, but as always, I think it’s wonderful when people can pull something different then the writer’s thought from a piece.
O.K. I cheated. Usually I don’t read other’s comments before leaving one myself, but the “romantic” idea never entered my mind. Perfect! Thanks for a perfect twist.
You’re very welcome and thank you for the lovely comment. I don’t think it’s cheating to read the comments, it gives you the opportunity to see the piece along a different scope.
I would have guessed a musical duel. Perhaps this is the way “Dueling Banjos” was written. 🙂
janet
Perhaps so.
It would be great to hear two musicians dueling. Good story and well done. 🙂
Indeed it would, and though I didn’t intend for that to be the message behind the story it appears that is how it will be known to everyone else.
I love the mystery of not knowing who the man with the sea-mist eyes is, but the eyes suggest he has quite a story
An opportunity for another piece of flash in the future perhaps. I’ll have to keep it in mind next time I’m stuck for words.
Good story and well written! I didn’t know whether he was challenging for music or a real death duel. Thanks! Nan 🙂
Thank you for the comment Nan!
Well I’m hoping that it won’t be a death duel, I’d hate to loose either character, but perhaps…
Well now I know what I’ll be writing up this evening.
Made me think of Devil went Down to Georgia.
Love his sea-mist eyes. I’m going for a musical challenge, the folks in the coffee shop are in for a great time.
Dee
I feel a jam session coming on.
Typo alert – ‘anyone one else’ in the first para.
Good atmospheric story.
Thanks for pointing out the typo, I’ll get that fixed.
Ahhh. A challenge and a Mystery. Shandra
A mystery indeed. Thank you for your comment.