I visited Hollywood a long time ago and will never forget the thrill of spotting the hand prints of my favourite movie stars.
PHOTO PROMPT -Copyright-Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
A STAR IS BORN
He stood 5’4”. Bandy legs protruded from his over-sized shorts. A lifetime of struggle etched his narrow face. Ah, but his eyes. They might be nestled in corrugated skin, but they shone like a teenager’s. Coiled with suppressed excitement, his t-shirt bore the improbable slogan ‘Born to be Wild’.
Weary tourists wandered down the street, eyes skimming the pressing, shoving crowd: worried, excited, fearful or joyful. Looking down before suddenly lighting up in recognition: a wave, a shout, a grin.
Eyes down, he meandered, checking, checking. There! He fell to his knees and reverently placed his hands in the indentations.
Hope you enjoyed this story and I look forward to your comments. If you wish to read more Friday Fictioneers stories, you can find them listed HERE If you'd like to join in the challenge, you'll find all the information posted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields - her blog is listed on 'My Blog List' on the right hand side of this page. On a final note - I always attempt to visit the blogs of everyone who comments on mine. If I haven't commented on yours it's either because I haven't been redirected to your blog when I've clicked on your name or because you have a wordpress account that requires me to sign into wordpress first. Please check and amend your settings. Thanks. |
Great character portrait
ReplyDeleteThank you, Neil. I enjoyed writing this.
DeleteSomehow this made me sad, his past glory faded away. At least he still gets the odd recognition of a few fans.
ReplyDeleteThis is what I love about receiving feedback: how my stories are interpreted by the reader.
DeleteDear Susan,
ReplyDeleteWonderful descriptions make this character walk off the page. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you, Rochelle. The description is based on someone I saw in an airport many years ago.
DeleteIt's sad but for some reason, I felt he was a ghost because, when you mentioned his height and looks, I pictured Alan Ladd who killed himself
ReplyDeleteOh, I didn't know that about Alan Ladd! I was interested to read your interpretation.
DeleteCorrugated skin? That is a great and terrifying description. I'm reading this two ways. He's either a faded star who's returning to memories of former glory or he's a fan who's finally make this trek to see his favorite star's (maybe his child) hand prints. Either way, well done.
ReplyDeleteUnrelated, I nominated you for a Leibster Award. I will NOT be offended if you don’t participate. These things are basically chain letters. I only participate out of respect for the people who nominated me. I don't know if there's cross-contamination with BlogSpot or if it's just a WordPress thing. Anyway, I thought of you. I often enjoy your stories.
https://nobbinblog.wordpress.com/2020/08/07/liebster-award/
I'm leaving this up to the reader to draw their own conclusions.
DeleteThank you for the nomination. I will investigate (no promises though). :)
I felt his focus among the chaos and am glad he was rewarded with what he sought.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jade. Good to know my intention worked.
DeleteI never did quite feel connected to this stuff, but I can relate to the human search for recognition in fame, and to the many who feel lost without it. It is a beautiful rendition.
ReplyDeleteThank you - appreciate the feedback!
Deletefame is fleeting but memories live on as far as one soul remembers.
ReplyDeleteYes, indeed!
DeleteGreat descriptions, I could picture this scene very clearly.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I pictured it very clearly when I was writing it, so it's good to know that I achieved my aim.
DeleteA sense of returning home? Something about those hand prints...
ReplyDeleteDescriptive!
I'll let you make your own interpretation on the story, Tannille. :)
DeleteAt least he left his mark, and that's not faded away.
ReplyDeleteHere's mine!
Thanks, Keith. Yes indeed... if it really was his own hand prints, that he found. :)
DeleteThat was lovely – tinged with the sadness.
ReplyDeleteThought I'd go a bit poignant this week, Helen. :)
DeleteI could actually see him, and I'm so glad he found his hero!
ReplyDeleteAh, like this interpretation, Liz. :)
DeleteI could feel this story. Well done.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bill. Nice to know I managed to do that in 100 words. :)
DeleteYour descriptions are spot on, made me see the entire picture almost like a movie scene. Good one.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda. I do like writing descriptively - glad it worked. :)
DeleteI could not decide whether he was looking for his own hand prints or those of a hero of his. This makes the story all the better.
ReplyDeleteI know what I thought he was doing when I wrote it, and then the comments made me realise it was open to interpretation, so I've decided to just let the reader draw their own conclusions, Gabriella! :)
DeleteLovely piece, thank you. I wonder who he used to be and when the glory faded away?
ReplyDeleteThank you for the feedback. Who was he? That's for you to decide. :)
DeleteNice!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the succinct feedback, Danny! :)
DeleteSuch descriptive, vivid writing! His excitement is palpable.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your lovely, positive feedback, Magarisa.
Delete