“Was I?”
I look at him hoping to see mischief in those Houdini eyes. Perhaps ten years have blurred my memory. It wasn’t I who followed a stranger to that bookstore along Rue de la Bûcherie. What was it called? Ah, Shakespeare and Company.
I did not go out of my way pretending to eye those weather-beaten shelves, fingering book spines, thinking of a way to start a conversation.
“James Joyce lies buried in the cellar” was your desperate did-you-know. I can’t believe how I fell for that—
How I fell for you.
Paris is indeed full of exotic swindlers.
Word Count: 100
Written for Friday Fictioneers, a weekly writing challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields where a photo is used as a prompt for a hundred-word piece of fiction. The photo prompt this week is a courtesy of C.E. Ayr.
It has been a while since I’ve written for Friday Fictioneers and I am happy to be back this week. This one is inspired by Ali’s micro story titled Endings. As I have said (am I’m sure I’m not the only one), it’s rare to see him write about love and heartbreak. My hopeless romantic muse got thrilled and so here’s a prequel to his tale.. 😉
Head over here to join the prompt!
DoodleScribbles 
April 23, 2020 at 3:15 pm
Ah, Shakespear & Co. Absolutely love your last line.
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April 25, 2020 at 8:51 am
Ah, if only I can teleport. Have you been there? Glad you enjoyed this 🙂
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April 26, 2020 at 5:11 am
I forgot to go when I was in Paris!!! Just shoot me, but there was so much to see and do, it was on my list, I remembered on the plane somewhere over the Atlantic on the way home. I did see the Père Lachaise Cemetery, you must go there after you visit the bookstore.
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April 23, 2020 at 3:27 pm
It doesn’t sound as though it turned out too well, after an extremely promising start.
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April 23, 2020 at 3:52 pm
Ooh, it started so well and then that great twist in the last line!
Thanks for the mention 🙂
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April 23, 2020 at 4:33 pm
Lovely story, and so well written. It’s always a delight to have a new voice in FF!
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April 23, 2020 at 5:02 pm
A sad tale, but beautiful writing
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April 23, 2020 at 5:21 pm
Fantastic last line.
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April 23, 2020 at 6:10 pm
Nice prequel to the relationship 🙂
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April 23, 2020 at 8:13 pm
Well done Maria..and i happy to see you posting again
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April 24, 2020 at 12:42 am
if anything, she survived to tell the tale. 🙂
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April 24, 2020 at 2:36 am
So many good turns of phrase: “Houdini eyes” “I can’t believe how I fell for that – How I fell for you.”
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April 24, 2020 at 3:36 pm
I love this, a small poetic gem
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April 24, 2020 at 9:06 pm
Oh… and such a promising beginning…
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April 24, 2020 at 11:45 pm
My sister worked at Shakespeare and Co. for six years….Not in Paris. In Lennox MA
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April 25, 2020 at 8:48 am
Hi Joseph, I am referring to the hundred-old bookstore in Paris. I believe the one in Lennox is a theatre company?
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April 25, 2020 at 7:09 pm
Yes it is a theatre. I looked up the bookstore. I was just caught by the same name. It brought back memories.
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April 25, 2020 at 6:51 am
That’s a beautifully poetic tale.
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April 25, 2020 at 10:52 am
Well told, bittersweet memory.
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April 25, 2020 at 12:18 pm
https://michnavs.wordpress.com/2020/04/25/moonlight-slow-dance/
My enrtery for your worldof words
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April 25, 2020 at 10:10 pm
https://michnavs.wordpress.com/2020/04/25/to-all-the-prompts-i-love-with-a-dash-of-covid-on-top/
Something to make you smile
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April 26, 2020 at 4:27 am
So sad for her. There are swindlers everywhere!
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April 26, 2020 at 4:47 am
A very good picture of what went before. Stunning last line!
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April 26, 2020 at 8:25 pm
The last line was perfect. It practically told us the whole story just in itself!
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