Friday Fictioneers – Fourth Wall

Every week, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (thank you, Rochelle!) hosts a flash fiction challenge, to write a complete story, based on a photoprompt, with a beginning, middle and end, in 100 words or less. Post it on your blog, and include the Photoprompt and Inlinkz on your page. Link your story URL. Then the fun starts as you read other peoples’ stories and comment on them!

FF - Fourth Wall 200226

PHOTO PROMPT © DALE ROGERSON

Fourth Wall

Heavy, gilded mouldings around the proscenium made the stage look like a mirror, thought June, applauding at the end of ‘Cosi fan Tutti’. She looked for Oliver, her boyfriend. There he was! June smiled, then frowned. Why was he holding hands with his stage partner, Margery?

The curtain rang down and the houselights brightened. June waited. Her heart sank when Oliver arrived with Margery and the other two principals.

“That was wonderful, darling. I loved it!”

She leaned forward to kiss, but he gently resisted.

Taking out a diamond ring, he said, “I love you, June. Will you marry me?”

Inlinkz – click here and join the fun!

56 thoughts on “Friday Fictioneers – Fourth Wall”

    • Dear Josh
      Thank you. I’m glad you felt the moment was romantic. And definitely a good job it wasn’t Romeo and Juliet. You are right to suspect the title of the opera performed is a clue to the backstory…
      With very best wishes
      Penny

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Susan
      Thank you for reading and commenting. Did she say Yes? Well, the text doesn’t say, so it’s up to the reader! She said yes in the backstory, but that’s only my version – it’s not definitive! If you’re interested in the backstory, consider the plot of the opera being performed (Cosi fan Tutti) together with the title of my story.
      With very best wishes
      Penny

      Like

  9. Dear Mike
    Thank you for reading and commenting. I agree – jealousy is a corrosive state of mind – but June and Oliver are young, and will have plenty of chance to learn how to deal with it.
    With best wishes
    Penny

    Like

    • Dear Anita
      Thank you for reading and commenting. The text doesn’t say whether June agrees, so it’s up to the reader. In my own version, June agrees. Like you, I hope June stops judging!
      With best wishes
      Penny

      Like

    • Dear Keith
      Thank you for reading and commenting. Cosi fan Tutte certainly might have made June think; indeed, I wonder just how much of the plot is echoed beyond the fourth wall, and to what extent June’s misgivings are fuelled by a guilty conscience!
      With very best wishes
      Penny

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Ali
      Thank you for reading and commenting. I tried an unhappy ending first but I couldn’t make it work. June’s happiness is entirely due to my failure to make her miserable in fewer than 100 words!
      As regards “proscenium”, I perhaps overestimated how many of my readers would be involved in amateur dramatics! Thank you for taking the trouble to look up the word.
      With very best wishes
      Penny

      Liked by 1 person

  24. Poor June, was he teasing her? It could have ended badly, but then again has she responded? June may wonder if he had already asked Margery! Okay, I’m getting carried away – great little story that prods the feelings of confusion generated by love.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear James
      Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m flattered that my story provoked so much thought! Just in case you’re interested, there are clues to the back story in the text. The title – Fourth Wall – refers to the imaginary barrier between actors and audience. I describe the stage as being like a mirror. And the plot of Cosi fan Tutte revolves around two engaged couples where the men disguise themselves and ‘test’ their fiancees fidelity by each trying to woo the other’s partner.
      My opinion is that June accepted and they all lived happily ever after…
      With very best wishes
      Penny

      Liked by 1 person

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