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!
PHOTO PROMPT © Jeff Arnold
The Passionate Collector
“Of course, the old typewriter was Hemingway’s,” drawled Benson. He’d invited me in for a nightcap after our first date. “Look – you can see traces of blood on the keys.” As though absentmindedly, he half drained the glass of red wine he’d poured for me. “Screaming Eagle Cabernet 1992; an unbelievable vintage,” he murmured.
“At least it’s a bourgeois lamp,” I muttered under my breath.
“And the lamp,” continued Benson, relentlessly, “is the first prototype made for Louis Tiffany by Clara Driscoll.”
There was only one response I could make to Benson’s vulgar display of wealth.
Reader, I married him.
Autumn Leaves 
Ha, love the last line Penny 🙂
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Dear Iain
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m pleased the last line amused you!
With best wishes
Penny
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It’s what happens after she married him that I want to know about. She has such contempt for him, one of them will have to die (either physically or spiritually)
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Dear Neil
Thank you for reading and commenting. She may have contempt for him, but she loves his money and she’s the most beautiful woman in the world; and he’s a collector, Perhaps their strong mutual self-interest will keep them alive?
With very best wishes
Penny
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My favourite line. No one did it like Bronte. And it doesn’t sound as though she regrets it.
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Dear Sandra
Thank you for reading and commenting. No, she didn’t regret it. Well, Benson was extraordinarily wealthy, and shrewd enough to keep the items of his collection in tip-top condition – including the most beautiful woman in the world…
With very best wishes
Penny
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Oh, this is just wonderful, Penny. His arrogance and vulgarity drip off the screen and that last line is absolutely marvelous. Just a perfect piece. I’ve of my favourites this week
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Dear Lynn
Thank you for reading and for your lovely comment. I found it a tricky post. The first sentence leapt into my head immediately but then I got stuck for hours and hours! And then the first draft felt wrong. Eventually, I remembered Neil’s good advice to me about foreshadowing, and at last things fell into place. So I’m really glad that you enjoyed it so much!
With very best wishes
Penny
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Some stories are like that, aren’t they? Some come easily and flew into the page, others have to be prised out and struggled over. This was written the perseverance.
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Yes, this needed perseverance. I’m also happy to give a shout to all Friday Fictioneers who provide constructive criticism. Without Neil’s good advice about three years ago, this story wouldn’t have happened!
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Always good to have constructive feedback. Where would we be without it?
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Dear Penny,
Oh that last line! She knew exactly what she wanted and how to get it. Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
Thank you for reading and for your shrewd comment. She did indeed know what she wanted – and so did Benson, the collector.
Shalom
Penny
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But–did you live happily ever after?
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Dear Linda
Thank you for reading and commenting. You ask a very interesting question!
With very best wishes
Penny
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Ha! I’ve just read your story and seen where the happy ever after comes from! Nice one, Linda!
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Thanks 🙂
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I think I might have hit him over the head with the lamp. She is clearly more shrewd than me with an eye to the potential future investment.
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Dear Miranda
Thank you for reading and commenting. Those who love money can put up with a lot of imperfection in their wealthy suitor I suspect…
With very best wishes
Penny
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nobody’s perfect. take the good from the bad and make the most of it. 🙂
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Dear Plaridel
Thank you for reading and commenting. Your exactly right; she’s made a very pragmatic decision.
With best wishes
Penny
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Hemingway and Bronte? What’s not to like. Nice one.
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Dear Anthony
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you enjoyed my pot-pourri!
With best wishes
Penny
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What a great take on the photo prompt, Penny. Love the last line! 🙂
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Dear Susan
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you enjoyed my take on the prompt. The first line leapt into my head the instant I saw the photo; the rest of it took a great deal longer!
With very best wishes
Penny
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lol, great last line.
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Dear Trent
Thank you for reading and commenting. As someone who rarely attempts humour I am delighted with your LOL!
With very best wishes
Penny
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Absolutely delightful, and it goes without saying – those final few words were inspired!
Here’s mine!
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Dear Keith, Thank you for reading – and what a charming comment!
With very best wishes
Penny
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Tricky one, I can see her reason for marrying him but will it be enough in the long run? Great take on the prompt, owning Hemingway’s typewriter would make me think about marrying him 🙂
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Dear Michael
Thank you for reading and commenting. Who said anything about the long run? She just needs long enough for the alimony to be generous, and then that girl’s outta there! I know what you mean about Hemingway’s typewriter…
With very best wishes
Penny
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Ha, good for her. Just long enough to get into the will…
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Dear Ali
Thank you for reading and commenting. Do you think she’s thinking long-term enough for a will to be relevant? Or is it alimony, perhaps?
With very best wishes
Penny
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Love the bourgeois lamp and the killer Bronte-esque last line.
Terrific!
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Dear CE
Thank you for reading and for your very kind comment. I’m delighted someone whose writing is as entertaining as yours is should enjoy my attempt at humour!
With very best wishes
Penny
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C’est la vie! Wonderful twist, Penny!
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Dear Jade
Thank you for reading, and for your kind comment.
With best wishes
Penny
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You are very welcome.
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I think he wanted to get laid, the crap men will say… 😀 Great story. Interesting couple.
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Dear Tannille
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m sure you’re right. On the other hand, it really was Hemingway’s typewriter!
With very best wishes
Penny
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There’s a happily ever after and a happily ever after. At least she chose one. Well penned.
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Dear Susan
Thank you for reading and commenting. As you say, at least she made a choice!
With very best wishes
Penny
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Reader of course you did.
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Dear Mike
Thank you for reading and commenting. If there were a prize for wittiest comment of the week, you would have won it!
With best wishes
Penny
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What a vulgar display of marriage in response to evolve the display of wealth..
I hope it sticks.
And if it doesn’t, the divorce should be quite satisfactory, I would assume.
Good story. Randy
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Dear Randy
Thank you for reading and commenting. You’re right, the alimony should amply compensate for the vulgarity!
With best wishes
Penny
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That elicited a guffaw out of me!
Good one, Penny.
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Dear Dale
Thank you for reading and commenting. A guffaw? You don’t know how happy you just made me!
With very best wishes
Penny
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Yep! A guffaw!
Have a fabulous day !
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Ha, ha. You gold digger you!
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Dear James
Thank you for reading and commenting. Gold digger? I’m just doing my bit in the re-distribution of wealth…
With very best wishes
Penny
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I really wasn’t expecting that ending, but they say that everything has a price.
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Dear Russell
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad the ending took you by surprise.
With best wishes
Penny
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Of course there is nothing more attractive than wealth… (and maybe good taste as well)
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Of course she married him… what else could she have done? 😉
Judging from the comment she muttered under her breath, she didn’t like him even when they first started dating. That makes me wonder if she has a history of dating men she doesn’t like.
The twist at the end was brilliantly executed, Penny.
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