Image by Marie Gail Stratford at http://mariegailstratford.wordpress.com/
‘It’s stunning.’
‘Gorgeous!’
‘How did you collect all those bottles?’
Visitors to the house always comment on my bottle wall. After my father died I couldn’t bring myself to throw his bottles out, so I made them into an art piece. A reminder.
‘I wish my parents left me something worthwhile,’ they say.
Visitors don’t know the story behind the bottles. Every bottle has a meaning. Every bottle ended in an argument. A broken promise. A broken glass.
Or worse.
‘You’re lucky your father left you this wonderful legacy!’
Yes, in a way. I’m lucky my father left.
******
I’m feeling a bit dark after just finishing Iain Banks’ The Wasp Factory as part of my 100 book challenge (read my review here). I’ll try for a more cheery piece next week, I promise!
Read my reviews of books as I make my way through the 100 book challenge here.
Follow @jessieansonsFriday Fictioneers is a challenge set by Rochelle Fields where writers around the world create 100 word stories inspired by the one image. For more information see: http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2014/09/24/26-september-2014/
Jessie Ansons 
Dear Jessie,
I love the two voices speaking in unison in this piece. The face she shows the public and the truth of the matter. Fine vintage.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you Rochelle!! And I love how you’ve continued the wine theme 🙂
Very clever play on words, and narrated in a controlled concise manner. Well done.
Thanks Sandra. I think lots all people leave and leave things when they die.
Very clever word-work with the last line. Really liked it.
Glad you liked it Claire and thanks for the comment!
Ah,,, what you find in those bottles could end so much.. and sometimes the only happy is the end itself.
Yep, that’s right. It’s the sad fact about alcohol at times.
Jessie, How wonderful that she took a tragedy and made something beautiful from it. Well written. Good luck on your 100-book challenge! 🙂 —Susan
Thanks Susan! I’m loving the 100 book challenge. It’s making me go places I would have never gone otherwise! And it inspires my writing too 🙂
Very poignant, it is hard to come out of the battle wearing that many scars…but in the end, what is left to do but to pick up the pieces. I love this story so much.
What a wonderful comment – thank you!
great take on the picture!
Thanks for the read 🙂
Lovely! This shows a tad bit of humor (the guests) and a lot of bad history. The end beat is perfect!
Glad you picked up on the humour! Visitors can be so naive…
Great twist at the end, the beautiful masterpiece holding dark secrets. I wonder if the bottles, emptied finally of their poison, are a way of healing for her. Great last line too.
Yes, that’s how I saw it! It’s a reminder that hard times make you the person you are today. And we should all be proud of that.
Nicely twisted at the end and the two voices/faces worked wonderfully.
janet
Thank you! Glad you liked the two voices 🙂
I wonder why she would keep remembrances of bad times?
The bad times are what makes us the person we are today. And she should be proud of that. In a way, the bottle wall could also be a reminder to never go down that path.
Inside every bottle is a story, or a plea for help.
Yes, very true 🙂 Thanks for your comment!
The bottles make an interesting history for her. It’s bleak, though. I just hope your next book isn’t The Goldfinch.
Goldfinch isn’t on the list but I just looked it up and it seems to have a similar feel to the Wasp Factory. Thanks for reading my piece!
Every bottle holds a story and they are not all “happily ever after” . I enjoyed the play on words..
Thank you! Glad you liked it 🙂
Yes, Jessie – a very clever piece. The words ‘paint’ bright images like lights again a dark black background – another creative view of the photo prompt. Well done.
Thanks so much Di! Glad you liked it 🙂
great story. ha. bizarre that she made a montage of something so upsetting, and ha -because of the understated wry ending of I’m glad he left. Randy
Thank you for your comment Randy 🙂
I love dark! Mine is dark, too!
Scott
Oooh yes I just read yours too!! The husband burying his wife is VERY dark. I like your writing a lot!
🙂 Stop over at my website and read some of my short stories or for $0.99 on Kindle I have a collection of dark tales: http://www.amazon.com/Scott-Vannatter/e/B00K7LB5II/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Not pushing the sales as I don’t make much, but it’s a good collection!
Dear Jessie,
A fine interpretation of the prompt. Lessons learned, loss, reminders to never forget and an adroit play on words. Well done.
Aloha,
Doug
Thank you Doug for reading and sharing your lovely words!
This was great. The ‘darkness’ was subtle, and more powerful for it.
Thank you – I’m glad you thought it worked.
Wow, this father was not a good one, it’s easy for people make comments without knowing what is behind. Good story!
Thanks Elizabeth… you’re right. You can never know what goes on behind closed doors.
I like this very much. Concise enough to be its own piece, but leaving you wanting more. Exactly how a 100 word piece of flash fiction should be.
Well done.
Thank you Mr Binks for stopping by!
Who knows exactly what goes on behind closed doors … I really liked this, Jessie. 🙂
Spot on Joanna – thanks for reading 🙂
A touch of darkness, I liked that line about how every bottle has a meaning.
Thank you, glad you liked it 🙂
Wonderfully written story! The ending was perfect!
Thank you so much for your lovely comment 🙂
A little dark, yes, but how can we appreciate light without the dark?
I like it.
Lily
That’s a really good point about the light and the dark. Thanks for reading!
Dark yes, but real as it is for many families…a great write and I love how you ended with this last line. The legacies we are sometimes left with need not be our destiny.
Yep, that’s right. It’s a reminder of what not to become herself 🙂
hahaha! Left, indeed. That’s a cool story, Jess. Especially intriguing are the bottles, each with a story (although, I’m sure the “stories” all ended the same way and were the same motive every time). Nice!
Thanks for your comment and for stopping by. I’m glad you liked it 🙂
I really enjoyed reading this story and the twist at the end – very moving.
Thanks Maree for stopping by and commenting 🙂