Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Entry #33

Montmartre
by Shameless


I was glad when I found that old photograph amongst his things; it was a reminder of one of the few projects he'd never accomplished.

My dear, impossible Arthur, who would wake up in the morning holding his beloved chisel and hammer. The kids used to say they were scared that one day they would come home from school and find a pile of rubble because of all his tinkering. He just couldn't leave things alone, always having to go on mending, changing and improving. I suspect he'll be doing the same thing in heaven, interfering with those golden gates no doubt, trying to convince his lordship that they should swing in and not out.

You can have a giant mural or a bay window, he'd said to me with a monkey's grin. He argued it was high time we got rid of that damn awful void, those wires hanging down like poison ivy, blood leaking through the stone. I rattled with laughter, until I realised he was absolutely serious; he'd already been down to the library to find a glossy picture of Paris and had already got a quote on ten different tubs of acrylic. A window, he explained, would bring the morning sun directly into our bed, perhaps even do something for our love life.

This week, in memory of my wonderful Arthur, I decided to have both: a bay window in a classy, colourful Montmartre building. The kids are out there now, directing the workers.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I absolutely love this story.

Anonymous said...

Yeah I can just imagine that kind of character! Cool story Shameless

Anonymous said...

Very nice Shameless, combining the departed with the present!

Jeff said...

This is a nice story. Good job!

Anonymous said...

Great story, Shameless, poignant, yet filled with hope and colour.
Atyllah

Anonymous said...

Crisp snapshot, told with a clear voice.

Joni said...

I love the part about interfering with the golden gates.

Beautifully told.

Anonymous said...

Clever & poignant!

Anonymous said...

Very sweet, and well pitched too. Beautiful.

s.w. vaughn said...

Nicely done!

Anonymous said...

Vivid, with a nice voice.

Anonymous said...

Very effective voice. I pictured her in my mind well. I saw her smiling at him amused/exasperated.

Highest marks overall.

Congratulations on the Honorable Mention!!