B is for Balloon Bravura
Day 2 of the challenge!
My theme is NIFTY NUGGETS. Little nuggets of writing based on a photo, a phrase and an object, which is designed to encourage lean, tight writing. I’m aiming for a word count of under 300 words.
Thank you to L.Diane Wolfe for providing the beautiful photo prompts. You can visit her blog to check out more pictures.
BALLOON BRAVURA
PHRASE – burning the midnight oil
OBJECT – stethoscope
No son of mine is going to be a drop out.
What will the neighbours think?
Always do what your parents expect of you. Don’t ever let them down.
It’s a family tradition. You come from a line of doctors. Your grand-uncles and grandfather practised medicine.
Mother’s voice drones on. Her obsession fills his ears.
It becomes one with the endless grind of studies. A certificate. A degree. Burning the midnight oil chasing a dream that belongs to another, finally falling asleep exhausted, and slipping into a nightmare in which you’re the victim of a slow and painful torture, being choked to death by a stethoscope around your neck. Drenched in perspiration, you wake up.
It becomes too much. Time to make your own decision.
Mother goes into a state of pill-popping depression.
The vacancy at the events company for a hot air balloon tour guide is still available.
Bold designs colour the sky… splashes of stripes, diagonal and geometrics that blaze above and beat a sterile environment anyday. Up and away, they dot the atmosphere, promising freedom, to be what you want to be.
At home you are faced with the frail image of mother sleeping. You pick up the stethoscope, put it to your ears… hear the steady thump of your rebellious heart protesting… a heart ballooning in firm resolve.
Cool photo.
You have to follow your own heart, not another’s.
Yep. Gotta be your own person.
I would’ve loved to be a balloon tour guide.
That photo is from our very first Int’l Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, NM, and still one of my favorite shots.
You captured the fiesta vibe in a special way. Beautiful shot!
Ha! Here’s to the dreamer and the one who strikes out on his own path.
I’ll join you in that toast!
Hi Michelle – another great photo of Diane’s .. to give your imagination over to Balloon Bravura .. well I’m glad he got away .. and was really able to go up, up and away .. we can’t be influenced by others .. cheers Hilary
Exactly, Hilary!
Each individual has to forge his own path…
Love, love the story and the picture you provided.
Thank you, Peaches! 🙂
Great story.
Thank you, Patricia!
Colorful and free. That’s what I want to be, too.
Colorful and free – that’s how I’d imagine you to be! It suits you.
Your writing is always so powerful. The photo is wonderful and your story is a perfect fit. I hope this boy ends up following his heart and applying for the guide job.
Thanks for the wonderful compliment, Julie.
I appreciate it. 😀
Ooh yes, definitely rather a balloon and free than a stethoscope choking a neck. Cool photo.
Best,
Nila
Madly-in-Verse
Thanks, Nila!
Interesting blurb. Who gave Mother the pills? hmmmm.
KC
#31 on the 2015 A to Z list
Aha! I love your train of thought… exactly the kind of ‘twist’ that appeals to me!
This is a great story! I’m glad he followed his heart, Mother will get over it. 😉
Yes, she will! 🙂
It does sound like a freedom. Wonderful piece.
Thank you, Medeia.
Lovely piece of writing.
Thanks for the visit, Rosie!
There is something uplifting about the grace of hot air balloons and it conflicts so perfectly with the trapped unhappiness of the protagonists.
Love your analysis, Susan!
Great juxtaposition.
Beautifully done! Too many parents still place more importance on what the neighbors think than the needs of their children’s souls.
Wise words, Nadine!
Thank you for the thoughtful comment. 🙂
In a strange way, this reminds me of a non-joke my father sued to love telling me about a boy who, no matter how old he got or how many things he accomplished, only ever wanted a little red ball. I think the moral of the joke was that he waited forever for someone to give it to him instead of getting it for himself. At the end of the day we have to be comfortable with our decisions because we are the most unforgiving when we make the wrong ones.
A simple story to illustrate the long-term impact of decision making… very effective. 🙂