STORY DAY IS BACK!! I got today’s picture prompt (AIN’T IT GORGEOUS?!) from the Story Embers newsletter (check it out!) and had so much fun with it that I thought I’d have to share it with y’all. It’s set in my world of VaSerBo, so that’s probably why some of the names aren’t familiar. 😉 Enjoy!
Prompt
Story
Wrapping my vibrant purple-pink shawl around my shoulders, I practiced my smile in front of the mirror. I felt perfect. My hair was immaculate, my makeup unblemished, my costume faultless. I had turned twenty-seven, and as such I had been invited to dance in Reino’s kingdom-wide Festival of Powers.
As there had been since the takeover, there was to be no Bestower this year adding his or her real powers to the mix of colored powder we used to represent them. Instead we’d just substitute their part for a skit put on by the local teenagers. While not nearly as impressive, it certainly did the job.
My silky shawl swirled around my shoulders as I stepped into line with the other female dancers. Male dancers lined up opposite us, and I sized up my partner: Sterk, the town goof-off and my lovable twin brother. We had practiced this dance so many times we could do it with our eyes closed, but I had worried about being unable to work so smoothly with another partner. Thank Kening we were together.
The administrator walked down the center lines, handing out shallow silver bowls filled with dusty, sparkly powder. I glanced down at mine: daffodil yellow and vivid magenta, with some sort of glittery pink dust mixed in. It matched my costume down to the hints of rosy sparkles scattered in my dark hair. I resisted the urge to bury my fingers in its enticing cloud of softness; I had to save it for the actual festival.
“Hey,” Sterk whispered, leaning over and nudging me with his elbow. “If you trip, I’ll catch you, okay?”
I forced a smile. “Okay.”
A strong, sweet voice rang out beyond the curtained doors. My pulse quickened. I gripped my silver bowl tightly and glanced at Sterk. Ever the jester, Sterk just winked encouragingly and mimed catching me. The tension in my chest eased.
As the voice was joined with stringed instruments I inhaled deeply, held the air, then let it out with a whoosh. No more nervousness or anxiety. It was showtime.
Wrap Up
Voila! What do you think? Are you going to write your own story off this prompt (psst! The correct answer to this is “yes”)? Anything I should have done differently?
Take courage, pursue God, and smile while you still have teeth! 😉
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