On a Toy Museum shelf brooded a mechanical dragon, Boswell, hoarding the potential energy in his spring. Below, hidden from view, rested a rag doll with yarn-yellow braids, and blue, button eyes, Elena.
“Once,” Elena said, “A little girl loved me.”
“Why no more?”
“My face isn’t glossy. My eyes don’t blink. I only stare at that window.”
“Come with me. I love you.” Boswell’s clockworks ticked.
“I don’t have wings or springs. I’m a poor bride.”
“I’ll fly for us.”
Elena’s stuffing-wool heart beat. “Could we?”
“Tonight,” Boswell promised.
When the moon shone, Boswell unfurled his wings and alighted on Elena’s shelf.
“My heart!” Boswell hadn’t imagined Elena so beautiful. He lifted her to his back and leaped toward the window.
“We’re flying!” Elena’s button eyes gleamed.
Boswell crashed, hit the glass. His wings flailed. Elena screamed. They plummeted to the floor. Elena’s rags were unscathed, but Boswell broke in three places and had used the last of his spring’s energy.
“Are you okay?” Elena asked.
“Been better,” he said bravely.
.
Sunday Photo Fiction: 200-word stories
photo prompt: Jade M. Wong
April 16, 2017 at 10:45 am
I really hoped they would have made it to the sky.
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April 16, 2017 at 11:14 am
😦 Yea, it turned out to be rather sad. Thanks for reading.
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April 17, 2017 at 5:01 am
Aah, what a shame their escape didn’t work but a brave attempt.
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April 17, 2017 at 6:57 am
🙂 Thank you for commenting, Sally.
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April 17, 2017 at 8:20 pm
There’s a sense of poetry in their lines. Great story!
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April 17, 2017 at 8:24 pm
Thank you so much!
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April 18, 2017 at 3:16 am
Boswell deserves praise for attempting. Nicely written with a touch of humour..
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April 18, 2017 at 6:32 am
Thank you! 🙂
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April 18, 2017 at 1:36 pm
Poor Boswell! He was just winging it!
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April 18, 2017 at 2:04 pm
Hehe! Thank you, Sascha.
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April 18, 2017 at 7:20 pm
I was hooked from the moment the brooding dragon was appeared. Such a visually stimulating story. Whimsical with such lovely touches like the stuffing-wool heart beat and the clockworks ticking.
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April 18, 2017 at 7:59 pm
Thank you, Mandie! What wonderful praise.
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April 23, 2017 at 12:50 pm
“Been better” lol Good story. i like it.
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April 23, 2017 at 12:55 pm
Thanks. 😀
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