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17.9.14

BLACK v WHITE - a 100-word story

BLACK v WHITE

In the old days, Royalty from neighbouring kingdoms would come to look down from the battlements and play the Game, but the trained peasants gradually died off and the younger generation refused to learn.

The King tried cajolery and then force, but the villagers fought off the soldiers. When two men died the village got its way and the Royal Game was abandoned.

 Now the old Princess inhabits the Castle alone. Sometimes she descends the steep steps to the Playing Fields and walks the moves in solitary thought, remembering the human chessmen who played at her father’s command.
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Another 100 words story prompted by a photo posted on Rochelle's blog at:
http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/   Friday Fictioneers is an online group, most of whom beat the Friday deadline thses days! to read their stories follow the link on Rochelle's blog - it's well worth it.

38 comments:

  1. That's a clever story. So much in so few words. I sense a movie here.

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    1. A short movie, I think - are you a producer, by any chance?

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  2. Lizzy, what an interesting take on the photo! It reminds me of the chess sets that are in some public places where the pieces are the size of people. Nicely imagined.

    janet

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    1. Thanks Janet - the old lady in the photo looks so thoughtful that it set me wondering what was going through her mind.

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  3. Oh, my! A lovely take on the prompt.

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  4. Great use of chess -- a theme I toyed with a little as well but couldn't really make it work. Sounds like the poor old princess is going a little batty there. :-)

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    1. Not baty - just reminiscent in her old age.

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  5. That's a really original take on the prompt. Nicely structured and a great narrative style.

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    1. thanks Sandra - I usually go with my first idea and it was only after reading Rochelle's story later that I realised they were salt pans!

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  6. I love that you captured so much time and so much change in 100 words. I can really see her as the old princess retracing the steps of the players from her childhood

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    1. I am glad I painted a picture clearly enough for you :)

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  7. I love the direction you took with my photo, Lizy– so creative and original! The narrative is wonderful, like a well told fairy tale.

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    1. Thank you Dawn - and than ks for the photo - a wonderful shot.

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  8. Wow! What a fantastic imagination you have Lizy. I would never have got such an unusual story from that picture.

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    1. Sweet of you to say so, Sally - I call it a weird imagination, but I prefer your word!

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  9. Dear Liz,

    A novel in a few words. Nicely done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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    1. Dear Rochelle - people keep telling me I should expand these stories! Now if I could nab an agent for the novels i HAVE written .. . . :D

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  10. Dear Lizzy,

    A wonderfully written vision of another time and place, Very well done. The image of the old Princess stalking the deserted playing field is beautiful.

    Aloha,

    Doug

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    1. Thank you Douglas - I wish I'd thought of 'stalking'.

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  11. Wonderful story, I'd love to hear more.

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    1. Thank you - maybe I'll write more, one day!

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  12. Liz, Interesting and creative story. I imagine the peasants would get tired of a game using them as pieces. Poor old princess. It would be lonely in that castle without family. Well written. : ) ---Susan

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    1. Thanks Susan - one has to feel sorry for the princess who has outlasted her era.

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  13. Interesting photo, and yes there's a novel to write there, Lizy.

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    1. I believe the photo is of salt-pans but as I didn't take it I can't be sure.

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  14. Maybe there are changes that are for the good.. playing human chess sounds like a power game.. and kings could get away with it.

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    1. Many rulers - kings or dictators of another ilk - still do play games with people's lives.

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  15. Very creative use of the prompt! It does look like a chess board and the woman could well be an aging princess feeling nostalgic. It also works on the level portraying the decline in power of royalty in this day and age. It's super both ways!

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    1. Thanks Perry - it was the chess board image that struck me right off.

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  16. Great use of the prompt both as the tale of the lonely nostalgic princess and the decline of royal power in this day and age. Super post!

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  17. Very creative and I loved reading all the comments. I love 100 word stories, a good exercise in keeping to the point.

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    1. Keeping to the point! I love that, Maggie, but sometimes it can be hard to get the point across in so few words.

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  18. Good take on the prompt, Liz. Very nice!

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    1. Thank you wm - there are so many different ways to biew these prompts - that's what makes this weekly exercise such fun!

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  19. I remember a human chess board from the old British show "The Prisoner" starring Patrick McGoohan. Great story here, Liz.

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  20. Thanks Russell - maybe that's where I saw one but I can't remember!

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