Music to My Ears – Friday Fictioneers

ByLinda Parkinson-Hardman

I’ve been absent from Friday Fictioneers since October last year, but I realised I’d missed everyone and all the stories; I also found that I missed exercising my fiction muscles. So here we go. The usual rules apply, the copyright to the photo belongs to Roger Cohen and if you would like to tell me what you think about my story, comments are always appreciated. Finally, if you’d like to get involved, pop along to Rochelle Wisoff Fields website for all the details.

Violins

Music was the class I hated most; students cramped together into tiny rooms, making irreverent sounds with their feet and hands before finally, calming down enough to try a scrape across the violin strings.

There was no beauty in class, no symmetry or unity of purpose; just a common desire to get to the end of it.

And yet, it was music that gave me my deepest joy.

One on one in the music room, the master and I would move each others heartstrings in rapturous symphony; plucking, beating and bowing across compliant bodies, fit for nothing much else afterward.

(100 Words)

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If you’re interested, you can find all my fiction pieces on my blog here: Fiction Central and Friday Fictioneers.

You can find more Friday Fictioneers pieces for this photograph by clicking the link below:


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59 Comments

  5. I’ve never thought of myself as a poet, so for you to say that makes me think slightly differently about myself, so thank you for putting it all in a different context. 🙂

  10. my interpretation of the last line is that you and the master were so exhausted that you were fit for nothing else after. and even if that’s not what you meant – i’m sticking with it anyway! well done.

  11. It’s great to have you back, Linda. That last paragraph made knees go limp when I thought of of them reaching a cresendo in perfect harmony. 🙂

  14. Wow. I liked the details mentioned in the first and last stanza.. Had a poetic ring to it. Enjoyed reading.

  16. Reminds me of elementary school music class (a couple weeks on each instrument, not enough time to make music, just horrible noises 8^). Nice one.

  25. I think that’s probably why I wait until Saturday morning, so I feel that I can allow myself the time ‘off’ from work to really get to grips with the other stories. I am constantly amazed by the variety that are produced, and it reinforces that idea I have that no matter what I think, someone else will have a different perspective 🙂

  27. So when is a blogger not a writer? Especially with some of the interesting and thought provoking stuff you put out Bill 😉 There will be a paperback version, as there is with the 2nd Edition and I’m hoping the Kindle version will be ready sometime very soon indeed … I can always hope anyway :-))

  30. Welcome back, Linda. You came back strong. I loved how you moved this story from the awkward, reluctant class to the more provocative joining of two eager participants. Well done!

  32. i wish I could be a writer. Will it only be an e-book? let me know the full title and I will ask the local library to order it if you go hard copy.

  33. oh I liked this. A little sneaky writing though. But a fun one. I am going to look forward to reading more of your writing. 🙂

  34. It takes time to read all the stories, doesn’t it? But it’s a worth-while experience, although one that threatens to take too much of my “necessary” work time. 🙂

  35. Ah, you must have mellowed during your absence, as she didn’t bump him off! Lovely to see you back in the group, and a fun story to come back with.

  39. Why that’s a lovely comment and high praise indeed – thank you so much you’ve just made my day 🙂 I shall be along to everyone else later today and will read yours with new eyes and understanding 🙂

  41. Welcome back. You haven’t lost your writing skills, that’s for sure. Having taught high school (although not music), I think you did an excellent job of tapping into the psyche of the young as well as the deep reach of music.

  43. So beautifuly true. You just reminded me of my high school band room. And yet, I don’t think our music direct was being a bad boy. LOL. Very fun twist.

  55. Methinks this is music of another nature. Welcome back, Linda.
    Oh, by the way, while there’ve been those who’ve called me Wise-off, there’s no “e” in Wisoff. 😉