Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers
Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers ~ Writing challenge week 7. The goal is to write a story between 100-150 words (give or take 25 words) based on the provided photo.
- Thank you to pixabay.com (free to use photographs) for this week’s prompt photos.
TEARS
by John Yeo
The acid attack was horrific, Joey screamed, penetratingly loud, as pain raced through his head. Skin was burnt to shreds from the structure of his face, Joey’s crowning glory, his hair, was burnt off in seconds. He passed out and was raced to the burns unit at the local general hospital.
One year later after many operations by plastic surgeons some semblance of normality returned. Joey refused to be seen in public and became a recluse. He left our town and disappeared, it was rumoured he had joined some gypsies and was travelling the countryside by caravan.
One day Lisa our daughter, came home from school very excited, “Daddy the circus has come to town!”
Saturday night we had the best seats in the big top and Lisa was laughing merrily at the antics of Joey the clown. He came to speak to her and Lisa asked “How did you become a clown Joey?” His painted smile never altered hiding the tears of a clown.
(165 Words)
Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.
This is in response to a challenge hosted by Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. If you would like to participate in this challenge or need more information, please click the following link:
This was wonderful. When I was a child I always thought clowns were just happy people. When I became an adult I wondered if those smiles were really hiding a lot of sadness. This was excellent!
Thanks Joy ~ Oh! how to be able to revel in the innocence of childhood. ~ I think it is safer and more empathic to others to try to penetrate the mask that we all wear occasionally ~ I’m happy you enjoyed this and I look forward very much to tackling your next prompt 🙂 Have a nice Easter weekend 🙂
A sad story of pain and suffering. Your last sentence finished if off perfectly.
Thanks Creatopath ~ I agree the last line said it all ~ I’m glad you enjoyed this 🙂
The only other acceptable clown – if it’s not scary, it has to be sad. Poor Joey, though. I love Lisa’s question: To her, it’s all fun, but the adults know the truth… Nicely done!
You are so right Sonya ~ The innocence of a child touching the hidden nerve that must burn as fierce as the acid that is burned in Joey’s memory ~ 🙂
Very well done! You conveyed Joey’s suffering very well, and gave us the insight of what was really going on behind the mask.
Many thanks Luckyjc007 ~ I think we all face the world behind a mask at times and act the part ~I’m happy you liked this ~ 🙂
It is often said that those who try to make others smile are the ones who are desperately in need of some happiness themselves.
A great story, you captured the emotions of Joey very well.
Thanks Francesca ~ Many great comedians wear a mask ~ Clowns always paint on a happy face ~ 🙂
John that is so sad. I love the line ” hiding the tears of a clown” because we know Joey is hiding his own real tears. Really well done.
Thank you mandibelle ~ I am really glad you enjoyed this ~ I appreciate your great feedback ~ 🙂
Well done John, yes the tears of a clown say so much……
Thanks Michael, for your always welcome appreciation ~ Good to hear from you my friend ~
Well written. The few words tell the whole sad story of one with lots of pain inside but to the outside everything looked good
Thank you scrapydotwo ~ I appreciate your great comment ~ I’m glad you enjoyed this ~ 🙂
This touching piece inspired me to reflect on how Jim Carrey, Robin Williams, and so many comedians all deal(t) with depression.
Sadly you are so right izzy ~ Dealing with sadness, living with sadness is incredibly hard for some people ~ Thanks for your nice response ~ 🙂
I could feel Joey’s suffering in this, John. How dreadful to be so facially disfigured! It’s so sad that the rest of Joey’s life was spent hiding behind the painted face of a clown. A poignant story, very well told, 🙂
Thank you very much Millie for your, as always, excellent encouraging response. Hopefully my next post will be an upbeat one. 🙂
Yes, it’s good to vary them. I got stuck into doing morbid ones for a while! I suppose we just have to go where the prompt takes us. 🙂
I felt so bad for Joey….but on an up note, I would like to challenge you to the Five Pictures, Five stories challenge! For five consecutive days you would have to post five picutres with a story-fiction, nonfiction, paragraph or longer, whatever strikes you. The other thing you would need to do is challenge another blogger every day as well. I hope you will join, it’s rather fun!
I thank you Samantha for your great comment. I love the idea of your “Five” challenge and I will probably take up the gauntlet when time permits ~ Have fun 🙂
great! I look forward to seeing it 🙂
🙂 Watch this space
I liked this! It kind of reminds me of the attachment we hold to our physical selves.
Well done =)
Thanks for your great resonse M ~ I,m glad you enjoyed this 🙂
Awww what a sad story. I hope he enjoyed his job as a clown now.
Thanks Vanessa ~ I am sure the travelling and the variety would have brought enjoyment ~ 🙂
This is so sad. You portrayed the pain of his disfigurement really well. Good story. 🙂
Many thanks for your feedback Louise ~ I am so glad you enjoyed this
Ah, yes, such a touching story…I too see many clowns as sad.
Thank you ~ Traces ~ I appreciate your great feedback ~ 🙂
Awww, so sad. I felt for Joey, it hurts to hide your tears behind a smile with no one knowing. This is beautiful story with meaning.
Thanks Ameena ~ I’m happy you enjoyed my sad response ~ I hope my next post will be up-beat 🙂
What a sad story. I can imagine how hard it must’ve been for Joey and heartbreaking to reveal why he became a clown. It had never crossed my mind to think if clowns are always happy until one day I witnessed a father and young son doing their show because the father had lost his job. Beautiful story you shared 🙂
Many thanks Irod for your supportive comment~ I am so sympathetic to your friend who lost his job and tried to bravely persevere ~ 🙂
That’s a great story John, very tragic but very well written to give it such emotional depth in so few words 🙂