‘Lucy!’ her mother had said. ‘Get your nose out of your novels and taste some real life.’
So Lucy went to California. She partied at nightclubs, gazed at sapphire skies filtered through palm fronds, and sunbathed by the pool. She strolled the boulevards with the rich and beautiful.
But the nightclubs gave her headaches, the towering palms and crowded pools made her feel small and alone, and people on the boulevards pushed her aside.
Copyright Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Home again, Lucy reached for a novel, where the heroine happily partied, sunbathed, gazed at sapphire skies and strolled among the beautiful. And Lucy felt alive.
*****
This story is for Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers, a weekly flash fiction get together where contributors compose 100 word stories in response to a picture prompt.
Onto the page 
Very nice. This could be called “An Introvert’s Tale”. I could relate.
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It could be called that. I’m thinking quite a few Friday Fictioneers would find their reality in a good book rather than out amongst the glitter and hype. Thanks for your comment.
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I read another story about an introvert named Lucy.
http://hiddenstarsfiction.wordpress.com/2014/11/13/friday-fictioneers-the-hangout/
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Oh no! How does that happen? Thanks for letting me know.
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It’s just a funny coincidence I think.
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Dear Marg,
Crowds of people can make for the loneliest of places. Nicely done.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you Rochelle. You’re right – crowds aren’t good for us. Lucy’s got the right idea, I think.
Cheers
Marg
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Nothing like a good book and your favorite chair.
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So true. Nothing better. Thanks for reading and responding.
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I could definitely be the male version of Lucy. I think California would be too much “real life” for me too!
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Yes, it’s not for everyone, I’m sure. Thanks for your response.
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The books sound a far better bet to me. Good one.
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Me too. Thanks for your comment.
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Books are always better. Nicely done.
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They are indeed. Thanks for commenting.
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Beautifully written. I’m not sure how to react to the story right now – need to mull it over. Either Lucy has got things right or she has got things right. Or both.
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I think she prefers the more manageable version of reality in her books, rather than the raw version out there in the world. I’m glad you noticed the ambiguity here: is Lucy right or has Lucy got a problem? And which reality is more real anyway: literature, which can get to the heart of things or the things themselves? Phew! It’s making my head spin, and I wrote it. Thank you for commenting so nicely about my writing – I appreciate it.
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This is very fun. Taste life, then make a decision that’s best for you.
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You’re right. That’s all one can do. No matter what Mother thinks! Thank you for your feedback.
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Great picture of someone who needs to live life through the filter of books. As long as she’s happy…
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True. And reading books as ‘a filter’ is just what I was aiming for. Thank you for reading and responding.
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I think most of us writers abhor the crowd. I’d rather read about it than be there. You captured that extremely well.
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Yes – if you’re reading about you are there, if it’s well written, of course. And you can choose another book if one version of reality doesn’t suit you. What could be better than that? Thank you for your nice comment.
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I think Lucy is wise to dream rather than to try to live the dream.. feels a lot safer.
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She knows where she fits and feels at home. That’s important. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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Marg, I hate crowds. It’s sometimes difficult to go alone where you don’t know anyone. The real thing often can’t measure up to books. At least she experienced it for herself. She probably got homesick. Well written. 🙂 — Susan
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Yes, you’re right. She had a go. So now she knows for sure how it feels. Thanks for your feedback.
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I admire her for at least trying something new. She decided she didn’t like it and went back home. I guess dreams are easier to handle sometimes.
Ellespeth
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Yes, for Lucy it seems that’s so. She just needs to follow her own star and not be pressured into living the life others think she should be living. Thank you for your feedback.
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