Here is my story for this week’s Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. When I saw the photo prompt I just had to write about Charlotte again – the boat in the photo was a perfect vessel for her. Here’s where Charlotte first appears, and here’s my original inspiration.
*****
Copyright – Georgia Koch
Charlotte had made her choice, so she could blame nobody but herself. No good saying she should have stayed in her tower-top apartment with her Facebook and Youtube favourites. When Lance showed up in magnificent detail on her screen, she had to find him.
The only way down was the fire escape to the river below, the only available transport a broken-down skiff; but she did it, and in her best snowy-white dress – she was a Lady, after all.
Pity she was dead as dust by journey’s end – but a curse is a curse.
Onto the page 
Well done. My mind went (sort of) in the same direction. 🙂
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Thank you. We did have similar thoughts this week – but our stories end up in very different places.
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Dear Marg,
Poor Charlotte. Dusty and dead doesn’t sound desirable. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Not at all desirable. I thought of making her a beautiful corpse, but that was going to take too many words. Thanks for your feedback, Rochelle.
Cheers
Marg
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Wonderful contrast between Charlotte’s smooth movements from flat to boat, and the punchy, ‘Pity she was dead as dust.’ It is indeed a pity 🙂
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I appreciate your feedback, Sarah Ann. I enjoyed writing this piece.It is a pity she’s dead, but that’s how it goes sometimes.
Marg
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Loved the imagery you created.
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Thank you. I had some fun with this piece.
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Great ending. Not sure of the back story but a, again, great ending.
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I like the ending myself. You can get the original (The Lady of Shalott – Tennyson) via the link in my intro, if you like. And I did an earlier piece which I’ve also linked to. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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Doesn’t it seem like it should take more than a song and a curse to kill a lady? Really, there should at least be a few tweets mixed in and maybe a selfie of that white gown. 🙂
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It certainly should – they’re way too fragile. I wish I’d thought of a selfie – I’m sure she would have stopped to take one before she clambered down the fire escape.
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loved this! ashes to ashes or so they say:)
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Thanks for commenting. I’m glad you liked it.
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Oh the ash in the end.. nothing’s sadder than a curse.. Maybe face-book should have been her way of staying in that relationship.
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She definitely should have stayed online. Can’t beat those curses. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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There was great emotional contrast in your story. I wasn’t expecting the ending, but that is a very good thing. I liked your introduction piece on Charlotte as well!
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I’m very happy you liked them both. I wasn’t intending to write a second piece, but that boat just had to be hers! Thank you for your comment about the contrast and ending. I appreciate the encouraging feedback.
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Isn’t it funny how our characters often take charge to write their own story. I think the boat was intended for her as well 🙂
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Poor Charlotte. I liked the rather matter-of-fact way you wrote the last sentence.
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Thank you. I’m glad you liked the finish. Poor Charlotte indeed.
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Poor little wherry got caught in a curse. Good story. It fits
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The boat had no chance once this cursed Lady got hold of it. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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I like the line Dead as dust. It says it all in a nut shell. Poor Lady Charlotte. At least she got out of her tower.
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She did – briefly. I’m glad you like that line. I worked on it quite a bit. Thanks for reading and responding.
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Her ending somehow makes the curse seem a lot more desirable. Poor Charlotte!
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She did get to have a dramatic ending, and she was a beautiful sight, draped in her flowing white dress in the bottom of the boat. Thanks for your comment.
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i guess the journey was its own reward.
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I guess it had to be. She never did find Lance. I hope she enjoyed the scenery as she floated down the river.
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Charlotte was filled with such promise and the boat idea in her beautiful dress probably seemed like a good idea at the time. I’m sure she looked lovely floating down the river until she met her fate. I love the image of her in a snowy-white dress of her floating in a broken-down skiff. Nicely done, Margaret!
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She was determined to experience life and to find Lance, but I’m afraid the forces stacked against her were insurmountable. Thank you for your comments, Amy.
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I really liked that dry switch at the end. I love it when a story changes pace and tone in an abrupt manner for the last line. Very well done.
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Thank you for such encouraging feedback, Sandra. I’m glad you liked my ending – that kind of tone switch is what I was aiming for, so I’m happy.
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I wondered if anyone else would see that boat and think ‘Lady of Shalott’. You have brought your Lady of Shalott into modern times. Both end up as dust, anyway. Seems she is eternally doomed to that curse. 🙂
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I wondered the same, and there are two others, I recall, who used her. I really enjoyed the variety of interpretations based on the poem. I enjoyed writing my modern version – I had some fun with the poor Lady, especially in my first post featuring Charlotte. Thanks for commenting.
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Poor Charlotte. At least she was dressed for the part.
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She was indeed. She was costumed for maximum impact whatever the outcome of her boat ride. Thanks for reading.
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Somehow this reminds me of Rapunzel in her ivory tower and white gown! 🙂 I can see her climbing down the fire escape. You painted a vivid picture.
Lily
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Lots of these old Ladies were imprisoned in towers, but I’m pretty sure they didn’t all have fire escapes. Thank you for commenting.
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Wonderful new-old tale 🙂
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Thank you. I’m glad you liked it. I enjoyed writing this one – and its ‘prequel’.
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Oh, neato! Will have to check it out.
I’ve written two series for Friday Fictioneers — but this time I needed a *break*. It was getting stressful!
But anyway — great take on the photo. 🙂
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Ah! ‘Lady of Shalott’ with facebook connectivity – very clever twist. I liked it.
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I’m so glad you liked it. She should have stayed with Facebook, I feel, but she wanted reality. And Facebook’s not reality – is it??
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What a fascinating tale, Margaret. That Charlotte’s character was inspired by the Lady of Shalott is interesting, too. I love the way you have Charlotte breaking away from the Facebook world to find reality, and the real Lance. You have made her escape, in her snowy-white dress, quite vivid. And the last line really delivers the punch. The phrase, ‘dead as dust’ is wonderful, as is the final reference to the curse.
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Thank you for your lovely feedback, Millie. It’s quite a challenge to fit descriptive details into 100 words, so I’m glad Charlotte’s escape came across vividly for you. I’m also glad you liked the ending. I felt quite cold-hearted finishing her off like that, but that’s how it had to be.
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An unexpected ending. Real life is filled with more peril than Facebook. I wonder if Lance had his image photoshopped to remove the wrinkles? 🙂
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There’s plenty of peril when a curse is involved. This Lady of Shalott is no more immune to them than was her predecessor. And I don’t think Lance wouldn’t need any enhancements from technology – although one can’t be sure. Here’s my first posting about these two – he’s quite a stunner.
https://margaretleggatt.wordpress.com/2014/09/12/through-a-mirror-clear/
Thanks for reading and leaving a comment.
Cheers
Marg
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Dear Margaret, Such a sad story and the curse – does it die with her? I remember Little Charlotte dolls with some sad stories attached. Good job! Nan
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Now that’s an interesting question – I’m not sure if the curse dies with her. I’d really like to know what she did to be cursed in the first place, actually. I don’t know of Charlotte dolls. I hope none of them had stories as sad as this one. I’m going to google this – I’m curious.
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Curses in those old stories, and it seems updated stories, really mean business don’t they. Poor woman, neither was a good choice for her. Well done Marg. 🙂 — Suzanne
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They are the weapon of choice in a lot of old stories, that’s true. And, it seems, they’re not to be taken lightly. Thank you for commenting, Suzanne.
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