Power of Art (fiction word count: 104)
The Johnson family had a circle sculpture. I thought it was stupid recycled stuff.
Later – the intricate pieces spoke to me. I felt the power of art. The strategic assemblage had balance amidst a midair coordinate plane. CDs glistened and texture from the tires whispered near rusty crevices. Was the creator a cyclist and each wheel came from rides? Was the creator a math person purporting that the study of circles gave us geometry, astronomy, and calculus?
Turns out…
the piece had no intended deeper meaning and Grandpa Johnson made it out of boredom. The sculpture is now on the way to the dump.
When I saw this hat image last week, I wrote a little story in my mind. I imagined that someone wealthy had to simplify their gift giving because every year family wanted more and more. Then, after visiting Ana’s blog today – here– and seeing she had a post with a similar theme (i.e. holidays, working on Xmas Eve, talking at the checkout, etc.)- I decided to write out my little vignette (thanks for the nudge to finish this Ana – and for your beautiful reminder to be mindful of those who work during holidays).
Here is my fiction:
52 Hats
“Yes,” the man said, “ I’ll take 52 hats. And do you always ask customers about their purchases?!”
The saleswoman was silent as she layered hats inside the bag.
“I’m sorry,” continued the man, “I am a little grumpy and not in a chatty mood.”
“That’s okay, sir. I’m actually just glad to be making this sale on Christmas Eve. Glad you came to my booth tonight.”
“Well my pleasure. Your hand-knitted hats are exactly what I was looking for. I’m buying them for Christmas gifts. Every year, my relatives have expected bigger gifts from me. I finally decided that each Christmas they’d get a small check and one inexpensive, but special, gift. My holiday giving has had more joy this way and escalation issues have dissipated.”
“Right on, sir. Here is your change.”
“Oh and I also make scarves and mittens. So if you’re around next year, remember I am booth 314.”
“Sounds good – Oh – and keep the change.”
((smiles exchanged))
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The first one looks like some crazy exercise machine!
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ha – you are so right – like maybe a new High Tech Nordic cycle machine for the die-hard triathlete who needs to use up all the extra carbs they THINK they need.
lol
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I like both stories Yvette Pity that bit of recycled rubbish went to the dump
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thanks BB
and at first I thought it was just tires – but then the CDs popped out – as did the hubcap, etc,
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It is lot of hard work to create that
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indeed….
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I like the sculpture, too bad it’s heading to the dump 😦
Good job on the prompt.
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thanks dan (and I love recycling but seems some things belong in the dump – not saying this circle sculpture does – but some things do)
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Agreed. When we had that dumpster, my daughter seized the opportunity to toss a lot of her high school and early college artwork. It was hard to see it go, but…
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but….
wow – that is a really big dump for her.
my husband would be especially proud – he has a loose hand with items –
and I am getting there.
slowly –
very hard – but taking photos of stuff is always a way to help let things go.
anyhow, your daughter was also old enough to make her choice – and that is really amazing
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She let me override her decision if I wanted to keep something. I kept several self-portraits that she had to do as a freshman.
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I think you had a good thinking about the creator might be a mathematician. I think I see the whole contraption is quite balance from its look. I would agree with Dan’s comment above that it is too bad that the sculpture is going to the dump.
Nice little dialog between the purchaser and the sale person. It ends quite nicely.
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thanks YC.
and maybe in part 2 of the fiction (for the wheel art)
someone rescued it from the dump and added a few lights and now it sits outside of a bicycle shop as a way to get the store noticed.
lol
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Great stories, Y! I could see that sculpture glittering in the sun. I don’t know why but the last two days I’ve had that kids’ song, the wheels on the bus go round and round, pop into my head. Yes, your pic and story triggered it again! HA! We could use some of those hats here. Although, thank goodness, we’re not like some parts of the country! Stay warm and happy New Year! 😀
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hi – well I still think of you with :we are siamese if you please…”
and yes – I heard the cold spell has ended right in Georgia – but glad it is not too cold for yall
(sending some virtual hats)
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Well, a few days have passed and I’m freezing my patootie off! It was 4F this morning. Not my idea of fun. It’s hard to whine to others who are suffering with the minus temps! 😛 Stay warm! This too shall pass! 😉
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thanks for coming back to check in – was thinking of you because the news called the weather a “cyclone bomb that is hitting the east coast”
what the heck???
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2018/01/02/monster-storm-to-blast-east-coast-before-polar-vortex-uncorks-tremendous-cold-late-this-week/?utm_term=.f4182612cd63
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Must be global warming! 😛 😆
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ha
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Another master artist goes unrecognized in his lifetime 🙂
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hahah – yes – and a little anonymous kudos with Rochelle’s fictioneer exposure
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Great perspective on the first story–junk is junk, right? And I love the outcome of the hat story. Well done.
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Enjoyed your fiction…I wish for you the happiest of New Years.
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HI – so nice to “see” ya and thanks for reading – happy new year to you too and let’s check in better in 2018
peace and grace to you
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And to you…hoping the ups and downs of the past few years will even out a bit in the coming year. Blessings.
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🙂
blessings to you too
xxoo
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Ohhhh I liiiiiiiike machines. Please don’t throw the art to the dump.
The MIT museum has similar art pieces, they make so many people happy and make so many people think.
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ok – we will save the art structure for you, strangest 🙂
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Would love that, thanks for the thought
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The first one really points on some of the craziness about art… we do really want to believe in art don’t we? like the emperor’s new clothes…
The second one reminded me of the time when we bought hats for everyone… it was when I was writing my thesis and but we basically ordered it all on internet… great timesiver… I will remember the scarves.
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how cool that you bought everyone hats one year – I wonder if it was that year when all those animal hats were in?
and the comment about art reminds me as to how subjective interpretation can be and sometimes rich critique is maybe BS (ha)
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Hiya
I saw that you tried to access my blog. I’ve given it up for the time being, as I feel I have nothing interesting to report since we left the boat in Greece in October and returned to the UK for the winter. But I do miss my blogging friends! I do have a Facebook page, (search for Georgina Moon), I’m on Instagram too.
if you would like to get in touch, my email is xxx–(cut)
I’d love to hear from you! Hope things are well with you. I need some inspiration for writing more stuff in 2018!
G
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oh whew – thanks for the info my friend – and I will be in touch – glad all is well
🙂
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Both stories are very fun! I like the idea of 52 hats and am super glad I don’t have that many people to buy for.
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thanks – and yeah – let’s pretend this guy is older and had grandkids and nieces/nephews – etc
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Loved your last line. They were finally illuminated as to the worth of the thimg.😉
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thanks so much Christine
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Fun stories Yvette, loved the first one-totally unexpected!!!
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thanks, Tina – and happy new year
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Go grandad, great way to beat boredom. Like the idea of giving everyone the same. Actually youngest son gave all his nieces and nephews a tshirt each from Billabong this year, an iconic brand name over here. We got a gift card from a gardening/hardware store… 4 hour count down to 2018 over here and the children’s fireworks have just started on the beach
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It’s all in the eye of the beholder I guess! 🙂
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I agree –
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Sad to hear grandpas art is going to the dump. I think it would look lovely in the garden!
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Well maybe someone will find it at the dump and recycle – 🙂
thanks for reading
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I enjoyed both stories Y 🙂
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thanks for reading DawD
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Positive stories all round – at least the rubbish gave pleasure while it was around!Nicely told tales
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Thanks Lynn
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I’m happy to have provided a little bit of motivation 😉 Nice take on the “52 hats” photo… and on working on Christmas Eve 😉 But I do know certain people who would not be happy at all with the small, yet meaningful gift 🙂 😉
Oh, and good luck with the 2018 flash fiction writing!
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oh you are so right on the not appreciating the small gift – maybe even moreso from the wealthy – folks might expect more (and not to judge – but sometimes the rich have lost the pure joy of giving – the act of giving becomes transactions and numbers – not from the heart and not from spontaneous love or complete compassion – well not all the time – because some wealthy (awesome) person (anonymous) just gave millions of dollars to charity water….. (a cool outreach)
but other times the giving is about elevating and becomes managerial – oh I dunno.
and thanks again for your post to prompt this and for your comment
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Finding the right gift is certainly not as easy as it seems 😉 I generally try to focus on what the recipient might like to receive, rather than on what I would like to offer (within certain limits, of course, and when it’s about more serious presents). I particularly dislike those hidden meaning gifts, the ones who try to teach me what I “should” like, so I try not to do that to others 😉
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oh I hear ya – I hate hidden meaning gifts too! and I also hate when someone gives and keeps talking about it – or they wrestle with it and well – have a family member who starts talking about what he will give the nieces and nephews (obligated tone).
but you are spot on – the best gifts are customizing it for the recipient –
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Don’t remind me… my mother still makes a big deal about things she gave me over five years ago 🙂 😉
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haha – oh the reminders – lol
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