Today’s picture prompt was provided by J. Hardy Carroll and posted by our fearless leader, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, a master cat herder. Thanks to you both.
Before the war, football, cars, and pretty girls were the only things James thought about. He was the life of parties that never ended before 3 a.m. Girls called him. Everyone in town started wearing pink and blue shirts because that’s what he wore.
Superstar.
After the war, people glanced at his prosthetic and moved their eyes to a spot above his shoulder, acted like they couldn’t quite place who he was and walked away. He felt invisible.
Tonight James had a surprise for them. Hefting his baton, he strutted out on the field in a short-skirted, perfectly pink majorette uniform.
100-words
Up From the Ashes 
That made me smile, cracking ending, he sure showed them
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I’m so glad. After I posted, I had second thoughts – not meaning to offend anyone because he was a soldier. I really wanted to go on the light side, instead of the depressing side. Thanks for letting me know it made you smile.
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he’s a warrior still
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Yes, he is. Thanks, Neil.
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I imagine there will be a few who still refuse to look at him still, but boy did he make them notice him again 🙂
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You’re right on both counts, Iain. Thanks for reading!
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Go James!
Can you see him now, folks?
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Ha! Not only can they see him, they probably won’t forget him, either.
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Darn tootin!
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Point made. Point taken.
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Indeed.
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There are too ways if people treat you as invisible… either stay invisible or make them see you… I think he did the right thing
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Thanks, Bjorn. I think he did the right thing too. Go bold and beautiful.
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He didn’t let their indifference defeat him.
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Nope! He certainly didn’t.
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whoa- the pink uniform will be loud for sure – loud and proud….
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It will.
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🙂
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oh and at first I was like, “What is a war football?”
and wondered if there should be a comma after war – like you did in the “After the war…”
Either way, in my mind, I read “war football” – or maybe that is because I just wrote my fiction with an NFL theme and I have football on the mind
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Thanks! When I reread the story I thought there should be a comma. Will go back and correct.
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well one of my favorite grammarians (?) might have said it is up to you if you wanted to pause or not.
so it works both ways (in my opinion) but you would have to read my fiction piece to see why I read war football – lol
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On my way. I’m so far behind reading!
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I hope James enjoyed his experience!
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I do believe he did.
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That’ll show them, there’s no keeping him down!
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Nope! Who knows what he’ll get up to next.
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Well done James, hold your baton high and with pride!
Click to read my FriFic tale
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Thanks, Keith, I’ll let James know you’re on his side.
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GO JAMES! Stand firm! Stand proud! Ta’ hell with people’s opinions on the matter!
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Well said, Jelli.
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Now they won’t know what to ignore first! Well written.
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Ha! You’re right. Thanks, Liz
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Wow. That story took an unexpected turn!
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I usually kill someone or turn them into alcoholics, so I was trying to go on the light side this week. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment, too!
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Now an alcoholic majorette might be some Pulitzer Prize-winning stuff. Do consider it.
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I’ll put it on my to-do list 😉 for sure.
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Damn!! Good on him. I loved this. He’s still a fighter and a leader in my mind
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Ah, thanks, Laurie. Your comment made me feel really good.
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nobody can’t put him down as yet. he’s a fighter with the right attitude.
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Yes he is!
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And the rest is history….
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We can hope it is good history. Thanks, Dawn.
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Made me smile.
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Oh, I’m glad.
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I’m sure that certainly got people’s attention. I just hope they see him and not just that pink uniform.
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Me, too, Trent.Thanks
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I’m sitting here thinking of that Bonnie Raitt song, Let’s give ’em “Something to Talk About.”
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I love that song! It’s a perfect background song for our James. Thanks, Russell
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You made me grin from ear to ear. I tried to wrap a story around a pink and blue world but got nowhere. Well done.
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Thanks for noticing that, Sandra. I tried to make the whole story about people in pink and blue shirts, it just wasn’t working. So, enter James, stage right.
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My story was about someone only being able to see the world in pink and blue but it quickly morphed into a childless woman’s despair etc etc.. and I opted for a re-run.
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Your re-run was perfect.
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Dear Lish,
The outfit certainly put him back in the spotlight, no doubt taking the attention away from his prosthetic. Love it.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle. I think he always wanted to wear pink. 😉 Hope you had a wonderful 4th of July.
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My! That is some change, perhaps the pink shirt had said it all along and no one noticed.
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Exactly what I was thinking.
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James is such a wonderful character!
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Thanks! I’m glad you liked him!
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There are many layers to the issue you have raised. Like the way you raised this psychological problem.
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Thanks, yarnspinnerr.
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And now I want to read all about the shock on their faces which turned to smiles and congratulation. Great story.
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Thank you, Sarah Ann
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Yes, James! Love it. Well done, Alicia!
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Thank you. Big smile from James.
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Way to go, James. What a great story, Alicia. The friends James makes now, will be the real thing. Win-win, except for the leg…
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Yep. But maybe, with more “real” friends, he won’t miss that leg quite as much. Thanks.
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LOL! I would love to see that!
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Me too! Thanks, Alice
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