Monday 28 March 2011

Mona Lisa Smiles





Sheepishly, 
he crept into the flat, having first taken off his shoes outside the door. 
Hesitant, 
with infinite care, 
he put down each foot and froze every time a floorboard creaked. 
He hardly knew now what had made him accept the woman's 
invitation
to come in for a coffee.
All he had planned to do was to see her home,
safely;
she wasn't even his concern,
she had been  his friend's date.
Soon,
it would be morning.
The love of his life lay, fast asleep, in their bed;
it was hardly worthwhile joining her there,
he'd only wake her,
an inconsiderate thing to do in the small hours,
he said to himself.
He would lie down on the sofa in their living room instead.
By the thin light of early dawn filtering through the half-drawn curtains
he saw La Gioconda on the wall above the sofa;

She knew
and he knew she knew.



36 comments:

  1. i love the stories you tell friko. they always feel like they are part of something bigger. a moment in a long telling. steven

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  2. I always look forward to reading your take on the Magpie Tales photo prompt and this one is another wonderful write.

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  3. Wonderful piece, well written!

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  4. Oddly enough I have always felt that was the look she held...a smirk...sort of I know what you know.

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  5. So, she knew...and that look....ah, now it makes sense. Very clever take. vb

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  6. I always wondered why Mona Lisa had that telling smile on her face! Now I know! Very engaging tale, Friiko!

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  7. oh yes she did...and he is in so much trouble...lol nice write...

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  8. weisst Du, dass ich das Bild sehr liebe?! Und dann Deine bedeutungsvolle Fantasie über dieses Bild ist wirklich wohltuend und nachdenklich machend, heute Morgen... Wundervoll!

    Alles Gute und alles Liebe von

    Renée

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  9. Perfectly sums up the smug look on her face.

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  10. She knows everything.

    I like this short fiction, Friko!

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  11. Will Lisa keep his secret? Clever take on the prompt.

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  12. Good one. This rings true.

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  13. Ha ha--exactly! Great magpie, Friko.

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  14. Big smile here at the ending. Never saw it coming - how clever!!! You do have your fun, don't you...?

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  15. The wife always knows or at least this wife would!

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  16. Only you, Friko, would go there with
    that famous smile, and the folly that
    is men. This time your cleverness almost
    overtook your imagination, for this
    one resonates with too many of us.
    Shame on us, and good on you!
    You will love the image I used
    for my reposting of this gem.

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  17. She certainly does have that knowing look...and what she knows about each of us...wow...

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  18. How wonderful !


    She's for sale over here at a local Flohmarkt for 45 Euro. Please have a good Wednesday.

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  19. "She knew
    and he knew she knew." Such simple words, yet oh, so telling!

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  20. Excellent. I really like that!

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  21. Perfection in the knowing. Excellent piece!

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  22. Busted! But will she say anything? She hasn't yet ... all these years centures ... but still. Your story brings us yet another "art lover" who will be very worriedly trying to decipher the world's most celebrated enigmatic smile.

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  23. She knew
    and he knew she knew ... perfect! Oh I loved it :o)

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  24. Superb Friko! I've just read it again! Brilliant!

    Anna :o]

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  25. You have pinned down the look on her face beautifully. The "love of his life" will know too, I guess!
    How do you justify the random line lengths? Would a single prose paragraph detract from the story?

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  26. Oh, yes, she has that mocking, knowing half-smile - not to be trusted, that one!

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  27. Good lead-up, great end-stanza.

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  28. I think you've summed up her smile quite nicely. He's in a lot of strife too! Great Mag.

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  29. He's a very naughty boy!
    Always a pleasure to visit your blog, Friko.

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  30. Another good write. Thanks, Friko

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  31. What an absolute gem. Women know..........

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