L’Amphitheatre des Trois Gauls, Lyon, France.
Time again for Friday Fictioneers; how the weeks are just flying by.
Resisting the urge to go ‘gladiatorial’ (not to mention my recently revived taste for ‘offing’ people) I’ve elected for a bit of social commentary. Again. 😉
Thanks again to Rochelle for weekly stage direction duties.
‘Fat, flat and frumpy!’
Stacey flounced off the stage, fuming. Who did he think he was? Dickhead! Trousers under his armpits, built-up shoes.
And what was this ‘fat’ business? 200 pounds was a good weight for her age and height.
She’d show them all. Her Dad called her his ‘little star’ and that’s what she was going to be, whatever it took. A ginormous star, world-wide.
She passed the stage door-keeper engrossed in his newspaper. A face beamed out at her from the back page, all dreadlocks and lip-gloss.
Yeeessss! Stacey punched the air.
Tennis! How hard could that be?
Some unease about the expletive in this, but a synonym search, (whilst illuminating 🙂 ) didn’t throw up a suitable alternative. Sorry if anyone’s offended – I’m open to alternative suggestions.
castelsarrasin 
Dear Sandra,
Stacey’s nothing if not resilient. I applaud her positive self image and your subtle social commentary. Expletive? Nay, a word fitly spoken. Loved this.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you Rochelle, pleased I didn’t offend.
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Dear Sandra,
Your story is admirable and on point. I hope Stacey kicks butt wherever she goes and whatever she does. Could not help but notice that your protagonist has designs on entering the present day’s gladiatorial arena so perhaps you did go there after all. (Just teasing.) Thanks for the beautiful photo. In my research I learned much about Lyon/Lugdunum and cannot thank you enough for taking us there.
Aloha,
Doug
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I don’t watch X Factor, but a long time ago I did watch one programme of the ‘auditions’. I concluded we really hadn’t evolved very much over the years.
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Good one Sandra, exactly how hard could tennis be…..it’s all relative isn’t it.
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For me, tennis is very hard. 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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I love her irrepressible optimism. Somehow, I think she could actually do it if she kept at it. Great story.
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As long as she believes. Thanks David.
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You have to admire her confidence.
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If not her attachment to reality… 🙂
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Sandra! I nearly went X Factor too when I saw the arena. It’s absolutely our modern version of throwing the Christians into the amphitheatre. I didn’t in the end, but I’m so glad you did. This is a brilliant depiction of the scene, the character and a great reflection of our times.
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You’re right about ‘throwing to the lions’. (See my reply to Doug) X Factor was never on my viewing list, but from what I’ve read it’s moved through a cycle of ‘sob-story’ to ‘cruelly inflicted disappointment’. Gross! Thanks for reading, glad you liked it.
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Appeals to my sense of humour, but it is tragicomedy, and very much of today’s world, in many ways…
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Sadly so. Thanks Pirate.
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No problem with the expletive. “Jackwagon” is in vogue now 🙂
DJ
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Hah! Never heard that term before. 🙂
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Your story, tragicomedy as Pirate put it so well, reminds me of the studies that show American students have high self-esteem, but low performance. Hope and positive thinking are wonderful if balanced with reality. Well done as usual.
janet
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Yes, I blame our educational system. A sign in letters 12″ high on our local primary school says “Success for All”. That just isn’t so and I have to grit my teeth every time I drive past. Thanks for reading and commenting Janet.
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Well I never! I object to the term ‘dickhead’ when you could have easily used ‘Penis-cranium’.
I may have to stop reading your stories in the future if you continue with such filth, darling!
I have no patience for these types of shows (ie. X-Factor, etc..)
Thanks for the laughs.
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Never use a five-syllable word where a two-syllable one will do. 😉 Please don’t go, I promise to clean up my act.
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lol at Penis-cranium ^^
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In Serena’s defence most women tennis players are like stick insects 🙂
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How did you know that was exactly who I had on my mind… 😉
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If your going to be a star you have to be larger than life
I loved the photograph you shared with us – thank you
the theater ghosts speak loud and clear
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Thank you! Glad you liked the photo – just wish it had been a brighter day.
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This little girl has drive and determination. I fear there will be not stopping her. I think you went gladiator after all.
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I think you’re right. Thanks for reading.
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Stacey is brave to try so many things. But I have a personal experience that it just gets messed up very often. A very interesting write. I loved it. 🙂
-HA
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Brave or foolish; a fine line between the two. Thanks for reading.
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ahahah! Just delightful to read, Sandra! 😀
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Thanks Linda!
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Tennis, how hard can that be? Plenty hard, except for your protagonist! Interesting and different use of your own prompt.
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Thanks Perry. 🙂
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ha, ha…love the attitude! 🙂
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Thanks!
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The language is authentic and fits the character (enhances her, actually) and I love the scene ou set here. I got a little confused by the lip gloss, dread lock character… and switch to tennis. The stage scene was excellent! Since it is your photo, where is this? I’m curious.
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Hi there. The location is printed beneath the photo. Sorry you were confused again this week, (and after I promised last week I’d try not to be so obscure the next time 🙂 ). As Paul correctly surmised in the comments above, the glossy-lipped, dread-locked character was Serena Williams, the tennis player. And, at the risk of doing the whole thing to death here, she’s decided to achieve her goal by becoming a world famous tennis player, as opposed to a world famous singer. I’ll try harder next week. 😉 Thanks for reading and commenting.
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Ah, I see the caption doesn’t appear on other copies of the image. It’s L’Amphitheatre des Trois Gauls, Lyon, France.
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Hey, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Of course, If I’m going to resort to cliche’d truisms, I suppose I’ll also have to include, “Pride goeth before a fall.” But with only 100 words at your disposal, I suppose you have to leave it to each reader to decide which one fits Stacey.
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I’d like to think it was your first cliche, but I suspect it’s going to be the second. Thanks for dropping by Sandra.
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Lovely header photo, by the way.
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Thanks; taken on my morning walk. I love the photographic opportunities that autumn provides, though I didn’t appreciate the stiff breeze sweeping down from the North Sea this morning. 🙂
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Great read as always Sandra. No offense taken! Sometimes, there is only one word that will do. I love your character’s spirit!
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I’m glad I don’t seem to have offended. I’ve come to accept that my ‘offence-gauging’ monitor works less accurately as I get older… Glad you enjoyed it Amy. I’ll be catching up with the other submissions today sometime and looking forward to yours.
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big stars need to have big dreams 🙂 loved your character’s confidence. great story as always 🙂
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Thanks kz!
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She definitely has the right attitude— very good take. (though I’ve never seen X-factor)..
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Consider yourself very fortunate Bjorn. 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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Too true. I being one with unrealistic expectations that have carried me into many adventures – and lot of ups and down in weight!
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I wish I had a few more ‘downs in weight’ experiences lately. Thanks for reading Linda.
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Did she beat him to death with a tennis racket?
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Something like that.
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Ouch! That must have taken a while.
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Great idea for the picture this week Sandra; and a great picture. I’ve forgotten what the percentage is for teenagers whose ambition is to be famous, but it is shockingly high.
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Yes, everyone seems to be looking for their 15 minutes of fame, one way or another. I remember reading that statistic but like you, can’t remember what it was.
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At first I thought you were describing me with the pants under the armpits line. How I wish I had some horned-rimmed glasses and a pocket protector to complete the outfit. I appreciate Stacey’s spunk, but think I’ll opt for table tennis. All that running might make my pants slide down to my waistline (wouldn’t want that!).
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🙂 Even table tennis seems a bridge too far for me…
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Good for her. She’s a tough cookie. Dickhead’s a good word.
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There aren’t very many comparable synonyms, but I learned a lot searching for them…
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Unfortunately, your character is true to life. I know one of these characters. What’s really sad is that when all energy is directed at pursuing ‘fame’, these people’s real talents remain suppressed and undeveloped. I would not have sneered at ‘Success For All’. It is possible, I feel, but only by discovering and developing what we are good at. Good story. Ann
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Not sneering at the phrase, just irritated that, particularly for these under-sevens it seems to be instilling the message that all you have to do is to come to school and you’ll be successful. A qualifier wouldn’t go amiss.
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Sorry, sneering was definitely NOT the right word! I shouldn’t write stuff to other people at 2.30 am when I’m falling asleep over the keyboard. ZZZZZ! I agree with what you say. One hopes the qualifier would be in practice in schools. Ann
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No worries! 🙂
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I’d been looking at the word ‘sneering’ as a synonym for sarcasm – to do with my FF story this week. I’m shuddering! It was not meant as an insult! Call it a ‘brain slur’ on my part. I have a lot of them these days! Ann
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Stop worrying about it… this minute! 🙂 I didn’t take offence. But while we’re discussing this, I thought I’d enlarge on the ‘success for all’ slogan. I read that many schools have stopped playing competitive sports, for fear of demoralising or worse still ‘traumatising’ the losers. That can’t be right, and it affects both the high achievers and the low achievers – the first never getting to see the fruits of their endeavours, and the latter never learning to cope with failure or being inspired to do better. That’s why I disapprove of the slogan. Now stop fretting!
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You and I are in agreement regarding this attitude towards competitiveness. The thinking is so flawed! I’m not sure it’s not actually evil. As bad as that. Consider me ‘fretless’ about the sneering thing! Ann
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OMG you said dickhead.. 😉 it made the story more real and as Rochelle said, it fit. I don’t follow tennis, but I expect the picture in the newspaper was an inspiration. Fun story – and no one died.
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OMG so I did! I got so distracted I also forgot to kill someone… Glad you liked it Erin.
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Hi Sandra,
Thanks for the lovely photo. Expletive? I thought that was my name until I was twelve. It’s always interesting to see what the photographer writes. I thinks it’s a little harder because you didn’t start with a blank slate. Stacey could keep in mind that all the world’s a stage. Heard that somewhere. Ron
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Ron expletive Pruitt… that has a certain ring to it. 🙂 You’re right, it’s hard to write about your own photo. Thanks for commenting, sorry I’m so late getting around to acknowledging. See you tomorrow!
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Thanks for the great photo–and your great story. Since I worked in a male-dominated profession, “dickhead” was an expletive I used quite often. Thanks for the memory. 😉
Here’s mine: http://unexpectedpaths.com/friday-fictioneers/martyr/
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Yes, I used to work for a television production company, and had to work hard on restructuring my language when I left.
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That was an interesting photo prompt for the week, thanks for sharing. I think Stacey might do very well at tennis. I’ve not seen X Factor, either; and took no offense at the language. It fit the character, and is much better than what we are bombarded with by the “entertainment” industry.
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Thank you pattisj, glad I didn’t offend. 🙂
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dear Sandra, I love your protagonist. Seems she can deal with the “dickhead” (I didn´t know the word but I like it .:-) could be something like the German “Vollpfosten” ). her self confidence is really refreshing. There are so few words but I could really see her – great!
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Thank you! Glad you liked it. And thanks for the new word! 🙂
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Great job Sandra, very entertaining and I too thought Serena….
I have major issues with the education system in the UK not least that our failings in numeracy and literacy have been published. We had one of the best education systems in the world until the lunatic fringe got their hands on it, why try and fix something that wasn’t broken?
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Ooh don’t get me started Dee! 🙂 I suppose you read yesterday that one school has decided that birthday party invitations may not be handed out at school unless ALL the class gets an invitation. They defend this on the grounds that they operate an ‘total inclusion’ policy. I remember not being invited to certain birthday parties – I got over it. If I hadn’t been invited to any, then I, and my parents, would have examined the reasons why, starting with my behaviour towards others. We’d also have had some confidence that the school was getting on with what it was supposed to do… educating kids, not trying to change human nature and the natural course of events. Don’t seem to have seen you on FF in recent weeks – good to hear from you again. 🙂
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What a lovely take on the prompt! I’m new to Stacy and don’t a a thing about x-factor but your story made me laugh anyway! Great go!
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