Copyright Ted Strutz
Top shelf, third bottle from the right.
Annie studied it.
Over recent weeks the liquid had shifted from sparkling sapphire, through glowing gold to radiant ruby.
But tonight it was pulsating purple, keening softly.
Drink me…
The bartender glanced warily around the empty bar, before setting it down beside Annie’s glass and disappearing out the back.
“Where’s Annie tonight?” said a regular later, nodding at the empty stool.
The bartender smiled. “Meeting up with the other girls.”
On the shelf the bottle radiated an excitable ruby hue, before dimming to a sparkling sapphire once again, as another girl entered the bar.
This is a re-titled, slightly modified re-run of The Hen Party, which caused some confusion on its last outing. Hopefully it’s clearer now. I might be slow getting round this week’s stories; the internet is on the blink again and currently running at 98% below the British Telecom average speed. It’s possible to take a short nap between clicking on a link and typing a comment. Thank you Rochelle, for your endeavours on behalf of Friday Fictioneers, and fingers crossed that all will be well with the publisher.
castelsarrasin 
Whimsical horror. You’ve invented a whole new genre
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I always felt there was an untapped dark side to Alice in Wonderland. 😉
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Ooh, creepy, imaginative and fantasticl all in one. I cant help but wonder what the contents of that bottle tastes like – is that crazy? Where do they go, Sandra – do you know? Great tale
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Somewhere I wouldn’t want to, I think, Lynn. 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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Yes, you’re right. Not worth tasting the contents of that bottle 🙂
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Dear Sandra,
This has me wondering where they’re meeting exactly. Colorful and intriguing story. Personally, I think Alice in Wonderland was a rather dark story. As always, you show us how it’s done.
I’m so glad you were able to post this week. No word from agent or publisher…yet.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The Cheshire Cat used to haunt my dreams, as a child. 🙂 Keeping everything crossed for you, Rochelle.
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I am worried about this bartender, 🙂 But loved your take on the picture. Mike
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You have every reason to worry, I think, Mike. 🙂
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Superb.
I love the thought of all these ladies writhing in a smoky Never Land, seduced by a genie in a bottle and a compliant barman.
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Thanks CE. Lends a whole new meaning to the word Procurator Fiscal, no?
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I had a different idea about your story, struggling alcoholic and the courtship with the bottle full of temptation. Beautiful, no matter if I got it wrong.
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No rights, no wrongs. It means what it means to the reader. Thanks for reading, and it was a very viable interpretation too. 🙂
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Hmmmm. Now THIS is fascinating! Beautifully written (as always, Sandra!) and also some magic along with the eeriness. The wine sells the story and well, too.
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I love blue wine! I’d go a long way for a glass of blue, but not perhaps this far. 🙂 Thanks for reading, Kent.
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O-oh! Creepy… And yes, I agree re:the dark side to Alice in Wonderland
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Good to know you found it slightly spooky too. Thanks for reading, Sue.
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😀😀
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Oh dear not the sort of courtship I would want.
What with changing hues and disappearing acts.
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No, not my ideal courtship either. 🙂
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Lovely take and beautifully written. Magic in every line.
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Thanks for reading Graham. 🙂
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Hah, I remember being one of those confused three years ago. However, I get it now…lol.
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Thanks Paul. 🙂
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Intriguing! Sounds like a magic potion of some kind..is he collecting women. They all disappear and I guess he does too for a while..
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I think the bottle has a few secrets, for sure. Thanks for reading.
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This is such an intriguing tale! Makes me crave for more 😀
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Thanks Maria. :
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Brilliantly bottled tale.
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Thanks Tracey!
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A great job of bottling the untapped dark side of Alice in Wonderland. Brilliant.
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Thanks, glad you liked it.
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98% down is unacceptable – have you contacted BT? Love your story.
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They’re never away from the house or off the phone, Liz. Open Reach say it’s not their fault, BT says it’s not theirs either. They advertise speeds of up to 10 meg, guarantee 6, tell you should be satisfied if you get 4 given the distance you are away from the cabinet, and whistle through their teeth when you tell them you’ve average 0.2 for the last five days. Glad you liked the story.
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That’s weird! Where can I find a bottle of that?
Annie RIP – my short story
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I’ve popped one in the post, Keith.
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That bartender creeps me out, and the magic here is imaginative and scary, just as it should be. Great story, Sandra. (Feeling to sound like a broken record here. ;))
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Thanks Gabrielle, glad you enjoyed it. You don’t sound like a broken record to me 😉
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Creepy magic bottle. I wonder if the victims have gone somewhere nice? 🙂
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I’ll pour you a glass and you can find out. 🙂
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Sinister, to say the least!
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Creepy! Beautifully written as always.
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Thank you Clare. 🙂
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You always leave me wanting more. Well done.
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Glad you enjoyed it.
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it seems some girls deserve to have some fun. 🙂
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And some deserve something more than that. 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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I really like this fantasy tale. Thanks for sharing it.
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My pleasure. 🙂
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I love your description of the ever-changing colors. Not something I’d care to drink.
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Oooooo creepy. I love that the bottles spoke to you too, I had a similar idea. A possibly dark tale here… I wonder where they all go?
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This is wonderfully imaginative in that it sparks my own imagination.
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Such a clever tale! It reads smoothly and captured my curiosity. Watch out for temptation, eh? 🙂
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This is a very clever and original story. I love the use of colours and the light and magical feel to what becomes a slightly disturbing tale. well done.
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Oh my! Can the girls escape?
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This is a whole new spin on Alice and a much darker level with your story. Oh, I’m intrigued! I want to know more. Good luck with the internet connection, although taking a cat nap sounds pretty nice. 🙂
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magic was in the liquid or in the alice’s mind?
http://obliqview.blogspot.in/2016/08/icon-grill-prompt-ted-strutz-he-was-too.html
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I’m thinking it’s party time somewhere on the other side – not dark at all. But maybe I’m wrong. In any case, it’s a most engaging story, and it leaves me wondering.
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Good writing, Sandra. I wonder if, like Alice, she went through a little door. I somehow never thought of Wonderland as a land of wonders. It seemed more like a land of dementia. 😐 — Suzanne
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Everybody needs a good whine…..wonder who does the bottling?
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I like the way you build up the tension. The story seems normal then slowly starts to show something else. Pretty scary.
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