An interlude, as promised to a friend, before an eruption on the island of Santorini.
100 words inspired by Jan Morrill’s photograph for Friday Fictioneers, a rodeo run by head honcho Madison Woods. Click here to read all the stories by authors from around the world. It doesn’t take long and will often transport you to other places and times. What more could you wish for?
This week’s story is for a very special woman enduring great pain for the promise of less. I could get lost in an eternity of moments like this and when I do I sincerely hope to find her there.
(Click here to listen to the song mentioned in the story, sung by the master storyteller herself, Joni Mitchell. Play it soft and low as you read so you can hear the ancient pulse of the Aegean carried in on the wind.)
“Will you come early?” she teased.
“No,” He promised with difficulty.
“I need time.” A smile, an eyebrow arched, breath caught as she moved.
“I’ll give you all that you want….but you must tell me …”
“When I am ready.”
Curtains bellied in on the afternoon breeze that rose from Red Beach to cool the white washed walls of Akrotiri. Joni sang softly in the background, predicting their future.
“And when I am ready?”
She leaned down, golden halo of her hair enveloping him, tasting of the sea, and whispered in his ear.
“I’m going to drink you like wine.”
ironwoodwind 
“I’m going to drink you like wine.” It just got very warm here. I need to go lie down.
Dear Paul,
Thanks for visiting and commenting. Enjoy your….nap?
Aloha,
Doug
Lovely imagery, even in the paragraphs above the piece.
I want to meet her too.
Dear Perry,
Thank you, sir. (So do I, Perry. So do I.)
Aloha,
Doug
So, my first comment never made it here…funny internet connection.
This is a wonderful day starter on a day i am lashing out against love…It’s good to know ‘Many would still endure great pains for a promise of less’
Btw, the song and the singer are a great discovery, thanks for the gifts all together!
Have a nice day!
Dear Charles,
Lashing out against Love is like taking poison and expecting someone else to die from it. I hope you lose that battle, for your sake.
Thanks for reading and commenting. I envy you in that you are new to Joni Mitchell. I meant it when I said she was a master story teller.
Aloha,
Doug
Sure, i hope against hope, i might just be wrong as i’ve been all the time about love.
Joni is sweet, i can say now…been rummaging all posts about her on Youtube! hahaha! Thanks!!
Doug, we did take a similar path…that diverged wildly. 🙂 Your words are lyrical and your story beautiful. You did a lovely job of describing with few words but much promise.
The last words…perfect!
“I’m going to drink you like wine”.. Sensuous!
Though I could not picture “golden halo of her hair enveloping him”.
Reading this warmed my heart!
Dear Parul,
Picture him on his back and she, making love, astride him. When she leans forward to whisper into his ear, her hair will seem to envelop him.
Too much description takes away from the allotted word count and forces the author to paint with light, but telling brush strokes. That’s what, as a famous person once told me, “I tried to do here…” I’ll keep doing it until I get it right.
Thank you for visiting, Parul. The world is wide and wondrous place and your unique perspective always adds to the beauty of the view.
Aloha,
Doug
Your words in the post were elegant. I hope I didn’t make you roll your eyes and exhale deeply before writing the long explanation! 🙂
Thanks for your patience, I see it now. 🙂
I think he is dying and she is the ‘good angle of death’, disguised as a former ‘one true love’, to take him on his next journey.
Good one, my friend… Mahalo
Could you mean “angel” Ted? Or am I just seeing it from a different angle? (Sorry, Doug…had to dip.)
Oh my God… I am so embarrassed! Of course I meant ‘angel’. Thank you, Rochelle… don’t tell Doug.
Dear Doug,
It takes a true artist to take a scene that could be considered lewd by some and turn it into something beyond lovely. A Matisse painted with words, if you will. Impressionistic. You didn’t have to describe every detail for me to appreciate the picture.
Thanks for the trip to Santorini, my dear friend.
Shalom-Aloha,
Rochelle
Your preface intensifies the seductive overtones of your words–nicely done. I also like your wise observation made to Charles: “Lashing out against Love is like taking poison and expecting someone else to die from it.”
I enjoyed both your story and the prologue. Both were well written and moving.
Very nice imagery – with all of the senses. I enjoyed this one a lot, Doug.
Douglas,
I didn’t know you were a hopeless romantic–you old coot! Next thing we know you’ll be writing for True Confessions. Is this Mr. Boone of Boone’s Farm fame? Hopefully, he won’t give her a headache. That would certainly ruin the moment.
Seriously, this is very well written and I’m envious of your talent.
http://russellgayer.wordpress.com/
lol Tks for the chuckle Russell.
Whoa…Doug is revealing his romantic, sensual side this week. Gave me a warm feeling all over .. I understood the “halo of golden hair” bit. No explanation needed here as I wore long golden hair. lol. I gather from your last name that you are Irish? If so, that explains a lot to me. Thanks for visiting and commenting on my tribute to Malala/Aisha. ps: I responded to your offer re. Pretty Balloons. If you wish, revisit my blog. I’m am interested in your tips to make it better. Hugs, Lora
Aah, Doug. How could anyone have missed your romantic streak? It flows through every thing you write, even the darker pieces. I understood immediately the imagery of “She leaned down, golden halo of her hair enveloping him, tasting of the sea,” Don’t change a thing. Here’s my link…http://melodypearson.com/2012/10/into-the-desert-stronghold/. I am afraid I’m still stuck in Mariska’s world, trying to get organized for NaNoWriMo…
Hi Doug,
Maybe I’m just a dirty old man, but I was reading explicit sex into almost every statement in the story. Or maybe I’m just the only commenter to not use euphemisms. However you interpret the words, I agree with the consensus that it’s beautifully written. Ron
Dear Ron,
Yours was the correct interpretation, hands down. Everyone else has been trying to politely tap dance here in the comments section. In the case of this story I appreciate any comments at all, yours included.
Hot day in Akrotiri.
Aloha,
Doug
Gorgeous. Sensual. Hot. Heartfelt. Amazing. Also loved your reference to Joni Mitchell, and enjoyed hearing and seeing her perform that song again. I think your friend will enjoy the interlude, and I hope her pain melts away.
Dear Jan,
Thank you. For a nice comment and for noticing Joni, she of the dulcet tones and spot on lyrics. I take it you are a fan. None better in this day and age, eh?
Aloha,
Doug
Holiday sex? Time to enjoy is a wonderful thing. Well written, Doug.
Mine’s here today http://anneorchardwriter.wordpress.com/2012/10/12/friday-fictioneeers-empty/
The written vs the unsaid. Beautifully written!
Sensual, erotic and beautifully understated. Nice one Doug – off for a shower now.
Sensual and erotic without shoving anything in our faces–pun intended. Very nice and, yes, it got very warm.
Here’s mine: http://unexpectedpaths.com/friday-fictioneers/disharmony/
My Oh my Doug. I love this, absolutely. “I’m going to drink you like wine.” This line is a stunner. I’ve always suspected this side of you you’ve proved me more than right. Thank you for this sexy piece. 🙂 http://readinpleasure.wordpress.com/2012/10/12/fridayfictioneers-i-want-out/
Understatedly erotic – beautiful. I love that you’ve included music as well – I have some again this week too.
Doug, I could repeat all the priase of other commenters, but instead I’m going to tell you that I have two very different interpretations of this story based almost entirely on the meaning of the word “come” in the first line. Either one is sensuous, but the cruder version is more straightforward and the other full of mystery and romance.
I’m not a great fan of Joni (don’t stone me!), but I could certainly feel the sun and the sea in her music and your words. I have a feeling that her prediction for their future isn’t a totally happy one.
So difficult to know I’m going to be hanging out a a middle school for the next couple hours and have this dwelling in the back of my mind. Jeez Louise, that was hot!
Very sensual, very romantic. You have a gift with words, Doug, but for the rest of us, you are the gift of words.
Dear Kady,
I’m blushing and thankful for a friend like you to point the way.
Aloha,
Doug
Moving work, and the comments are delightful. 🙂
Here’s mine: http://wrasselings.blogspot.com/2012/10/friday-fictioneers-oasis.html
Maybe mine could be the next chapter? Or the preceding one? Hmmm . . .
Dear Cindy,
Thank youso much for commenting so kindly on A Case of You. Playing catchup with all the stories tonight. Wish me luck.
Aloha,
Doug
Surprising story from this pic. Never would have thought of something romantic. Great job.
Dear Shirley,
Romantic. I like that. Fits with the afternoon breezes and the location. Thank you for commebnting.
Aloha,
Doug
my favorite was the image of curtains bellying in. it’s an image i’d never given two blinks about, but now it’s imprinted. well done.
Dear Rich,
Got imprinted on me one hot summer long ago. Something about it says summertime and cool breezes. Thanks for noticing.
Aloha,
Doug
Whew – there are a few scenes like this, which are somehow extremely explicit without being explicit at all (I’ve got a passage from For Whom the Bell Tolls in mind) – that show a writer really has it under control. Nice job!
Dear Brian,
Your comment was one of the nicest I’ve ever received. Thanks for making my weekend. Apologies for taking so long to get back to you. I was indisposed and now I’m back.
Aloha,
Doug
“And when I am ready?”
She leaned down, golden halo of her hair enveloping him, tasting of the sea, and whispered in his ear.
“I’m going to drink you like wine.”
irresistibly delicious.
great line. great little story.
Aloha
Randt
I have been away and now i am back. Thank you for commenting so kindly re A Case of You. I appreciate it.
Aloha,
Doug
Doug this is a lovely piece of work. So visual, so sensual……. I was there.
Dee
Dear Dee,
You are kind to this old scribbler. Thank you.
Aloha,
Doug
I loved the “curtains bellied in on the afternoon breeze” line – that somehow made it all more sensual. I’m craving wine now. 🙂
Dear Sheila,
That line seemed to tie everything together. We’ve all been there, so it must have struck the right chord and set the tone. Wine sounds good to me, too.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Aloha,
Doug
Oh! I like this very much. You’ve always struck me as a man who could communicate passion well and you did here. Lovely.
And as per your tag, that guy does have skills.