The Blur of a Good Book
This week's writing prompt was "bokeh". If you remember, these prompts came from a photography challenge and so I had to look up what bokeh was. Bokeh comes from the Japanese word meaning "blur" and in photography refers to the use of blurring parts of an image for aesthetic quality. At first I was stumped as to how I could spin this around into a writing challenge. Then I thought about how a good book can make your whole day disappear in a blur and that became the inspiration for this. I love reading, but one of my absolute favorite books is The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas. That inspired this "bokeh" piece. Come next Wednesday for a "natural light" story.
Oh, and I've finally finished writing "Prince Charming's Search", but I'll tell you more about that tomorrow.
Bokeh
The book was lying on a table when Allison found it. There was nothing overly remarkable about it, yet it caught her eye. She picked it up and looked more closely. The old, leather bound volume was soft from many readings and the pages yellowed with age. There was no title listed on the cover. Curious, she opened to the first page.
At first she read only one line. Then two. Then a paragraph and a page. Her world was forgotten as she became more and more mesmerized by the book in her hands. She forgot about her chores, forgot about her to-do list, forgot the endless obligations that make up our days. Entranced by this new story, she read on.
Without really looking where she was going, Allison wandered to the living room couch. As she continued to read the book, she hardly noticed the sunshine streaming through the open window, illuminating the pages and warming her skin. She did not hear the chirping of birds or buzzing of bees in the gardens outside. She did not feel the spring breeze which toyed with her hair nor smell the heady fragrance of new blooms.
Her reality melted away as her imagination carried her deeper into the story. She heard the clanging of swords and thundering of hooves. Cannons roared and muskets fired, filling her nostrils with smoke and gunpowder. She saw battlefields and fights before being transported to glittering ballrooms. Her ears were filled with music and laughter as the delicious aroma of the feast tickled her nose.
The story had captivated her. Hour after hour flew past as she continued to pore over the pages of the wondrous tale. The French countryside rolled before her in a time she had never known, but now looked upon with amazement. Romance and intrigue, adventure and exotic locations, dashing heroes and malevolent villains. This story had it all.
The sun began to dip below the horizon as Allison continued to read. Someone had turned the light on in the living room, though she hadn’t seen who it was. She hardly registered the sounds of someone in the kitchen making dinner, the aroma wafting towards her unnoticed. She didn’t even hear her name the first, second or third time it was called.
“Allison,” the voice interrupted as a hand appeared over the pages, pulling her unexpectedly from the tale.
She looked up, startled. “What?”
Her mother smiled down at her. “You’ve been reading all day. Wouldn’t you like to come have your supper?”
Though her stomach growled, Allison hesitated. The story called to her, begging her to stay and enjoy just a few more pages. “I guess so. Can I just finish this chapter first? I’m at the good part.”
“That whole book is the good part,” her mother laughed. “Come to dinner. I’ll let you finish reading afterwards.”
“But...”
“No buts. The book will still be here when you finish. You need to come and eat. I already let you miss lunch because I figured you’d come eat when you got hungry.”
Grudgingly Allison stood and stretched after setting the book down. Had she really been reading all day? The crick in her neck said yes, but she had a hard time believing it. She had never been one to spend the whole day reading. Yet there she was with the whole day gone and still more pages to go before she finished. She took one last look at the book lying on the sofa before following her mother to the table.
As soon as she had eaten and rinsed her plate, Allison returned to the book, the world fading as the story carried her away.
Oh, and I've finally finished writing "Prince Charming's Search", but I'll tell you more about that tomorrow.
Bokeh
The book was lying on a table when Allison found it. There was nothing overly remarkable about it, yet it caught her eye. She picked it up and looked more closely. The old, leather bound volume was soft from many readings and the pages yellowed with age. There was no title listed on the cover. Curious, she opened to the first page.
At first she read only one line. Then two. Then a paragraph and a page. Her world was forgotten as she became more and more mesmerized by the book in her hands. She forgot about her chores, forgot about her to-do list, forgot the endless obligations that make up our days. Entranced by this new story, she read on.
Without really looking where she was going, Allison wandered to the living room couch. As she continued to read the book, she hardly noticed the sunshine streaming through the open window, illuminating the pages and warming her skin. She did not hear the chirping of birds or buzzing of bees in the gardens outside. She did not feel the spring breeze which toyed with her hair nor smell the heady fragrance of new blooms.
Her reality melted away as her imagination carried her deeper into the story. She heard the clanging of swords and thundering of hooves. Cannons roared and muskets fired, filling her nostrils with smoke and gunpowder. She saw battlefields and fights before being transported to glittering ballrooms. Her ears were filled with music and laughter as the delicious aroma of the feast tickled her nose.
The story had captivated her. Hour after hour flew past as she continued to pore over the pages of the wondrous tale. The French countryside rolled before her in a time she had never known, but now looked upon with amazement. Romance and intrigue, adventure and exotic locations, dashing heroes and malevolent villains. This story had it all.
The sun began to dip below the horizon as Allison continued to read. Someone had turned the light on in the living room, though she hadn’t seen who it was. She hardly registered the sounds of someone in the kitchen making dinner, the aroma wafting towards her unnoticed. She didn’t even hear her name the first, second or third time it was called.
“Allison,” the voice interrupted as a hand appeared over the pages, pulling her unexpectedly from the tale.
She looked up, startled. “What?”
Her mother smiled down at her. “You’ve been reading all day. Wouldn’t you like to come have your supper?”
Though her stomach growled, Allison hesitated. The story called to her, begging her to stay and enjoy just a few more pages. “I guess so. Can I just finish this chapter first? I’m at the good part.”
“That whole book is the good part,” her mother laughed. “Come to dinner. I’ll let you finish reading afterwards.”
“But...”
“No buts. The book will still be here when you finish. You need to come and eat. I already let you miss lunch because I figured you’d come eat when you got hungry.”
Grudgingly Allison stood and stretched after setting the book down. Had she really been reading all day? The crick in her neck said yes, but she had a hard time believing it. She had never been one to spend the whole day reading. Yet there she was with the whole day gone and still more pages to go before she finished. She took one last look at the book lying on the sofa before following her mother to the table.
As soon as she had eaten and rinsed her plate, Allison returned to the book, the world fading as the story carried her away.
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