“You said you’d follow me anywhere,” he yelled out above the roar. She stood there shaking. Obviously he didn’t understand the meaning of hyperbole!
Her parents had warned her. Her stodgy father mumbled “He’s a fly-by-night.” Her mother wrung her hands and kept repeating “He’s not good enough for you.” But she loved him. So she followed her heart.
It was romantic at first. Driving cross-country in his converted VW van. Lying on the hood looking up at the stars. Then he got this ridiculous idea. She didn’t think he meant it literally for God’s sake! Who really runs away to the circus??? But here she was. Sequined tights, gaudy tiara, leather grips on her hands. No one left and no one came on the bare platform. It was her turn. And there he was, hanging upside down swinging on that damned trapeze!
Sarah is hosting Prosery Monday at dVerse, the virtual pub for poets. However, we’re not writing poems today! Prosery is the use of a given line from a poem, word for word, within the work of flash fiction which can be no more than 144 words, sans title.
Sarah’s line which we must use within our flash fiction is “No one left and no one came onto the bare platform.” it is from Edward Thomas’ poem Adelstrop.
Pub opens at 3 PM Boston time. Come join us!
lillian the home poet 
Ha ha ha! That’s great, Lillian! What a dilemma. She needs to get right down from there and get herself a sensible man. I love the foreshadowing of “fly-by-night” – very smart.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you caught that fore-shadowing! It was a fun one to write! 🙂
LikeLike
Oh… at least I hope there is a safety net somewhere there below. Escaping with a circus is the thing parents warn you about.
LikeLiked by 1 person
As the story was always told in our family, every time my Aunt Helvie got pregnant, my Uncle Bob ran away to the circus. But he always came back … not sure if before the births of their 4 children or after each one….but that was the family lore. He was my godfather and I loved his silly ways dearly.
LikeLike
I love the direction in which you took the prompt, Lill, with the platform not on a railway station but one for the trapeze artists to stand on! It reminded me of the film ‘Trapeze’ with Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis and Gina Lollobrigida. I love the irony of her father’s words, “He’s a fly-by-night”!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Kim. Glad you enjoyed….I was bound and determined to have fun with the line because at first it resonated in a more darker side. Yep….the fly-by-night was deliberate 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I used to want to join the circus! Glad I didn’t! The girl in this story needs an upright man, view I mean.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hah! Yep….she never dreamed following him would entail climbing so high and taking a flying leap – literally! 🙂
LikeLike
Ha ha! She’s making some wonderful memories to look back on and smile.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you enjoyed….I had fun writing this one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent use of the prompt. Like Kim, I could see Burt Lancaster hanging on that trapeze, or many other Circus movies.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you enjoyed, Glenn! I was determined to take a fun slant on the line….Never saw the movie you and Kim mention. Actually, I’ve always hated circuses!
LikeLike
Your ending gave me a good laugh. Love has not rational sensibility! I loved it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always happy to hand out laughs….especially in these turbulent times. I was determined to take the line in a lighter vein….so glad you enjoyed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you …it was great!
LikeLike
Made me laugh out loud Lillian!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent! That was my hope! 🙂 Especially with the last line.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s an awesome write. Makes you think about your words and promises, don’t it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yeah…………………”Obviously he didn’t understand the meaning of hyperbole!”
LikeLike
We can all use a few smiles these days. (K)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always happy to hand out smiles. I was determined to take the line on a lighter note….so glad you enjoyed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the giggle, really appreciated. I loved the twist.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always happy to hand out giggles and smiles….especially in these turbulent times. Yep – I was hoping that damned trapeze would bring a smile! 🙂
LikeLike
Love it! And as for the ‘fly-by’ … oh boy … 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad you enjoyed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh dear! Your skill to twist a rather sad line to an funny tale is beyond my comprehension! Definitely a great one, Lillian!
LikeLiked by 1 person
THANK YOU! I was determined to take the line into a light-hearted story…had to think on it a while. But so glad to bring folks some smiles — especially in these turbulent times!
LikeLiked by 1 person
you did it, darling! you did it so well!
LikeLike
Hilarious take 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
So so glad to make some folks smile today! 🙂 We definitely need a few giggles these days!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very entertaining story 😊
Much🌼love
LikeLiked by 1 person
So very glad you enjoyed! 🙂
LikeLike