Highly Strung
It’s Friday Fictioneers time! And I’m actually posting on a Friday for a change.
For those of you new to Friday Fictioneers, our wonderful host Rochelle posts a picture and the rest of us write a (roughly) 100 word story, poem or whatever about it. This week’s photo was donated by fellow Fictioneerer Janet Webb. Thanks, Janet!
To read all the other stories, click here.
I have to admit my story is 107 words. I already cut a load out and I honestly can’t see how to cut out another 7 words without compromising the story. Sorry 😦 .
Copyright Janet Webb
Detective Turnbull looked around the gallery. He couldn’t decide if the sprays of blood adorning the art were an improvement. He shook his head.
“Not your thing, detective?” asked a uniform.
“Art? Huh. So, what happened?”
“The artist went nuts. Sliced some kid to bits with a palette knife, if you can believe that.”
“Do we know why?” asked Turnbull.
“Kid grabbed a sangria from over there. Apparently it was part of the ‘piece’. Bit high strung, this artist.”
“Okay.” Turnbull turned to the gallery owner. “We’ll get this blood cleaned up.”
“Are you mad? This is live art! I can sell this room for a fortune!”
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Friday Fictioneers
draliman on life 
An oh so so typical response from an art gallery director. Anything for a quick buck. Another great story D-man. I love a good detective story.
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I expect now that the artist is going to jail it will sell for even more. It’s the money-obsessed gallery director’s lucky day.
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HaHaHaHa! You are an amusing and clever story teller! 🙂
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Thanks, glad you liked it 🙂
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You can’t beat a good art installation well done.
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Not exactly what the director expected but it’s all good!
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Ha!ha!I like this un-artist kind of artist-money hungry and a slasher too,hee!hee!Love this DR 😀
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Corection-I meant a killer artist and a money hungry gallery owner 😛
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It’s got everything – art, greed, murder and cops! Well, almost everything – I know it’s Valentines Day but I didn’t have enough words to add a love interest 🙂
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Ha!ha!That would been a real coupe 😉
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Grr-today all kinds of errors I am making-I meant coup not coupe and missed the “have”:-trying to read and comment while doing other jobs is def not my cup of tea!Sigh!
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I knew what you meant 🙂
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You are a real friend DR 😀
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🙂
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🙂
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I am surprised blood spatter hasn’t sold as abstract art yet! This is brilliant, and I can totally imaging the outcome of this story happening in real life!
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The Dexter Morgan College of Fine Art 🙂
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Great story. I can see this happening. 🙂
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Me too. Chilling!
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Ha, love it!!
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I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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Makes me glad I hate Sangria! 🙂
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You never know if it might be part of some artist’s “installation” 🙂
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I would personally have used chocolate milk, but different strokes for different folks, I guess.
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Mmm, chocolate milk.
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i guess art supersedes everything. it’ll exist long after these characters are gone.
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I’d imagine this one would get a fair few visitors.
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Love it. (Take out the first word. Not needed?)
And a great portrait (sorry) of artists and gallery owners.
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Glad you enjoyed it!
I did actually um and ah about the first word, but decided to leave it. You’re right, though, it’s strongly implied in the dialogue.
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Gruesome sells. Creative story.
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It certainly does, these days.
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Another great one, Al. Blood and sangria go well on Valentines Day, too 🙂
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Thanks. That would make a good title – “Blood and Sangria”, part of the “Valentine’s Series” 🙂
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Ugh. Who’s crazier, the guy who kills to preserve his art, or the guy that profits from the killing??? Very intriguing story–captures the most callous and most selfish of human nature in a darkly amusing way.
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There’s always someone waiting to pounce on others’ misfortune.
Two different kinds of “crazy” here!
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I love the ending. Wouldn’t worry about tipping over the 100 mark a bit. This is cut to the perfect size, IMO.
Cheers!
Marie Gail
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I’m glad you enjoyed it!
The word count worry is silly really, I know, but I pride myself on trying to hit 100. It wasn’t happening this time, though 🙂
Ali
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I’m pretty sure I’ve seen this one on CSI or Law & Order 🙂
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It wouldn’t surprise me 🙂
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Great beginning for a crime story. I think it’s more likely that artist will end up in a mental hospital than a jail.
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I think so too. The gallery owner could probably also use some help!
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Bit high strung? just a bit? haha 🙂 fantastic bloody piece. i hope you had a great valentines day 🙂
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I’m guessing he was already on the edge!
I had a great Valentine’s Day – I bought a house 🙂
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Dear Ali,
Seven words? That’s it. You walk the plank! On the other hand the last line had me laughing out loud. So consider yourself exonerated. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Phew, saved from the plank by the last line! I know it was only seven words but I like to get as close as possible, usually no more than a couple of words over. After all, that’s the challenge 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Ali
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Somebody’s always got an angle to make money! Funny and great story! Thanks, Nan
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He has certainly managed to change tragedy into opportunity!
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Oh God! The detective had better watch out, everyone seems to be psychotic here 😀 Loved the story with its dark humour!
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If he’s not careful he might become a permanent part of the “installation” 🙂
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Haha, so true!
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Haha! Temperamental beings, artists! Very cleverly done, liked it a lot 🙂
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I think temperamental goes hand-in-hand with genius and creativity – on the TV anyway!
I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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