Half the village had been erected by his handiwork. His hands had built the houses, the town hall, the shops. He drew plans like a Renaissance painter and wielded a saw like a master fencer.
But as the hair receded from his head like a wave drawing back from the shore, his skill began to fade.
This last building would be his masterpiece. He would pour his very soul into it.
His hands shook as he drew the lines. The numbers fled his memory like water dripping out of a leaky pipe.
He built it, but everything was just a little off, a few inches too short or too long. He made it work best as he could, but as he stood back to look at it, he saw that the whole structure was crooked, one side leaning in.
He said it was his masterpiece anyway, flaws and all.
Word Count: 149
This is for Flash Fiction for the Aspiring Writer. Thanks to Priceless Joy for running the challenge and TJ Paris for providing the prompt photo!
What a great story. A masterpiece, flaws and all – brilliant idea. Love the hair receding like waves on a shore – nicely done 🙂
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Thank you!
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Pleasure 🙂
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I have the same thoughts as Lynn. I love the idea that this is his masterpiece even though it is full of flaws because it is his last build. I too love the line, hair receding like waves on a shore. LOL! That’s great! Great story!
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Thank you!
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I think everything needs to be flawed in order to be a masterpiece, because nothing in life is perfect 🙂 Great story!
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That’s an excellent point. Thanks you!
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Lovely imagery and we love our flaws so much we spend so much time looking for them don’t we.
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Thank you! Yes, we do.
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Indeed. As long as he put his heart on it, it’s a masterpiece. Flaws and all. ❤
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In the end, heart is what matters, not precision. Thanks for commenting!
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Aye, aye!
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Well I think it is a masterpiece indeed! People would be able to notice it from miles away. Great story 🙂
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Yes, they would. Thank you!
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Ha, great idea, made me smile. Like to believe that was how this wonky building came about. A masterpiece!
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Thank you!
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Lovely take on an interesting prompt. Mike
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Thank you!
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his masterpiece no matter how flawed still a work of art….lovely story paying respect to a master of his craft….Gina
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Thank you!
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Brave of him to follow through even though he knew his abilities were diminishing. Good story, I liked it!
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Thank you!
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Interesting comparison to hair and knowledge. Like Sameon who lost his strength when Delilah cut it off. Crooked buildings are interesting to see at least, as long as the structure is sound. Great story.
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Thank you! Yes, crooked buildings can look very interesting, though I’m not sure I’d want to live in one.
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Yes, you are right about that 🙂
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This is a beautiful story and yes the structure is a masterpiece flaws and all.
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Thank you!
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