Flash Fiction for for Aspiring Writers is a writing challenge, kindly hosted by Priceless Joy. The challenge asks us to write a piece of fiction from the photo prompt provided in around 100- 150 words – give or take 25 words. It encourages participants to comment, constructively, on other entries, so supporting each other’s writing. If you’d like to join in with this challenge, follow the link in the title of PJ’s, blog: Beautiful Words to see what to do. The challenge runs from Wednesday to Wednesday every week.
Here is this week’s prompt . . .
. . . and this is my story:
Marvin stared at the mirror, considering his hollow cheeks, the deep lines about his sunken eyes. Gambling had brought him to this: a sad excuse for a man.
Jobless and penniless, scorned by his long-suffering wife, Marvin had taken the only job to come along. The Circus had come to town.
‘On in twenty, Marv, after the sea lions,’ the stable lad called, rapping at the caravan door.
Marvin applied foundation to brighten his skin, topped by vivid lines of coloured paint and a red horn nose. His ginger wig, chequered suit and oversized shoes completed the look.
His act had the audience enthralled. He juggled and cavorted and honked his big red nose. He laughed and applauded as much as they …
As he left the Big Top, a woman and two small boys stepped into his path. ‘I’m proud of you, Marvin,’ Susan said. ‘You make the best clown ever.’
Rivulets of tears streaked Marvin’s carefully painted face. But then he smiled.
‘Yes, I do, don’t I?’
*
If you’d like to view other entries, click here.
Millie Thom 
Lovely Millie, a happy ending to a clown story, enjoyed it.
Thank you, Michael. The happy ending was an after thought. It was almost just the opposite. 🙂
Yes the not happy ending is tempting isn’t it…..
Very much so, especially with creepy clowns. Haha. Thanks again. 🙂
I loved that Millie! He seemed to have hit bottom and yet, put on a brave “clown” face only to be met with love and forgiveness. (I’m assuming Susan is his wife). This story is wonderful. 🙂 (I’m glad you went for the happy ending).
The happy ending was a last minute change. It was going to be more of a ‘Tears of the Clown’ sort of ending. I’m glad I changed it, though. 🙂
It worked wonderfully!
Thank you, again, PJ. 🙂
A wonderfully heart warming tale!
I am glad it has a happy ending.
Yes, it was a happy ending. I’ve done a few of those now, so it ‘ll soon be time to get nasty! Thank you, Francesca. 🙂
Can’t believe I’m about to say this about a clown story: It’s quite touching. Maybe he even found his calling?
It would seem that way. I’m not a lover of clowns, either. In fact, I’ve hated them since I was a child. But I supppose come clowns are actually nice! Thakns, Sonya. 🙂
A very touching story, with a heartwarming ending. It’s good to see he was given reason to smile, after working so hard making others smile.
I felt that Marvin deserved a little happiness. He’d done well to pick himself up and make a go of his new career. Thank you for that, Jessie. 🙂
Hi picked himself up and did his best. I liked the happy ending too.
That’s exactly what I wanted to show, so you’re spot on, Jessie. Thank you! 🙂
Hi Millie, it’s Rachel 🙂
Oops! I know very well you’re Rachel, so I need my wrist slapping for that! I’d just been commenting on Jessie’s post and it was the end of a long day of travelling up to Newcastle and back. Well, that’s my excuse, and I’m sticking to it. (It is true, by the way – although no excuse for giving you the wrong name.) Many apologies … I’ll go and stand in the corner for half an hour now. 🙂
No probs! No need to stand in the corner! After reading so many stories I get confused too and have to keep scrolling to the top to see which blog I’m on.
Aww this touching story got me tearful! I’m glad he had taken the job and made the best clown. I’m so proud of him and I’m sure his wife feels the same 😉 Wonderful story Millie! ❤
Well, he made it in the end, didn’t he? At last he found something he was good at. Thank you, Khloe. 🙂
Yes, he did 🙂 You’re totally right and it made me super proud of him 😉 You’re welcome dear 🙂
Love this take on the prompt Millie – I was playing with a similar idea myself but you beat me to it! great job 🙂
Oh dear. It often happens that people have similar ideas for these prompts. I’m sure if you’d worked on this idea, it would still have been different to mine. We all write differently, which makes reading these stories so much fun. Thank you, Az. 🙂
I always find it so interesting to see where our imaginations take us with these prompts! 🙂
Happy endings are my favorite. So well done.
Happy endings are good – very heartwarming. At least my clown managed to turn his life around. Thank you for the nice comment, Jack. 🙂
Glad he got something to keep his body and mind together and also some food and place to rest his tired body. Clowns do not always have to be sad.
No, they don’t. I’m sure some are good guys, and happy, too. They’ve just has seriously bad press over the years. Funny, though – I never liked clowns myself, even when I was a child. I just wanted to watch the horses and the trapeze artists when my parents took us to the circus. 🙂
Me too, the animals and their tricks and the trapeze artist were always my favorites.
Someone’s gotta love the clowns right?
They get so much bad rap… =) Well done.
Thank you, M. 🙂 Clowns aren’t the most popular of characters, are they? I don’t like them myself, but thought I’d give this one a happy ending. My good deed for the day! 🙂
Awww, a happy ending to a wonderful story. I was the xpecting that ending at all, but I loved it!
Thank you Ameena. I’m really glad you liked it! 🙂