In the gray concrete streets, bitter, gray people roamed. If someone dropped their groceries, no one paused to help. No one offered a smile to their neighbor.
Maddie Kinkaid sat at a cafe within this dismal existence sipping bitter coffee. She scowled at the passing people and they glared back.
Into this dreary existence bloomed Cristobal Lopez. Each day he parked his brightly-colored car and he sold bowls of plump red strawberries grown in the garden atop his car. People avoided him at first, but they came to like his sunny smile and cheery slogans. Soon people began to eat his strawberries.
All except Maddie who only offered Cristobal scowls. As the days went by, fewer people passed by her. One day, she only saw Cristobal. Bored, she finally agreed to try a strawberry. She took one bite and things instantly changed.
The street was suddenly filled with happy, colorful people.
“Where did these people come from?” she gasped.
Cristobal grinned. “When all you wish to see is black and white, the colorful becomes invisible.”
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Written for the Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers weekly writing challenge. Look here for the original prompt and a blue link to stories other authors wrote for the week: https://flashfictionforaspiringwriters.wordpress.com/2015/11/09/fffaw-week-of-11-10-2015/
“Hey man, wanna buy some magic strawberries?” 🙂
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Haha! 😀 Ooh gnarly visuals, dude. 😉
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Great story. We often make our own miseries and encouragement coming our way fails until we sit up and take notice , then great things can happen. Even something as simple as a strawberry can bring about change! 😊
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Exactly. You saw what I was trying to say. A lot of wonderful things happens all around us everyday, but if we’re in a black and white mental space, we miss it entirely. Sometimes even a little thing like comfort food can turn the whole thing around. For me, it’s a mint mocha. Totally makes my day. 😉 Thanks so much! 🙂
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Now all they need is for someone to make chocolate cake to go with the strawberries and everybody will be happy 🙂 They say it takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, lesson to be had here I think–why wear yourself out unnecessarily? 😀
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Ooh, chocolate cake with them would be fabulous. You’re right about the muscles in expressions. I read the same thing. Me, I’m pretty lazy. I’d rather smile than frown. 😉 Thanks so much, Lyn! 🙂
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I LOVE this story! It is so true. If you only see in black and white, color becomes invisible. I know a person that only sees in b&w. I would love to give her some of those strawberries! Fabulous story Eric!
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Yeah, I know some folks like that too. I’ll have some of those strawberries shipped out to you. 😉 Glad you enjoyed this. I really appreciate the glowing comments. Thanks much! 🙂
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😀 I will look forward to receiving them. LOL!
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Love the moral of the fable! We can all use some strawberries in our lives.
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I agree. Sometimes you just need a strawberry…or maybe some chocolate. 😉 Thanks kindly! 🙂
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Chocolate – always chocolate:)
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😀
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