Hello Simona,
thank you for inviting me to have a guest post on your blog.
I though that I'd talk about writing and painting – and how
these two creative activities have a great deal in common. How one creative act
sparks another creative act. How my paintings inspire my stories.
Then I thought, what do they always tell authors to do? Show
– don't tell.
So here, I'll show you a painting that I created after
seeing a gorgeous Venetian Mask – and then I'll show you the story it inspired.
The Painting and the Story are both called Diva.
I hope your readers enjoy both.
Diva - the story.
Her
funeral was scheduled for tomorrow.
She
who was famous in life would be famous in death, whilst I, who knew her best,
loved her best, would be no more than a bit player in the final scene.
Fools!
You would deny me, but I will have my hour. That hour is closer than you think.
I
remember with fondness the first day we met.
Her
eyes lit up when she saw me. She sashayed her way over to me, politely talking
to everyone who was in her path, but never taking her eyes off the prize - me!
How
we talked that first meeting, I shamelessly sidled up to her and touched her at
every opportunity. She in turn, glowed. This was a match made in heaven.
It
wasn't long before we were sharing her house. She had wealth yes, many thought
me a gold digger, but honestly, money never came between us. She had what she
had and gave what she was capable of. I gave what I was capable of. Mostly
there was love.
I
remember how she'd return from a day's acting work and how her tired eyes would
come to life when she saw me. I was her world, she was mine. I'd come to her
and knead her shoulders, so full of tension from dealing with those who never
understood her. I'd kiss her and she would smile. "Toots" she'd say,
"let me have a bath first?"
Toots,
the memory makes me smile. That was her pet name for me and mine for her? She
was my Cream Puff. Toots and Cream Puff, what a couple we were. Totally in
love.
The
sycophants never liked me, of course. They saw evil and greed, yet in truth
there was only love. They did their best to separate us, but we were stronger
than them all. Only now she is gone and I am alone.
The
television is on and I'm watching her funeral.
The
hearse is driving slowly through the crowd and fans are weeping, throwing
flowers at her coffin. They loved her too. They knew of her love for me and
whilst her studio called it mad, they loved her and called our love eccentric.
I love those fans, they accepted me once they saw how happy I made her. Why
couldn't the studio do the same? My heart breaks for the loss of my Cream Puff.
The staff at the house notice how quiet and depressed I am and they avoid me.
My world is shattered. The studio hijacked her funeral and I had no legal right
to stop them. According to them we did no more than share a house. She had
signed contracts with them. My heart hurt.
The
coffin is lifted from the car and taken into the church.
There
are readings and personal recollections and much singing that the local cats
would be proud of. They mourn in their way, I mourn in mine. Mine is retreat,
until the moment that our great love will be revealed to the world.
There's
the studio manager, extolling her greatness, the way she lit up the screen with
her personality. I hate him, he makes me so mad I could spit. I silently
promise him, he'll get his comeuppance.
Cream
Puff is now being transported to the stars' graveyard. She'll be interred and
it hits me suddenly, I shall see her no more. This last act was not a film
scene, but reality. I am indeed alone. A panic rises, would she have kept her
word to take care of me? Instantly, I am cross with myself. How could I doubt
her love?
A
small group break away from the graveside and walk toward a waiting car. The
television reporters confirm they are off to the solicitors for the reading of
the will. How I wish I could be there to see their faces. I can only trust the
reporters will be waiting outside for them.
I
pace our bedroom, waiting for the outcome. Why is it taking so long? I need to
hear our love spoken aloud, craving that validation.
Suddenly
the reporters are squealing. I run to the screen. This is my moment, my hour.
The time they realise I was everything to her
-as she was everything to me.
There's
the studio manager, he has a face like an ice cream vendor sucking on a lemon!
This
is great news. A reporter asks him a question and he replies "no
comment" as he roughly pushes by!
The
solicitor stands in front of an array of microphones. He announces the love
which was evident throughout our lives together.
"Miss
Oldson has left the entirety of her estate to her beloved cat, Toots, to keep
him in the comfort he became accustomed to."
My
darling, my Cream Puff. I love you still.
Pat Elliott on Twitter: @Feetpaintwords
Website: http://www.patelliott.co.uk
Link for her short story book At Sanctuary's Gate: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-ch/books/at-sanctuary-s-gate/cMEPp-NYwk2ODsZsxz9Pmg?MixID=cMEPp-NYwk2ODsZsxz9Pmg&PageNumber=1
Pat Elliott on Twitter: @Feetpaintwords
Website: http://www.patelliott.co.uk
Link for her short story book At Sanctuary's Gate: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-ch/books/at-sanctuary-s-gate/cMEPp-NYwk2ODsZsxz9Pmg?MixID=cMEPp-NYwk2ODsZsxz9Pmg&PageNumber=1
