Friday Fictioneers – The Atelier

~ neilmacdon
shoes-and-books-by-magaly-guerrero
PHOTO PROMPT © Magaly Guerrero

Sophia already had everything. The only possible gift was sensation.

“How about saudade?” The little man peered over half-moon glasses. “A Portuguese emotion – the pleasure of feeling sad. Very popular. There’s even a music that goes with it: Fado”

“No,” I said. “Too much like wistfulness. Besides, I want something nobody has ever experienced before.”

The wrinkled rapturesmith retired to the dark back-shop. “I think this might suit, Sir.”

He proffered a small leather box.

“Chocfulness,” he said. “The pleasure of finishing something you really enjoyed but probably shouldn’t have done, like eating a whole box of chocolates.”

 

Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here

Fancy sharpening your skill with writing exercises? The Scrivener’s Forge offers a new exercise every month to hone one aspect of your craft. Take a look at this month’s exercise on character and likeability

 

76 thoughts on “Friday Fictioneers – The Atelier”

  8. Simply delicious! Love the way you weave language and the expression/experience of emotions so often hard to describe..
    I want to meet this rapturesmith, please addme to the waiting list.

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  14. Fado (Fatum – Fate) haven’t heard it in many years. I listened to it in Portugal, many years ago in a restaurant, didn’t know what it was, had to look it up when we came back home.

    A sadness, mixed with numerous elements. I think you just wrote a Fado.

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  16. I think we need to start a petition, Neil. The world needs a rapturesmith now… and chocolate, lots and lots of chocolate.

    I really enjoyed the mood of your story. It feels so natural and relatable, and that is not always easy to do when one is using words from different languages. You did it so well.

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  17. I love the idea of the Rapturesmith. I think every city should have one. I like “Chocfulness” too. Being a bit self-indulgent, I can’t help but like it. Great ideas in this one!

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  29. Bring on the rapturesmith of banoffee pie, tiramisu, homemade fudge, treacle tart, and butter-iced coffee cake. Now my mouth is watering.
    I need some rapture in my life just now. Where can I find the smith in charge?
    I’m not going to forget that word in a hurry…

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  31. “Chocfulness”….. Do you know, that’s what I’ve just done. Already slightly regretting it, but there’s nothing to regret about this piece. It’s great. I particularly love the adventures with words you’ve had in the writing of it.

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  33. Great story, great place you’ve created. I lived in Portugal a while and know Saudade, it’s a great word, great concept. I think I’d opt for cheese though, rather than chocolate. Just personal choice.

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    1. They can make you the sensation of having eaten an entire wheel of cheese at one sitting. But it won’t be cheap. There will be much sucking of air through teeth

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