Paris
Inspired by the City of Light
The rich literary history of Paris has provided an inspiring home for writers; expats like Hemingway, James Baldwin and Henry Miller sit alongside the great French writers like Moliere, Balzac, Victor Hugo and Voltaire, their thoughts bleeding onto Paris-based pages.
I wondered, perhaps, whether a short stay in the city might summon inspired tales from my own pen. I’m still waiting, but a glance through my notebook might elicit a word or two. But I’ll never know unless I ‘just write, right’?
I hope you enjoy this short story, designed to be sipped as coffee break fiction.
That’s All Right
The museum was at the heart of the cultural experience I planned to share, highbrow impressionism to impress eyes on the socials. But my eyes are drawn to his primrose yellow guitar. The turned-up dungarees and checked shirt nod to timeless fashion, while we all nod to tunes plucked from the 1950s. He is a sidewalk Elvis, soliciting euros from baby boomers who can afford their Grand Tour of vaulted galleries. I so wanted to sneer, to rise above their poor taste but as he picked and crooned, “That’s All Right, Mama”, I couldn’t help tapping my foot and agreeing.
(100 words)
I was 15. Summer’64. Paris was being washed after decades of coal fires. It still smelled like my grandparent’s village in Pennsylvania. I was wandering alone around France in conjunction with the F1 race in Rouen. At that age a cola on the Eiffel Tower sounded “cool”. I ascended to the restaurant level and was seated by a grumpy waiter. Watching me sit I noticed a young lady dining with two older gentleman staring at me, staring at her. I fell in love with her and Paris instantly. I’ve never gone more than a few years without visiting since that day.
Pondering words… I’ll get back to you !