PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz
Sweaty palms and a knotted stomach would not stop her. As a model she never thought she’d take off her clothes for money. But she had to eat and she had to pay the rent on her tiny apartment. All temporary until she got noticed, of course.
“Melody, are you ready?” a man with a silly french beret peeked out from behind a heavy door.
Nodding, she followed him into the whitewashed room. With a tug her robe loosened and fell to the floor. As Melody posed, serious faces peered out from behind easels. Eyes darting from model to canvas.
100 words
Hope you enjoyed this flash fiction. Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by leading lady in flash fiction, Rochelle. Write a story in 100 words or less.
Click here to read other’s flash fiction and get a different perspective of the same image. Thanks to Ted Strutz for this week’s curious image.
Click here to read other’s flash fiction and get a different perspective of the same image.
Fajr, Books & That First Cuppa 
At least it’s for art
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Hope the ending was delightfully unexpected! Thank you, Neil.
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It was
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She earns – and learns not to be ashamed of her body
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I’m sure it was quite an experience for her!
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Somehow very sad, almost tragic. Good write
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Some people wouldn’t agree with it, it’s true. A friend was once forbidden from studying art by their parents because they didn’t agree with gazing upon naked bodies, even for art.
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An interesting twist towards the end, as the subject could have gotten a bit more…seedy. Well done!
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Thank you 🙂
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The first time I was an undergrad many decades ago, students would volunteer to be nude models. I was very young and when this attractive woman removed her robe and posed nude for the class, my brain jammed for about thirty seconds. After that, I picked up my pencils and got to work. It’s not easy being the artist either.
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That’s hilarious, James! Though I think my college-self would have reacted in the same brain-jamming way.
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I like where you took this.
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Thank you! Really glad you enjoyed it.
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Happy 2018.
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The ending shocked then caressed me.. Good one, Fatima. Enjoyably light.
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Thank you, Kelvin.
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Nice take on the prompt. I like the way you make your model introspective, almost intellectual about her situation. It fits very well with the serious manner of the artists.
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I tried to portray the artists in a serious, self-centred way. She was worried about baring all, but in the end they were not even thinking of it much. Simply indulging in their creative ‘masterpieces’. Thank you, Penny!
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Nice twist there. I was expecting something much worse.
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Thank you, Sandra.
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I love the ending… I think maybe the barret was the first clue… but she was nude for a good cause (but probably less money)
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Dropped that ‘beret’ hint before the big twist, thought the story would flow better. And yes, she earned very little, because as I learned from the comments, most of these models do it on a volunteer-basis! Thank you, Bjorn!
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Great twist, a way to use her looks and body but retain her dignity. Well done.
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Thank you, Iain!
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Dear Fatima,
As an art student, I remember wondering in those figure drawing classes what the nude model might be thinking. I loved the twist at then end. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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As a writer I love offering up a different perspective to the reader, so I’m glad to have let you glimpse a past situation from the model’s POV. Thank you, Rochelle!
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A nice, light-hearted take on the prompt. Loved the twist!
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Thank you, Clare!
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Nice build up of the tension, and great twist at the end.
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Thank you for reading and glad you enjoyed it!
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Good tale of modeling… sometimes you do whatya gotta do to survive. I can imagine her surprise when she saw all those faces looking at her.
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It’s a tough industry for sure! Thank you, Jelli!
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That was a neat twist.
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Neat twist, if it’s for art there’s no shame
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Oh so well done. There is no shame indeed in being a nude model. There are definitely less attractive things she could have ended up doing.
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Thank you, Dale!
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At first I missed the twist other folks noted – but then I got it – it could have been first viewed as being a hooker but then she was an art model – right?
either way – nice writing – succinct and could feel her plight –
was she standing in front of the circle sculpture?
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Hi there! Yes that’s exactly it. Hooker or exotic dancer. And in the end it was relatively harmless. The circle (bicycle wheel?) sculpture did not feature directly in the story. I used the prompt’s art theme for my flash fiction. Thank you for reading!
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ahhh – I see the art connection – -but I was also imagining her leaning on it – haha
nice take on the prompt
🙂
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It’s art that rules the world. Wrong, it’s the money. Greatly enjoyed this and HAPPY NEW YEAR.
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Kind of sad how true your statement is… Thank you, Neel! And Happy New Year to you too 🙂
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There is a difference between porn and art, though the artist knows it more than the model.
Mine: https://kindredspirit23.wordpress.com/2017/12/27/friday-fictioneers-lifes-cycle/
Scott
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Your comment is food for thought, Scott! Had me pondering on it for a while.
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Glad to hear that. As a teacher, that was one of my goals.
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Well, I didn’t expect that story from the image, but I loved it. Art can be a scary thing a times. 🙂
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Thank you, Susie! Thrilled you enjoyed it 🙂
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Unexpected and engaging write!
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Thank you, Dahlia. 😊
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this is a nice article.I like the ambiguity. The bare truth has something very positive for me in the first place. Because it means trusting and opening someone up. Trust is something very personal, beautiful and valuable.
Doing something just for the money and then something, you do not like is always bad. How bad it is for the person depends what it is and on their personal attitude. For me, it would be too very bad, although I know that it has nothing to do with eroticism and I should not feel bothered. I studied art myself. The nude models were mostly artists themselves and there was never, even for a second, anything erotic in the air (at least not for me, but I can not imagine myself with the others).
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Opening up to others can be difficult as it means being vulnerable. Although the truth can set you free it can hurt in the process too. I agree with you doing something you don’t like purely for the money is not good. In some cases it feels as if you have sold your soul to the devil. Thank you for your insightful thoughts, Anie. 😊
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That’s right, to open up is to be vulnerable. You should think twice about whom to open up to. If you open yourself up to your partner, it can be painful, but also create a very deep connection. Such trust should never be misused for moral reasons. Yes and unfortunately it happens that one has the feeling of having sold his soul to the devil. that is a bad feeling but there is nothing that you can not regret and get forgiven. It is still time to mend and repent.
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