The Bosendorfer piano sat drunkenly on Alexandre Frick’s lawn, rain splashing on the pared keys.
The instrument once belonged to his tutor, Miss Bucher, the woman who had convinced him he could be a classical pianist. The plan had been to restore it, but moth grubs had eaten the felt and woodworm was turning the frame to powder.
Alexandre’s wife Sofia stood beside him, huddling under her umbrella. ‘I have an idea,’ she said.
Four months later, geraniums shone scarlet from the frame, purple campanula and lobelia tumbled over the keyboard, blooming just as Alexandre had thanks to Miss Bucher.
***
Written for Rochelle Wisoff-Field’s Friday Fictioneers. See the photo to become inspired and write a tale of your own. See here to join in.
You’ve made great use of the blooming metaphor
LikeLike
Thank you Neil!
LikeLike
This is beautifully written. Well done!
LikeLike
Many thanks Violet 🙂
LikeLike
Dear Lynn,
A blooming good story. Well described.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Thank you Rochelle 🙂
LikeLike
You’re quite welcome, Lynn. 😀
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
Wonderful.
Any day I read one of your stories is a good day.
Today I read two!
LikeLike
Thank you so much C 🙂
LikeLike
A lovely story 😊
LikeLike
Thank you Anna
LikeLike
You have such a way with words, Lynn. This was bloomiful!
LikeLike
Thank you dear Dale 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Most welcome!
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The gorgeous descriptions of the moth eaten piano felt and the geraniums shining scarlet are a visual and tactile delight. So glad Miss Bucher was right about Alexandre. Great story.
LikeLike
Thanks so much. Really glad you liked it 🙂
LikeLike
Great final paragraph, Lynn. Nice little story!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
LikeLike
Thank you Susan
LikeLike
A career for Alexandre and a new use for a piano. Blooming enjoyable story!
LikeLike
Thanks so much! 🙂
LikeLike
How lovely that the piano lives on as a blooming memorial to Miss Bucher. I admire the way you always look for the precise word; in this story, for example, Sofia is ‘huddling’ under her umbrella; not ‘standing’ not ‘sheltering’, but ‘huddling’, which evokes such a clear image of her.
LikeLike
Ah, thank you for your insightful reading and comment. You’re right, I did pick that word very specifically and it was originally ‘standing’. But ‘huddling’ is so much more descriptive, isn’t it, and when you only have 100 words, picking the right one counts! Thank you so much Penny
LikeLike
A lovely parallel Lynn
LikeLike
Thank you Iain
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful writing, as always, and a lovely way to honour the memory of a beloved and important teacher.
LikeLike
Thanks so much Gabi 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicely told! And there is hope in the tale, which I like!
LikeLike
Thank so much Esha
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice one. His talents really flowered in a different direction.
LikeLike
Thank so much
LikeLike
Normally I would see this transmogrification of a piano as sacrilege, but if it’s going to be (a) a flower garden and (b) a prompt for a sweet tale of remembrance, then that’ll be alright. 😊
LikeLike
Haha! It was only commandeered because it was rotten, otherwise you’re right – sacrilege! Thanks so much Chris
LikeLiked by 1 person
In a world of disposable products, where we throw away everything, it’s nice to see something resurrected and reused to make something beautiful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve seen old baths used as planters, and the washing machine drums, watering cans, tin cans. At least these things get a second life. Thanks for reading
LikeLiked by 2 people
I feel that he found new career… and maybe for the better, the memory of his tutor was wonderful
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much Bjorn
LikeLike
Some wonderful descriptions of the piano, and the story of Alexandre and his tutor is beautifully told. I love the idea of the garden as a tribute to her.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much Margaret
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved your description of the piano. I felt I could almost touch it.
LikeLike
Thank you Sandra 🙂
LikeLike
I believe this is what truly happened 🙂
LikeLike
Let’s hope somewhere it did. Thanks Dawn
LikeLiked by 1 person