Every Friday authors from around the world gather around the virtual fireside of fellow WordPress blogger Rochelle Wisoff to share flash fiction stories of 100 words, all inspired by a common photograph, and exchange constructive criticism. Readers’ comments are also welcome. This week’s photo has been provided by Rich Voza. Thanks, Rich.
The Dream of Cephas
“In my dream, Master, were three doors.”
“Their colours?”
“White, blue, the third red.”
“No fourth. There was a tree in the dream. ”
Not question, but statement, and correct!
“What species, the tree?”
“One unknown to me.”
“It is a tree of three trees. Its shade is cast under which door?”
“Shade?” I looked into my dream; saw that indeed the tree had cast its shadow.
“It is the red,” he said, before I could.
I looked up, amazed, but Master had entered into prayer. Dusk fell before he spoke.
“The dream, Cephas, foretells my death.”
“No!”
“And rebirth.”
Ann Isik
100 Words
I’m frustrated this week with the 100 words limit. I’ve a second version of this story which interprets the dream and explains why it foretells the death and rebirth of The Master. I’ll publish this in a separate blog, soon.
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Poetic Mapping: Walking Into Art 
Glad you found out how to resize your blog view on your screen. I like the direction you took the prompt.
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The photo prompt reminded me of a vivid dream I had when I was 16. In it were 3 pussy willow trees (in place of the doors). One was red, a second blue, third yellow. It was many years before I could intrapolate any meaning from them. I’m busy finishing off the second, longer version of this story. Thanks for reading!
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I really enjoyed this one, Ann. It is very mystical and compelling… takes me into it and leaves me lost in the story. I went a more predictable route, but really enjoy reading the various takes. This one shines. Nice work!
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THANK YOU! Ann
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You are very welcome. So much fun writing these each week, but reading them… That’s where the real fun comes in.
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Hmm, there seems to be a lot of symbolism in this. You can tell me how much was intended. I’m guessing Cephas means Peter, the tree is the cross and the third door is three days until resurrection? Just a guess.
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Well done, David. You are perceptive. It is supposed to be an imaginary conversation between Jesus and Peter. I’ll be posting my longer version of this story shortly, in which Jesus will interpret Peter/Cephas’s dream. The tree of three trees stands for yes, the cross and also the Trinity and the three crucifixions but also fir trees in other religions. To the Celts, important heroes were buried under fir trees, for instance. The door symbology will be clearer in my second story. Amazing what one photo can stimulate in the mind! Ann
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Wow, that’s even more than I imagined~ I’ll have read the second one too.
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Dear Ann,
An interesting take on the prompt. I’m impressed that the Master could also see Cephas’ dream. Nice one.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle. Ann
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Dear Ann,
I enjoyed your story this week. Good pacing and dialog. Well done.
Aloha,
Doug
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Thanks a lot Doug. Means a lot from you. Ann
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I’m really curious to see the extended version of this! 🙂 Very intriguing.
Also, did you maybe accidentally ‘zoom in’ on your blog while you were typing? Does hitting ctrl and the ‘ – ‘ key help?
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Thanks for reading and commenting Jacey.
And thanks for your technical help because your advice worked! I must have zoomed in accidentally, as you so rightly guessed. I think what happened is that my wrist brushed across some keys.I am not high enough in my seat. Brilliant! Thanks again. Ann
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You’re very welcome!
And I’m glad that helped! I’ve definitely done the same thing myself on more than one occasion, hah. 🙂
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🙂
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As always Ann you have posted a thought provoking post. In the first sentence the word ‘were’ shouldn’t it be ‘was’ as you are referring to the dream not the doors? I read it and thought that doesn’t sound right. I agree with you about the 100 word limit, but then again it does force you to write succinctly and that for me is a good thing as I like the challenge of reducing my word to fit the word limit. Your work is often deep and generates conversation.
Just a thought the blog size on your screen, is it a monitor issue?
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Thanks! I checked out the was/were thing. An interesting can of worms you’ve opened. I was certain you were wrong and indeed, the subject of the sentence is not ‘dreams’ as the subject of a sentence is always ‘subjected’ to the sentence’s verb. ‘Dreams’ is part of a prepositional phrase. However, my belief that the subject of the sentence is the clause with ‘doors’ in it is also wrong! In fact, the subject of the sentence is ‘there’. I dumped the word ‘there’ to save a word and I think that’s why it sounds odd. ‘There’ in this sense, is an ‘existential’ there and these are nearly always ‘subjected’ to the verb ‘to be’ (in this case, the word ‘were’) The verb has to agree in number etc with the noun. It was an interesting lesson. Deep grammar!
Another FF participant helped me sort out the problem with the blog size. It wasn’t a monitor thing. I’d accidentally ‘zoomed in’ on my blog (with my wrist) as I was writing. The solution suggested worked: it was to press Control and Dash at the same time. I did and ‘Voila!’ Nice to have techie friends online! Ann
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I wont argue with you about the grammar, you lost me….lol
glad you got your screen sorted out.
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I admit to having lost myself with the grammar and am throwing the problem to the floor on a writers’ forum, where dwell grammar gurus always hungry for grammar fodder. They will drool over this!
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well I would still argue I was right, but I will bow to those who know more than me
have a good day Ann
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on second thought Ann you may be right, if you say the line like a pirate, were is correct!!!
Silly I know but to me then it makes sense!!!
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Well, it’s possible that Cephas was a pirate. We know for certain that he was a fisherman, after all. 🙂
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This picture does evoke a kind of dream state. I like how it’s interwoven into your story. Red would seem an unlucky color. Nice one! Thanks for the mention, Ann. I appreciate it. – Amy
P.S. Did you get your blog font size sorted out. It looks fine to me.
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Thanks for reading and commenting, Amy.
As for my blog problem, it’s not the font size that’s the problem; but the whole blog has ‘swelled up’ and is now too big for my screen! Especially widthways. It’s a mystery. Ann
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