[ puh-loo-sid ]
Adjective
- Translucently clear.
- (of music or other sound) clear and pure in tone.
Let’s Write…
** Either a story beginning, a story ending, a piece of flash fiction, a poem–inspired by the word, pellucid, where does it take me? Where does it take you?
Henry packed up his tent with little help from his five-year-old son, Lionel. That was expected, but the excitement in the air was so palpable that he didn’t care to turn it into a teaching moment.
“Today’s the day, Lionel!” Henry said as the line tightened closer now that everyone’s tents were away.
“Really, daddy?”
“Really.”
Henry looked behind him in awe at the endless curving chain of people, all waiting their turn. Soldiers, with their famous curved swords and plumed helmets, outlined the people like river banks. Surprisingly, Henry hadn’t witnessed any outbreaks of fighting in the entire week they’d been waiting.
“Breakfast!” came a voice a hundred yards up the line.
Various food carts and vendors paraded up the line selling their goods, and some even put on small performances of dancing or singing. Lionel loved those, but Henry’s eyes were now fixed ahead.
He could see it…
… They were only five people away from their chance to look through the window phenomenon that no-one could explain. Scholars in white robes and equally flowing and white beards had simply concluded that what they’d see was on our world. Just the other side of it. Something to do with the stars.
Two people ahead. Every person or group was given five whole minutes to gaze. One person ahead. A line of five soldiers blocked Henry and his son to wait their turn. The soldiers opened like a gate, and Henry and Lionel moved forward.
On the ground was a giant circle of glass. As Henry peered into it, others stared back at him. People like Henry had never seen with pale skin, round eyes, and even color to their eyes. They were so different, and yet there was something familiar about these people from the other side of the world.
Together, Henry, Lionel, and the people on the other side must have made the same conclusion for Lionel giggled, and they all smiled. Their smiles could have been a reflection of Henry’s as his cheeks felt scrunched in the broadest grin of his life. They weren’t so different, after all.
Four minutes left.
Notes/Thoughts/Ideas
I hope this one made you feel good. Perhaps this one is influenced a little by the present state of the world? A window to see the other side, people different from us. Yet, our smiles are all smiles. We’re all looking for the same things right now. Connection.
My favorite part of the story is actually the very last line. “Four minutes left.” Meaning, the realization Henry and the others made happened quickly. They connected almost instantly. I love that idea. If we all stop to look, we’re not so different after all.
I’m not sure if there would be a novel-size story here, but there could be. The culture created by these huge lines. There could be some interesting things to explore there. But, I think it works best as is. I’ll leave it at that.
What do you think of Pellucid?
Did it make you smile? I hope so.
Leave your thoughts, your own story beginning/ending, flash-fiction, or whatever in the comments! Where did pellucid or my story take you?
If you want to read something that goes into our human connection, check out my short story Ripples.
Today’s word is from Word Genius.
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