The Swan

Keith's Ramblings

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Slouched in a chair, little Felicity’s father flicked aimlessly from one TV channel to another. The telephone rang. He swore and slammed down his beer.  She screwed closed her eyes and held her hands over her ears as her father ranted and raged in the  hallway.

She peeped at the television and saw a dancer, swirling, spinning, jumping; almost flying.  She had porcelain features, a doll like body, and a costume of the purest white festooned with feathers. She leapt into the air, and landed in the arms of a handsome prince.

Too soon her father returned and after making obscene remarks about the dancers, started switching channels again.

It was just a matter of time before she was removed from her family for her own safety.

Over the years Felicity passed from one foster home to another, creating trouble wherever she went. Scrapping and stealing; she became uncontrollable and ended up in a secure facility.

But in quiet moments her mind returned to the swan she saw too briefly on the television that day.

Six years passed and Felicity sorted herself out. She’s a dancer now. Every night she performs to an appreciative audience.

However, she dances alone, just her with a shiny chrome pole. She doesn’t wear a tutu, in fact she hardly wears anything at all, but it pays well, especially when she does private performances. 

Everything she earns pays for lessons at the Dance Academy. She will achieve her dream. One day she will be a swan.

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Thanks to Jenne Gray and C.E.Ayr for hosting The Unicorn Challenge

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© Ayr/Gray

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28 thoughts on “The Swan”

  4. jenne49 Dec 9, 2023 / 16:30

    …the serious side that always speaks for the humanity in us all.
    Great story, Keith. I particularly liked the realism of the twist at the end.
    Not a fairy-tale world – she was having to work with detrmination for her dream.

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    • Keith's Ramblings Dec 9, 2023 / 16:43

      Thanks for your generous words, Jenne. In my mind she goes on to achieve her goal despite the route she has to travel.

      *I admit having used 251 words, and promise not to exceed 249 next week!

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  8. ben Alexander Dec 10, 2023 / 07:32

    Wow, Keith… a man with a wide range – this is different than much of the fare you usually offer us, good Sir! Excellent.

    ~David

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  10. The Sicilian Storyteller Dec 10, 2023 / 13:55

    I do enjoy this more serious side of you, Keith.
    What a lovely piece you have prepared for us today!
    The unpleasantness in life,
    the things we have to overcome to achieve our dreams.
    Wonderful story!

    Liked by 1 person

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  11. ceayr Dec 10, 2023 / 15:37

    A deeper and quite touching piece this week, Keith, but delivered with your usual panache.

    Liked by 1 person

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  12. Michael B. Fishman Dec 10, 2023 / 18:28

    This was a beautiful take on the prompt, Keith. You did a magnificent job of capturing Felicity’s life in so few words while reminding we readers to not stop dreaming.

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  13. clark Dec 10, 2023 / 20:06

    good work
    sweet without excess sentimentality
    had us (Readers) pulling for Felicity and not being let down

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