photo courtesy of Jilly Funnel lyric quotes by Yip Harburg 
Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers challenge this week is prompted by this intriguing photo. Here’s my 100 word story.
SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW
My spine tingles, heart racing – a first date – whooo!! My last one was…? This is a new start. he may be my new soul-mate.
‘..dreams that you dare to….’
Wow that’s him over there, looking around, bit overweight, older than his photo. Kind eyes, open face, pretty fit. Maybe really boring, still married? I feel numb. Oh no – he’s walking towards me. What ! he’s got a scorpion tatoo on his neck – what is that ?
My legs are powered to run away. Too late, he’s here..
‘...dreams really do come true..’
“Hi Dorothy – is that you ?”
October 21, 2018 at 9:17 pm
So many layers to this story. Great storytelling.
October 23, 2018 at 7:44 am
So pleased you liked the story Lisa, thanks.
October 21, 2018 at 4:13 pm
Oh dear… a neck tattoo.. but maybe listen a bit first.
October 21, 2018 at 6:06 pm
Thanks Bjorn – I appreciate your feedback. Guess it’s a balance between opportunity versus caution isn’t it ?
October 21, 2018 at 11:08 am
A scorpion tattoo is a bit of an immediate put off but it looks like she manages to get past that initial judgement. Hope it works for her
October 21, 2018 at 6:13 pm
Thanks so much for your feedback Michael, yes secretly I hope it works out for her.
October 21, 2018 at 9:56 am
Hope she hasn’t met him for anything that takes longer than coffee. That way if he’s stiff and needs oiling (or distinctly cowardly) she can make her excuses. On the plus side if he turns out to have a brain she can stick around and suggest lunch. Super post. And I learned about scorpion tattoos as well.
October 21, 2018 at 6:21 pm
Thanks Jilly I appreciate your feedback. So pleased you liked the story.
October 21, 2018 at 12:53 am
Maybe she needed to click her heels together three times before running away. I too was unaware of the symbolism of a scorpion tattoo but maybe this is just a tattoo. And underneath the tatts is someone with the same hopes and desires.
October 21, 2018 at 6:40 pm
Thanks so much for your feedback – pleased you liked the story.
October 21, 2018 at 6:50 pm
Subroto – I left a comment on your blog, but it was not accepted due to the sign in process.
October 20, 2018 at 3:02 pm
Well now. All kinds of interesting possibilities there, but somehow I’d be a little careful of a guy with a scorpion tattoo!
October 21, 2018 at 6:22 pm
Thanks so much Granonine, glad you liked the story.
October 20, 2018 at 10:17 am
I like how, the confidence drops and we get the intense feeling of doubt, the cold feet sensation. As for the Scorpion Tattoo – well I learn something new every day – a symbol of HIV carriers?
October 21, 2018 at 6:24 pm
Thank you James, I appreciate your feedback. Glad you liked the story.
October 20, 2018 at 3:51 am
Nice feeling of nervousness, almost panic in this piece. She comes so close to bailing we cant help but feel for her.
Well at least if it doesnt work out, she can just click her heels…
October 21, 2018 at 6:28 pm
Thanks for your feedback, so glad the story worked for you.
October 19, 2018 at 8:08 pm
Dear Francine,
Perhaps this is Dorothy’s man of her dreams. Love the Wizard of Oz reference. Enjoyed the whole thing.
Shalom,
Rochelle
October 21, 2018 at 6:30 pm
Thank you Rochelle – I’m so pleased you enjoyed the story. Found it a happy challenge to squash into 100 words !!
October 19, 2018 at 6:31 pm
Hmm makes one wonder why she stopped dating? Hope she learned some lessons.
October 19, 2018 at 2:12 pm
Love it!
October 21, 2018 at 6:31 pm
Thank you Jelli – I’m pleased you loved it.
October 19, 2018 at 1:29 pm
She got the man of her dreams! A man without scorpion tattoo on his neck!
October 19, 2018 at 1:39 pm
Thanks Abhijit- let’s hope her dreams come true !
October 19, 2018 at 12:39 pm
A scorpion tattoo on a gay man often means he is infected with HIV. Or so I understand.
October 19, 2018 at 1:38 pm
Thanks for explaining Penny. Another layer of meaning that I was unaware of.
October 19, 2018 at 6:51 am
For all she knows… tattoo and all, he could be the love of her life! That whole judging a book by its cover and all… and the expectations sure don’t help 😉
October 19, 2018 at 7:56 am
Appreciate your feedback Dale. Judging someone new is a tough isn’t it ? Guess its taking a gamble. Great that it can sometimes work out !
October 18, 2018 at 6:23 pm
She seems to have started this date with greater expectations than were wise… 🙂
October 18, 2018 at 6:29 pm
Appreciate your feedback Ali. Agree with you – she’s over optimistic.
October 18, 2018 at 5:37 pm
Most likely time to find another dream. She needs a Toto (t in Africa).
October 18, 2018 at 6:20 pm
Thanks for your comment – think you may be right about another dream…
October 18, 2018 at 3:12 pm
I guess that your use of the song represents the naivety your character shows in her dating. And sure enough it falls apart as she realises all that could go wrong. It was certainly not an encouraging first date given the conventional meaning of a scorpion tattoo among gay men.
October 18, 2018 at 6:32 pm
Thanks for your feedback Penny. I was thinking about how people can have unrealistic dreams, sad to say. Please enlighten me about the conventional meaning of a scorpion tatoo among gay men.
October 18, 2018 at 8:41 am
I liked the use of the song
October 18, 2018 at 6:38 pm
Thank you Neil, glad you liked the song thread of the story. I meant for the happy dream slant to contrast with the ‘reality’ of dating.
October 18, 2018 at 8:21 am
It doesn’t sound like a promising start…!
October 18, 2018 at 6:49 pm
Appreciate your feedback Iain – think you’re right, dreams will be dashed I think.