The prisoner requests Cadmium Red; the guards munch juicy apples.
The prisoner requests Manganeze Violet; the guards feast on grapes.

The guards never question strange occurrences, just keep each prisoner happy until firing squad time. This one asks for oil paints, “for practice”.

“Burnt Sienna, Emerald Green, Chrome Yellow, Cerulean Blue.” The day before execution, four requests.

When the guards enter his cell at dawn, they find a reddish-brown door opening into a lush meadow studded with flowers. The prisoner puts the last touches of blue on the cloud-ruffled sky, throws down his brush, and saunters away to freedom.

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Carrie OLeary
Carrie OLeary(@carrie-oleary)
1 year ago

What an intriguing idea Juma. I do hope that the prisoner was deserving of the chance of freedom! Nicely done.

Eric Radcliffe
Eric Radcliffe(@eric-radcliffe)
1 year ago

Hi Juma, sometimes a story tells another story. I just loved the beauty in its simplicity, and at the same time you would have loved to have seen the expression on the guards faces, I chuckled to myself here. Wonderfully told in just 100 words.

Last edited 1 year ago by Eric Radcliffe
Linda Rock
Linda Rock(@linda-rock)
1 year ago

I loved all the descriptive colours in your story Juma and how the prisoner saunters off to freedom. Also the thought that rather than apples and grapes to enjoy, the guards are now left with egg on their face! Well written and memorable.

Lotchie Carmelo
Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
1 year ago

I love its simplicity. The use of words and colors that make the story more colorful and enjoyable is something amazing. I can’t imagine the expression of the guards faces after the prisoner escapes to freedom. I giggle after reading that part. Nicely done.

Lotchie Carmelo
Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
Reply to  Juma
1 year ago

You are welcome.

Dipayan Chakrabarti
Dipayan Chakrabarti(@dipayan-chakrabarti)
1 year ago

Hi Juma,
You’ve given us a very good story. Excellent!

Dipayan Chakrabarti
Dipayan Chakrabarti(@dipayan-chakrabarti)
Reply to  Juma
1 year ago

You’re welcome.

Christer Norrlof
Christer Norrlof(@christer-norrlof)
1 year ago

You got me searching for information about Anna Akhmatova, Juma, and reading a few of her poems. It’s interesting and scary at the same time. But my greatest takeaway with your wonderful story is symbolic; the freedom/imprisonment is ultimately decided in the mind. In our thoughts (and with our creations) we can choose our state of mind. I want to see the prisoner’s requests of colors as a his choice to stay… Read more »

Marianna Pieterse
Marianna Pieterse(@marianna-pieterse)
1 year ago

Juma, I did not know about Anna Akhmatova. I have learned something new today. Like Eric, I can just picture the guard’s astonished face. I’m glad your protagonist got away and was free once again. How beautiful that the thing he was locked up for was the same thing that helped him to freedom. Well done.

Carrie OLeary
Carrie OLeary(@carrie-oleary)
1 year ago

Congratulations Juma. Great story with an interesting background to it. Well done.

Julie Harris
Julie Harris(@julie-harris)
1 year ago

Congratulations, Juma. I love the specific colors named in your story, and the surprise ending.

Eric Radcliffe
Eric Radcliffe(@eric-radcliffe)
1 year ago

Congratulations Juma, lovely touch of imagination in your story – Well done!

Marianna Pieterse
Marianna Pieterse(@marianna-pieterse)
1 year ago

Congratulations, Juma! This story was captivating from beginning to end. Well done.

Linda Rock
Linda Rock(@linda-rock)
1 year ago

Your story was one of my favourites right from the start Juma. Congratulations, well deserved.

Daisy Blacklock
Daisy Blacklock(@daisy-blacklock)
1 year ago

I love your story, especially at the end when you wrote ‘saunters away to freedom’. I also loved how you described the meadow as ‘studded with flowers’, it has amazing imagery.

Lotchie Carmelo
Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
1 year ago

Congratulations on this win, Juma.

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