
Kaleidoscope of Winding Strokes
“What shall I paint for you?” asked Brazen with a nasty glint in his eyes. He was feeling deliriously happy.
“Use this brush wisely, Brazen,” warned Gran Adalie. She was an artist too, but never shared her work. After she died, no one knew what happened to her canvasses. They only found her cat, a tank full of fish and her parrot.
“Silly old paintbrush,” he thought and threw it into the back of his drawer.
This morning his favourite brush broke. He dropped it and Mom accidentally stepped on it. “Mom! Look what you’ve done!” he yelled. Gran’s brush caught his eye. He reached out and took it. “What did Gran mean when she said I must use it wisely?” he pondered.
The little girl in the tattered clothes in front of him gave a meek smile. “Please Sir, may I have a butterfly? One with large, colourful wings.” She cheered up at the thought. As with the clients before her, Brazen was set on tricking her too. The last guy, who was too posh for his liking, got the dog he asked for, but with a kitten tail. Mr. Fancy-Pants before him asked for a horse; he gave him one, but with Dalmatian spots. Not to mention the sloth with the raccoon eyes given to Princess Pompous! Brazen laughed at the thought of their disdain. Much to everyone’s amazement, the animals came alive as soon as the paintings were done. “This paintbrush is simply brilliant!” Brazen giggled.
He reached out to dip the brush in the gingerbread brown paint. “A moth it will be…” he said under his breath. The tip of the brush touched the canvas. Something was different. Brazen felt his heart racing. His arm moved involuntary as the brush took over. With angry strokes it shaped a magnificent butterfly in a kaleidoscope of colours.
“It is beautiful!” whispered the girl.
“This brush is possessed!” Brazen called out. Worry was etched on his face.
With a last splash of colour, the butterfly finally spread its wings and landed gently on the arm of the ecstatic girl.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleWhat a wonderful gift to have Marianna. So much possibility, but I would imagine it could be quite dangerous too.
Thank you very much for reading, Carrie. You are right, it could be a wonderful gift, but also terrible if it’s in the wrong hands.
Oh I love the twist! I almost felt the butterfly on my arm, great job!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThank you for your kind comment, Maryke! I’m glad you liked it.
I loved the ending Marianna, how the brush got the upper hand on the dreadful Brazen (what a great name!), It’s always satisfying when good overcomes evil. Great story.
Thank you so much, Linda. I tend to look up the meaning of names or sometimes do it the other way around, looking for names that mean specific things, especially if I have a protagonist or antagonists with a specific personality trait in mind. I’m happy that you liked it!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThe magic of a paintbrush bringing things to life! I thought it was the real protagonist here. Your story is a gem Marianna!
Greene, what a great thought! Who knows where it would end up next? I’m sure that Brazen would not be using it again any time soon!
I think Brazen will be very careful what he paints in the future – I do love a story where the tables are turned on someone who has no respect for others 🙂 Well done, Marianna!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThank you so much, Sandra. I tend to appreciate a happy ending. Especially when a dreadful person gets taught a life lesson in the process.
What a wonderful creation of imagination, Marianna! I guess grandma isn’t happy with her grandson’s attitude. Brazen needs to learn a few lessons. Your story has the potential to become a great, entertaining story for children, teaching humility and friendship, as well as inspiring them to do art work.
Thank you for your valuable feedback, Christer. I am glad you think it has potential to be expanded. The question is whether Brazen learnt his lesson and will continue painting using the paintbrush, or if the paintbrush has others to teach too, sending it on different adventures?
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleI really enjoyed that. It reminds me of a story my children enjoy about a little boy who paints rocks and then they turn into animals!
Thank you for reading and for your comment, David. I’m glad you like it. Rocks changing into animals sounds like a fun story. I will try and look it up.
Hello again Marianna, I like the theme in the story. The Guy who was too Posh, Mr Fancy Pants, Princess Pompous, and the idea that Brazen thinks he has the right to bully them because in his eyes they are different. In the end he learns his lesson – from Moth to Butterfly. Let’s hope this transition also applies to Brazen!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleHi Eric, thank you for your comment. Yes, he very much felt entitled to bully them. Too often in life this is the case, isn’t it? Brazen hopefully learned his lesson!
I love this story. I wonder what made Gran Adalie choose not to showcase her paintings. I think they were nice paintings. Hmmm, a paintbrush like a magic wand.
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Thompson. While I was writing about Gran Adalie’s paintings, I pictured her beloved pets to be her canvasses that came alive. I am glad you liked the story!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleWow, this is an amazing story, Marianna. I really enjoyed reading it. You are blessed with a good imagination to come up with a story that really excites the minds of the readers. I’m sure my kids will love it.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Lotchie. I appreciate it. I am happy to hear that you have enjoyed it. Thank you for your lovely compliment.
You’re welcome, Marianna.
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