The Piano Man
Background
For Christmas, my sweet husband gifted me with a book of writing prompts. Since then, I’ve only written a handful, but I’ve decided to commit to doing at least one each week. I’ll be sharing them here (or at least the good ones). Let me know in the comments what you think of them, and I’ll always share the prompt so you can try it, too. If you do, link it in the comments so I can give it a read!
The premise of these prompts is simple. There’s a story concept and a list of words that must be included in the story. Heads up, I definitely embellish the ones I put online simply because the page in the book isn’t big enough for me to tell an adequate story
Prompt
Write the Story: A Strange Request at a Piano Bar
Include the following in your story: carnival, sprained, mask, oxidation, awkward, apple, juvenile, controversy, twirl, sassafras
The Piano Man’s long fingers danced across the black and white keys. He’d been playing at this bar every Tuesday and Thursday for the last 6 months, and his skills earned him the nickname “The Piano Man.” You know, like the Billy Joel song.
He’d heard the bar’s manager, Jim, engaging in the same controversy with his competitor, Shawn, every night when he came to the bar. Tonight was a Wednesday—his night off—and the way he caressed the velvety piano bench made it difficult to mask his urge to play. He pulled himself over to the bar where an awkward-looking gentleman was slurring, spitting, and laughing as he tried to say, “sassafras.”
The Piano Man contemplated heading home early when he suddenly saw the slender figure of a beautiful woman across from him, her hand brushing his forearm. With her other hand she gripped a martini topped with apple slices browned by oxidation. She removed her hand from his arm and gave her hair a twirl as though she were a juvenile—which she was anything but. She whispered to him asking him to play as she led him to the piano.
He blushed as she led him by the hand to the empty bench that had been calling to him all evening. He felt confused when he noticed her limping like her ankle was sprained, and he made a note to ask her about it if the night led to anything more. Yet, his confusion turned to concern when she made a strange request.
“Play me carnival music,” she whispered breathily.
…Odd. Odd, indeed.