FCA, 1,062 Words
The lamplighter coaxes the gaslight to life, and its soft glow pushes back the night. I watch from a distance as waiters ready the tables and customers arrive. Once the cafe bustles with laughter and conversation, I step out of the shadows and onto the terrace.
The regular customers are in their places sipping aperitifs when I pass through, rippling the air and disturbing pungent trails of cigar smoke. On the way toward my favorite table near the cafe entrance, some of the men glance at me, but these are only brief eye contacts. They sense I don’t belong here. I can tell from the way they pull back at my passing. The women, their hair piled high in the fashion, criticize me with side glances. I touch my own hair, a self-conscience reflex. I’ve tried for their elegance, but it’s not so simple to mimic them, even though I’ve worked hard to do it.
The waiter knows me now. He’s at least welcoming and I detect a warm sympathy in his eyes as if recognizing broken hearts is part of his cafe duty. I’m enchanted by the way he drapes his small white towel over his arm, bows slightly, and then greets me with a melodious, “Bon Soir, Mademoiselle. L’habituel?”
He doesn’t look sour at hearing my badly accented French when I tell him, “Yes, the same.” My French vocabulary and syntax are university perfect, but I can’t conceal the rhythm of my native Dutch. That’s why I never speak to anyone except this waiter while I’m here. The curled lips of annoyance ruin the moment. I came to enjoy a sip of fine Cognac, this golden mood of Arles captured long ago by one of my most famous countrymen.
The waiter sets my drink in front of me and I inhale its rich aroma. As I lift the Cognac to my lips, a man steps across the cobblestone street and heads my direction. I take in a sharp breath. Lars. How has he followed me? I didn’t think it possible, but he’s striding my way, an anachronism in his jeans and T-shirt. His wiry body, his determined expression plucking at old memories I’ve struggled to tuck into the past.
Without asking my permission, Lars takes the chair across from me. “You can explain this, I suppose?”
That’s Lars. So direct. No preamble. “I can explain it no more than you can.” I sip from my glass suddenly needing fortification. “How did you get here?”
“By watching and doing what you did. Staring at the picture.” He glances around, uneasy. “I assume you felt the pull of it until stepping through was unavoidable.”
“Yes. That’s how it is.”
He settles his stare on me again as if he’s finally taking in the way I look. “Is this a cape?” He reaches his hand toward me, but I duck out of reach. “And your hair. What have you done to it?”
“That’s none of your business.” I speak lower, but my voice has sharp edges that were honed by my bitter breakup with Lars last year. He made it clear that marriage and children were off the table. And when I was quite honest and told him that marriage and children were what I needed to make my life complete, he left our bed without a word. The next day he took back his ring. We continue to work as archivists together, but the rancor never lessens between us. “There’s no crime in my being here. I’ve finished my work. The museum’s closed. I’m on my own time, if I’m not mistaken, so I can dress any way I wish.”
The couple at the nearest table whisper to each other and point at Lars. “You’d do better to try to fit in,” I tell him.
He smiles. “You’re right, of course. And anyway I like your period look.” He leans across the table and his breath brushes my cheek. Too close. “There’s nothing wrong in admiring the art, but invading it…that’s unnatural.”
“And your arrival isn’t?”
He ignores my question. Another of his traits. “And I’m sure this isn’t the first time,” he says.
I push slightly back in my chair and look out across the cafe terrace, sad that Lars has found me, sad he’s stolen this pleasure from me. Hasn’t he stolen enough from me already?
It troubles me that I’m not the only one who can come to this cafe. It was so special—my reward after a day of looking at beauty from the outside. I could for a short time slip inside and be at one with a great creation. I could rub against the soul of the artist himself. His loneliness a comfort for my own.
“Well,” Lars says. “Am I right? You’ve come before?”
“Yes. I come often. I’d stay if I could.” I hold my cell phone so no one can see it and check the time. I have only a few more minutes before I have to leave.
In my early visits, I discovered I had a precise ten minutes to live in this world that Van Gogh conjured onto the canvass. Staying longer agitated the cafe customers, and even the waiter grew restless. The starry night turned threatening. “Leave,” it commanded. “You don’t belong here.”
“Sophia.”
Lars says my name in that soft way he used to and puts his hand on mine. “I followed you because I was curious, but now that I’m here, I know I followed you for a different reason. I’ve been thinking about us, about how I miss being with you.” He glances at our hands. “Like this.”
The warmth of his touch brings back other moments we’ve had together, and I can’t pull away.
The waiter hovers at our table, the bill in hand. “Le addition, Mademoiselle.” He glances at Lars. “Aimer, ce n’est pas se regarder l’un l’autre, c’est regarder ensemble dans la même direction.” With a subtle nod in my direction, he leaves.
Since his French extends only to simple phrases, Lars looks to me for a translation.
“It’s from The Little Prince.”Love does not consist in looking at each other, but rather in, together, looking in the same direction.”
I slip my hand free from Lars, and mouthing “Merci” to the waiter, leave a generous tip before stepping onto the cobblestones.
Hi Lee – congratulations on being the runner up to the runner up!! in last month’s WEP … also to winning the commenters ‘prize’ … well done – cheers Hilary
Congratulations on not one but two WEP badges to display.
Thanks for sharing this interview with Bish, Lee! I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I just finished reading the Anthology. You’re in for a treat, so pick up your copy when it’s out. Enjoyed your post, c lee. Great.
Congrats Bish on being part of the anthology. It was a fun story. Thank you for writing it. Enjoyed the interview.
So great getting to know Bish better! I especially liked the description of her long childhood. It made me long for years gone by and how carefree the world of childhood used to be. <3
This is a great interview, and I’m looking forward to reading Bish’s story.
That reminds me of playing Masterpiece the board game as a kid. I used to always want to visit the French cafe or the one with the flowery fields. Such fun! Good job!
Love, love, love this! Such a cool idea- there are a lot of paintings I would like to visit. Great job with the characters too. A treat to read!
Time Travel always pricks my curiosity! Very well written.
Hi Damyanti. Thanks for the visit.
Magical C Lee, thank you for the gift of this flash and the short story on your website. Sophia through the looking glass.
Two small French errors, Bonsoir. And. l’addition.
Beautifully written, mystery intact till the end. Lovely conclusion with the St Exupery quote. Looking forward to reading you soon.
Oh, thanks for catching those French errors. My French is more than rusty. And thanks for stopping by. Great to have you here.
I love the concept behind this – time travel, in a way – and you captured a great moment with it too. I felt for Sophia – all she wanted was a place to escape. Lars needs to back off!
I could relate to her. She finds a way to relax and enjoy and here comes Lars, the cause of her sadness. Thanks, Nick.
Beautiful. Well said. Goodbye, Lars.
I didn’t seem to give him any redeeming qualities.
I love, LOVE the ending! Oh, if I could do the same with certain books! Loved the concept and premise of this story! A fascinating take on the prompt!
The ending came hard and it would have been a touch different if I’d had more room. Maybe in another version. Thanks, Carrie.
What a treat. The realization that this is a sci-fi story comes slowly. When Lars reappears, I’m prepared, but that twist she can only stay ‘in the picture’ for 10 minutes is delightful. Yes! Let Lars suffer the consequences of staying too long. A pleasure to read.
The magical aspect came first when I thought about entering this WEP. Since I usually write contemporary/realistic I jump at any chance to dive into the more speculative side of things. Thanks so much for the visit.
what a great concept – well written and drawing the reader in. So many things to take in. I agree though, dump Lars!
Poor Lars. I’ve given him no redeeming qualities. In a longer piece, I might have done that. Appreciate your comment so much, Sally.
Time travel! And done so well. I really enjoyed all the anachronisms. Lars is very annoying and intrusive. Thoroughly enjoyed your flash fiction.
Like so many readers and writers, I’m in love with the concept of time travel. This WEP was a lot of fun. I think it inspired some excellent submissions–I include yours, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Oh, wow! That was such an intriguing and beautiful piece! And such a cool concept too!
Alexa
thessalexa.blogspot.com
verbosityreviews.com
Hi Alexa! Great to see you here. Thanks for reading and commenting. Are you open at verbosity again?
Sorta kinda? I am getting posts up very slowly, haha, but I also am getting posts up. So I am open to review requests and that sort of thing, but it does take me a lot longer than it used to. 🙂
Alexa
thessalexa.blogspot.com
verbosityreviews.com
I hear what you’re saying. I’ve slowed quite a bit, but the world hasn’t noticed, so I guess all that speed wasn’t so important after all.
Haha, yeah, I guess it wasn’t. There’s so much pressure to post regularly and at the same time at a certain time every day, every week, etc. But I’m learning that it’s really not a catastrophe–and it’s actually a really good thing–if you slow down and do what’s best for your current life. 🙂
This has to be my favourite ‘Cafe Terrace’ flash so far. The way it opens, the sense of the period when the painting was created, the Dutch angle, and the transportation into a picture twist. Magnifique. And then the waiter quoting Saint-Exupéry’s most successful work which wasn’t published until 1943. How did he get there? I’m intrigued so want to drink and eat there now.
I’ve yet to read other comments as I don’t want them to influence my confusion – lol.
I admit to taking liberties with that quote, but I had two anachronisms already, so I added a third. Possibly the waiter is also someone who invades Van Gogh from time to time. Imagine trying to keep track of what fits chronologically when you have people from the future stepping in and out of art created in the fixed past?
I’ve often wished to step into a painting, enjoy the beauty first hand. I loved the apprehensive quality of this. To have this precarious sanctuary invaded by a selfish outsider is even worse. I guess she will not be back, now that he has ruined the moments.
That is a great observation. He may have destroyed what she had.
Nice! I love the subtle magic of this story. Stepping into a painting for 10 minutes seems like a dream or a nightmare depending on the painting. I think this could be expanded into something longer.
Glad she moved on without Lars.
Ten minutes is terrible, I agree. I was thinking about what the time element could do to the story when I chose ten minutes, which is just about as long as I can sit in a bad movie. I may have to re-think that or find a way to gradually up the stay.
The idea of being able to walk into a painting is fantastic. The waiter is an angel, really, and the protagonist is certainly better off without Lars. He seems controlling.
I was in the “dump Lars” camp from the beginning.
This is a wonderful story! I love the way you conjure the atmosphere through your words. I also thoroughly enjoyed the concept. The idea of stepping through into a painting and enjoying the world it portrays is appealing.
I also liked the quote about love. You can love someone, but if you don’t look forward together and want the same things, it doesn’t matter.
Well done!
This was a perfect painting for the theme about love. At least for me. Cafes, starry nights, France and Van Gogh. My goodness that is an unbeatable combination for inspiration. Thanks for your comment, L.G. Appreciate it.
Hi Lee – totally loved the way you drew us in … I could see so many more tales to be told (through the artwork) – brilliantly written … and yes endings so difficult – but you gave us what we came to read. How I’d love to go back, yet of course … it’s too comfortable to be here … congratulations – cheers Hilary
I hear what you’re saying about comfort v. nostalgia. I appreciate your comment so much. Thank you.
So much captured in such a small wordcount! Atmospheric, poignant and a sophisticated Valentine tale. I like the ambiguity of the ending too. An absolutely brilliant take on the prompt. Thanks.
Thank you, Nilanjana. I’m so glad you enjoyed the piece.
O, wow! Absolutely fantastic. The idea of walking into the painting, the descriptions, the characters. Absolutely everything. I’m going to come back to your story for a lot of learning Lee. It came out so well!
That’s a wonderful compliment, Sonia. I really appreciate it. I’d love to enter some paintings and be in a place an artist captured years before.
A trip into a painting… I’m wishing I could do that too!
Yep. Quite an experience. I guess it will only happen in our imaginations, but that’s kind of fun.
Lee, absolutely inspired. The beauty of van Gogh’s art, is you can actually walk through it, through the pictures he painted, especially around Arles. The wheatfields, his bedroom, the hospital etc. He was such a realistic painter who painted his life. Apparently in London at the moment, they have a realistic exhibition where you can walk through van Gogh’s paintings. (For the first time, I long to be in London, LOL).
Back to your excellent story. You have so many aspects of French culture within. See how our travel experiences turn up in our writing? I love that French waiters spoil women who dine alone – maybe they feel sorry for them, who knows? But they treat you so well, at least I’ve found that to be true.
The premise of your story is wonderful. Wouldn’t all we van Gogh fans want to live within one of his paintings. I’d choos Starry Night or Cafe Terrace for sure.
Thanks for a superb entry for CAFE TERRACE. Sorry for my lengthy ramble of a comment, but you really moved me.
You can ramble here as long as you care to. I enjoyed reading your comment about French waiters and travels and how they come into our writing. Thanks, Denise.
That was sweet. One imagines them returning to their normal lives, paths not crossing, until the next jump into the painting.
It would be interesting to see how Lars fares in his attempt at reconnecting while they’re sharing a table in Arles.
Wonderful piece! I wish I had her ability to step into a painting. I love art so much.
Let’s see if we can find a wizard with special powers and make him give us a chance to take a few strolls though more of Van Gogh.
Hello,
My first reaction after reading this was Wow!
I like the way you present this story and the way you introduce the characters.
Your ending was superb.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G
The ending came a day before I publish this. I didn’t have a good way to wrap this up until then. Glad you liked it.
Awe and wonder.
And longing. How I would love to be able to enter rather a lot of works of art.
This is beautiful Lee.
Imagine walking through those classic pictures and becoming a part of the scene! I’m with you about wishing that were possible. Thank so much.
It a beautiful piece! Captures so much and relays all. Poor Lars, so clueless!
Yes. Lars needs lessons from the waiter, doesn’t he?
Inriguing, so much unsaid that it creates a comfortable anticipation. Past, present and future all bound together in delightful expectation. Then it’s over!
That’s flash fiction for you. There’s not a chance for a saggy middle as there is with a novel. Thanks for stopping in and taking the time to comment. Please come again.
This is fabulous!!! Love the concept, the characters, and the ending. So well done 🙂
Hi Jemi. So glad you liked it. The picture was the catalyst. It has such rich elements.
Okay, I shouldn’t have read your story before posting mine!! Compared to the magical and sensory elements you have here as well as the mystery, mine is so… mundane!!
Every piece of writing has merit and it’s exciting that each of us will contribute something unique. Thank you for thinking this story had magical and sensory elements. Also it’s great to meet you! I look forward to more exchanges.
Wow. Lots of story packed into a short space. Very nice.
Hi Liz,
The shorter the piece the harder to write. I love the challenge of flash fiction it makes me very precise. Thanks for stopping in.