“And so it is, that both the Devil and the angelic Spirit present us with objects of desire to awaken our power of choice.” Rumi
Weekly Writing Challenge: The Object Of Desire… was not the pastoral farm
Once upon a time, a humble farmer and his ambitious wife were on their way to a Farmers Market in a neighboring town. As they prepared to leave, the farmer’s wife asked her husband to pack the bottle of gin that they kept in a safe under the bed in the barn. “Why?” The farmer asked his wife. “Because!?” She answered, and yelled at him to get the gin. Being a humble man, he chose to honor his wife and went back in the barn and retrieved the gin.
A few hours into their journey, the wife asked to take a lunch and rest stop. Her husband agreed. They parked their truck by a lovely stream and ventured out to sit on the grass and enjoy some cheese and tomato sandwiches. Before the farmer could take two bites of his sandwich, his wife reached for the gin and offered him a sip. Several weeks before, she had planned to put him to sleep … permanently. She went to the local hardware store, bought a potent rat poison mix, and added the rat poison to the gin. Why? You might ask. She was having a tryst with a farm hand. She was tired of farming and fancied a life for herself in the big city.
The farmer took one sip and fell into a drunken sleepy stupor. His wife grabbed him under the armpits and dragged him to the water’s edge. In one fell swoop, she pushed him into the stream where he tried, feebly, to save himself but couldn’t. Satisfied that he was about to meet his maker she turned around and headed back to lunch.
“It is only in the world of objects that we have time and space and selves.’ T. S. Eliot
The Object Of Desire… was not the box of gold treasures
As she sat down to finish her lunch, she noticed someone watching her. Immediately, she panicked, thinking she might have been caught. So, she jumped up and started keening and screaming: “Please help me save my hubby. He fell in the stream and I don’t know what to do!” The stranger approached her with a sly smile on his face. “Are you sure you want him back? I can give you far better to enrich your life.” He said softly. Her eyes lit up… “Well, how about my drowning husband?”
“Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me…” said the stranger. “How about a new farm?” he offered. He waved a gloved hand and a fabulous farm appeared. She looked at it and shook her head. “No, we have a nice farm”
“Okay, how about a box of gold treasures?” He asked, his eyes sparkling brightly, as a box of gold treasures appeared.
She was tempted but then said “NO! That’s not my object of desire…”
“Well what do you desire, dear lady…? This time, he spoke with a slight edge to his tone of voice. She paused and smiled.
A thought crossed her mind. “Well, I don’t know if I should ask…” she said.
“Tell me anyway, I’ll decide if I can make it appear or not” He smiled devilishly, as a wicked thought crossed his mind… After all, he was the Evil One.
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“That which you create in beauty and goodness and truth lives on for all time to come. Don’t spend your life accumulating material objects that will only turn to dust and ashes.” Denis Waitley
The Object Of Desire… was…. devilishly handsome
“Okay, I’ll tell you, but first tell me, Who are you? ” She was curious to know who this stranger with magic powers was.
“What difference does it make? Your wish is my desire… and I fulfill desires. Speak up, I must leave soon.” He said sharply.
“Alright, I’d like a handsome, younger man. If you could offer me two, that would be perfect.” She was getting excited.
“Done!” He said loudly. Two hot young men appeared… “Enjoy them for at midnight, I will collect my reward.” Before she could reconsider, he waved good bye and disappeared.
The two hot guys looked at her and asked if they could join her for lunch. She agreed. Before she could bat an eyelid, they had wolfed down the meal and were yelling at her for more. “We want more! We want more!” The din grew louder and louder until she could take it no more.
“Okay, okay. enough! Come home with me and I’ll prepare a nice meal for you. ” She said.
The men looked at each other and nodded their heads in the affirmative and turning to face her, they yelled. “Lets Go NOW! We want more!”
Soon they were at the farm where she spent the next six hours toiling in the kitchen. Meal after meal was cooked and served but the two good looking demons were not satisfied. All they kept saying was “We want more! We want more!” Finally, exhausted and terrified, she fell on the kitchen floor and begged for mercy. They ignored her and kept up their chorus: “We want more! We want more!”
She passed out. When she came to, an hour had passed, she heard a loud flutter to her left and turning her head slightly, she saw it was the Stranger. “Please take them back! Take them back! I have no food left in my home she begged. “I want my old life back… ”
” You murdered your husband because someone else was the object of your desire. Now, You are the object of desire… My sons eat EVERYTHING.” Said the stranger.
“Come on Boys, dinner time… ” the Stranger called out, as her life flashed before her eyes.
Have an inspired week!
How do you develop story ideas? Do you find inspiration from simple objects? Do share! Thank you.
This post was inspired by a prompt from WP Daily Post: Weekly Writing Challenge: Object. Objects are evocative; they hold stories. The writing challenge this week is to begin with an object. Take something small, and concrete — a thing, a noun — and use that as a starting point. You may simply want to describe the object: what does it look like, how does it feel, does it have a scent, a flavor, does it make a sound? Or you may want to use an object as a focal point to expand into something bigger.
Positive Motivation Tip: A simple object can open a thousand doors in our memory bank. From there we can create new worlds. Go explore.
I used to LOVE to write in high school. I took a journalism course and my creative thoughts ran wild. I haven’t written an actual story in quite some time but I still do have a passion for it.
I found so much inspiration in all of my surroundings yesterday. It was such a beautiful day and we spent the morning exploring our downtown (just the family and a small soccer ball is all that it took to keep everyone happy and really enjoy one another!)
I used to participate in a weekly writing prompt when I first started blogging. I just haven’t had the time to do it for the last year or two…this really makes me want to get back into it!
That’s a great way to keep your writing sharp. My writing is academic so it is mostly research…nothing that has to be fancy. 🙂 It does have to be well put together though, and I draw my inspiration from other academic writers whom I enjoy reading! Well done with your writing here.
So, is that what she wished for? I like the eye candy, but I do like my husband more. 😉
Luckily my husband is eye candy 😉 But to find inspiration in anything I find it within my own life and family!
I used to LOVE to write in high school. I took a journalism course and my creative thoughts ran wild. I haven’t written an actual story in quite some time but I still do have a passion for it.
I often find inspiration from songs. I especially find inspiration from my children and loved ones.
I used to write a lot in college, but have not done any creative writing in a while.
I haven’t written creatively in forever! I do get inspired for other things by things I stumble upon, particularly in nature.
I found so much inspiration in all of my surroundings yesterday. It was such a beautiful day and we spent the morning exploring our downtown (just the family and a small soccer ball is all that it took to keep everyone happy and really enjoy one another!)
Guess she’ll be paying the price for a long, long time. The grass isn’t greener!
It is kind of cool to take part in a writing challenge like this one. It leads to interesting reading.
WOW! What a story, I was hooked!
Love your positive tip! 🙂
I love just taking a quiet moment and thinking of different scenarios. I haven’t done any creative writing in a very long time.
That’s some pretty nice eye candy, and I do like to look every now & then, but my husband is a keeper, so I think I’m gonna stick with him 😉
Greed! such a powerful story.
I used to participate in a weekly writing prompt when I first started blogging. I just haven’t had the time to do it for the last year or two…this really makes me want to get back into it!
Liked it, specially that ending!
I wish I had time to participate in writing prompts! A great story to read!
I find inspiration in random places. I guess that just goes with my life right now- toddler and baby = randomness.
Wow, what a great little story. I was hooked. I wish I was a better writer.
I love to sit down and think about stories in my mind. It’s relaxing and pulls you out of your current situation for a bit.
Ahhh haha I loved this; totally was not expecting that ending!
I have never taken part in a writing challenge – sounds fun and rewarding
That’s a great way to keep your writing sharp. My writing is academic so it is mostly research…nothing that has to be fancy. 🙂 It does have to be well put together though, and I draw my inspiration from other academic writers whom I enjoy reading! Well done with your writing here.
You know what they say- Be careful for what you wish for cause you just might get it. What a very interesting story!
Oh wow! She didn’t know what she was getting herself into, did she?
Great plot and kept me reading. Good job with the prompt! The most creative writing I do these days is recipe creation!
I always find inspiration in the time spent with my family. As for the story….the grass is not always greener on the other side.
What, what a great story. It definitely has me thinking about the things I sometimes take for granted or fail to appreciate.
Super read .. I loved it. The moral is very clear.
You took the challenge and ran with it.
GREAT !!!!
Great story! I love a twisted ending like that with a lesson.
Such a great story, I was completely into it. I do have to say that I would keep my hubs, he might not be every girls dream but he is mine 🙂
I don’t really write stories, but reading your posts are interesting. And I’m all for non-material choices.
Great moral to the story! 😉
There are so many ways to find inspiration! This story has a great moral!