The room was noisy with chatter and braying laughs. Margaret squeezed between clusters of people, smiling, raising her glass above her head; her breasts towards the men, and backside to the women. The paintings were too abstract for her liking, but she wasn’t wearing her glasses and she was on her third sangria.
She stopped in front a small oil. The title, ‘Woman with yellow hair’ swam alarmingly when she leaned forward. She lifted the painting off the wall, peered closer and without looking around slipped it into her handbag.
At the door Margaret felt a hand on her arm.
***
Earlier this week, Ruth Hunt posted a Q&A with me about my writing process, on her blog. Click here to have a read, or to contact Ruth if you’re interested in her featuring you.
For those who don’t know how Friday Fictioneers works, this picture (this time supplied by Janet Webb) is our inspiration for our weekly online writing group hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Click here to read other people’s amazing stories or to join in. And please comment below with any suggestions for improvement on mine.
This scenario is only too real! I enjoyed the link and the interview too.
Hilary, I like to think of you getting drunk and stealing pictures at private views 😉
I liked the graphic description of her progress through the crowd. 🙂 Nicely done.
Thanks Sandra.
I loved the build up, 😉
Thanks Helen.
Please tell me it’s the hand of the artist, her ex-lover and she the subject of the painting. At least she was in my mind. Fabulous story.
Oh, exactly. I wanted to put something like that in, but there just wasn’t enough room. In my mind, she hasn’t been caught.
That’s rather bold! You created a character with some strong compulsions in such a small space. Well done, Claire.
Thanks Helena.
Great descriptions. I could see it all happening.
Thanks Patricia.
Great character, great action, and an end that’s pribably good… but disapointing for the thief.. congrats for the interview…
I’m not sure that hand on her arm is her getting caught…
Love the suspense you build in this one.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.
I like the way the painting swam – one glass too many will do that!
Absolutely. I think we’ve all been there…
Not good but still worth stealing. Good story.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.
Dear Claire,
I hope the painting was a small one or her handbag extremely large. Good descriptions. I could even smell the heavy perfume in the air. Nice one.
shalom,
Rochelle
Ah, yes, the heavy perfume too. Big bag, small painting I think.
A silly drunk or a not-so-clever art thief? I like the possibilities here and your descriptions of Margaret were excellent.
I was rather hoping she would get away with it 🙂
I think she does. In my mind the hand on her arm is not her being caught…
Oh ho ho!A Klepto ? Or its just the Sangria?Or maybe she had a personal interest?Too bad if she is caught-well,that restraining arm could belong to a lover too ;-)Loved the character sketch and her movement through the crowd:-)
Thanks. Yes, I think she’s stopped by a lover, or someone she knows.
🙂
Moral: A noisy, crowded gallery may not be the ideal place to pull off a heist. Then again, the sangria may have been the true reason for the failed attempt. So many different reasons to attend a gallery opening too.
I don’t think her attempt failed. I think the painting is hanging in her downstairs loo right now.
Love the build up…intense and well written 🙂
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.
Busted! Must have been one of those economy-sized handbags. 😀
Small painting… actually I don’t think she was caught.
Great! She got caught. Good story!
That third glass of wine will make a thief out of many an honest woman. lol
Hah – now we know where all the paintings in your house come from…
Shhhhhh…;)
Oh my, perhaps if she didn’t drink as much, she would have known better than to try to pull a heist off in the midst of a crowd. 😀 Seriously, this was a good story.
Blessings,
Cheryl
Glad you enjoyed it Cheryl. Thanks
Darn I thought she was going to get away with it! 🙂
All is not lost. I think she does get away with it. The hand on her arm is someone she knows.
So stay tuned? Is that a promise of more to come???
Well, not necessarily on Friday Fictioneers, but I think Margaret is a character in my second book.
Oh she was so terribly close to succeeding in her theft…oh maybe it isn’t anyone catching her, maybe its just an acquaintance wanting to say hello, one can always hope for such a bold, somehow charming character 😀
Yes, I think it’s someone she knows. Let’s say she got away with it.
Cool 😀
well told story, Claire. love the idea of an impromptu robbery ☺