My sister cried the day they dismantled the fair. She was in love with the calliope man who was a rough type with thick lips and a face that had seen better times. She stood by the instrument while it played, holding out the man’s trilby and dancing, showing her ankles.
He promised to take her with him, but in the morning, the man and his hat were gone. For fifteen years the fair has come to town and my sister still waits to hear those breathy whistles. She’s fifty now, too old they say, for the calliope man, or anyone else.
***
This is a 100-word story for the Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Click here to read some more inspired by the picture (this week provided by Ted Strutz) or here to join in and write your own.
I only recently learned what a calliope was, and it’s such a lovely sounding that I wanted to use it in a story. Here’s an example of one.
***
I’m really excited to let you know that my second book, Swimming Lessons, has just been acquired by Fig Tree (an imprint of Penguin). Click here to find out more.
Great word, new to me too. I enjoyed the story too!
Thanks, Hilary.
sad story. she deserved to see him one more time.
Thanks. She does!
Fifty is not too old. My dad remarried at 61! 🙂 But man, I loved your story. Such a sad tale with an ending that stays with you.
Thanks so much. I agree – fifty isn’t too old, but without knowing exactly the date my story is set I think it is some time ago, when we had a different attitude to women and marriagable age.
True, Claire. I hadn’t thought of that!
One is never too old for the calliope man. Wonderful take on the prompt.
I still kind of hope he’ll come back for her one day.
One is never too old for love. Loved the story.
I couldn’t agree more.
A wasted life, waiting on a dream that never was.
Great pathos.
Thanks, Mick. I agree, she should have found someone else.
I do like that. For me it was the lass selling five goes on the air rifles.
Hah! I hope you’re not still waiting for her…
The calliope man probably ran out of steam (es-steam issues?). Jokes apart this was wonderfully done. Conjured up images of love, sadness and despair.
Groan… but thank you!
Simple and full of life – a great snippet of life.
Thank you!
I was once in love with a rough guy who used to take the fares on the Waltzers. You brought it all back, Claire, and thanks for the introduction to the word calliope.
Oh, I love that, Sandra. Tell more! Tell more!
He was practically neanderthal, and I would have done anything for him. Fortunately he didn’t ask. 😉
Hah! Brilliant!
The calliope man will have aged too. I hope he makes it back around to her town.
Congrats on Swimming Lessons!
I don’t think he’ll be back. Probably has a woman in every town.
Thanks for the story, Claire. There’s a lesson in it for me, I’m sure!
Lily
Hah! For us all, perhaps.
I have never heard of that instrument either.. Sometimes we all get stuck in the past..
It’s easily done. Thanks, Bjorn.
Calliope is fun to say. I think it wound be a good name for a horse.
Oooh, kind of sounds like a horse, galloping.
Lovely story of an old heartache, and the organ tune brought a smile at the end of a hard day.
Thank you. It is a lovely sound.
Caliope is also he name of the muse of epic poetry. Where are you hiding?
Rosey Pinkerton’s blog
Oh, I didn’t know that. How lovely!
Such a realistically sad story, Claire. You are so good at weaving these tales.
Giant congrats on having your 2nd book published… what a year (or 2) you’re having!! I’m giddy for you. xox
Hah! Thanks Dawn.
A sadly-sweet tale, but I was devastated to hear that 50 is too old for anyone else! I’d better make sure I hold onto my wife then 🙂
KT
Hah! Only in the time period when it was set, not now!
Dear Claire,
Such a poignant piece. Too old for the calliope man? Wouldn’t he be older, too? 😉
Mazel tov on Swimming Lessons. I can’t wait to read it.
Shalom,
Rochelle
He would be older, but in those days (when it was riske to show your ankles, sadly a woman was on the shelf when she reach fifty – probably younger)
That is sad if she believes what other people say because that gives her no hope at all! Congratulations on your new book, Swimming Lessons!
I’m not sure though that he’s coming back. Thanks for the congratulations!
Great characterization, voice and story all packed into 100 words.
Thanks, glad you liked it.
Poor woman. You mentioned that she showed her ankles while dancing, that hints at the era. Some people are happiest with not being able to let go, I think. Fulfilled wishes may not be what they really want in the end. And congrats on your second book.
Glad you spotted that about the ankles. It was hard to get the era across otherwise. Thanks!
I hope he comes back. They belong together. Oh, is that what makes that fair music? Great take. Thanks for the link. Congrats on your book!
Thanks Amy. That fairground music is a lovely sound I think.
Nice story, Claire – it reminded me of the time my sister fell for a fairground guy which also ended in tears. 🙂
All these fairground romances coming out of the woodwork!
I can’t believe teasing him with those bare ankles didn’t make him quit his day job and run away to become a farmer. In those days, you were considered an Old Maid by age 15, right?
Sadly true, or maybe 16…
15 years is a long time to wait. I’m so glad we don’t live in a world like that anymore.
I think she’s waiting, still.