Portrait of Words # 22

This writing challenge has changed. Originally Jeff (A Word in Edgewise) started up this monthly challenge, derived from a previous challenge from R.E.H.'s "Picture Fiction Challenge", but Jeff has given it up and Dr. John (Dr. John's Fortress) and Thom (Thom's Place 4 Well Whatever) have taken over. The challenge is now every two weeks and you can get all the details here, where you can also pick up the links to read all the entries. Do pop over and read, you won't be disappointed.



The challenge is you are given a number of pictures and must use some/all of the pictures to create a story.

For this challenge we were given 4 pictures and some lyrics to use.

Julie and Gabe sat watching the capsules full of people rise into the sky on the London Eye. They were taking a lunch break from their job and enjoying the sunshine in the square.

“I’m leaving Julie” Gabe told her. “I’ve finally got a post in the City, at last someone has taken my degree seriously” he said.


“That’s wonderful Gabe, you won’t forget me and the boys will you?” asked Julie.

“How could I forget you and the boys. You’re all so special; Vinnie, Freddie, Juan, Arnold and the others, we’ve had some great times the past two years.”


Of course, as always when someone leaves a job promises to keep in touch become like pie crusts, made to be broken, and Julie and the boys didn’t see Gabe again.

Gabe made a great success of his job in the city, he got rich and bought the big house and car but he never did forget Julie and the boys, it was always his intention to go back once he’d made it. Five years had passed when Gabe parked his car and checked the mirror to make sure Julie was there, still working in the ticket office of the London Eye.

 
Resplendent in his suit and bowler hat he got out of the car, went to the boot and removed the things he had packed into it earlier. Setting up the table he covered it with a cloth and placed the crockery and cutlery on it then the food from the hamper. By the time he sat down to eat they were all there – his friends – Julie and the pigeons; Vinnie, Freddie, Juan, Arnold and the others, he’d come back to feed them like he used to do when he worked with Julie in the ticket office.
 

 
 
“They’re singing Gabe, the pigeons are singing and you know what they’re singing?” Julie asked.

Welcome back, your dreams were your ticket out.

Welcome back to that same old place that you laughed about.

Well the names have all changed since you hung around,

But those dreams have remained and they’re turned around.

Who’d have thought they’d lead ya (Who’d have thought they’d lead ya)

Back here where we need ya (Here where we need ya)

Yeah we tease him a lot cause we’ve got him on the spot,

Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back, welcome back.

“I told you I’d be back Julie, will you marry me?”




Apparently the lyrics are from the song “Welcome Back Kotter”. I’ve never heard of the song or the programme but I Googled it, which is where I got the names from.