Portrait Of Words # 4

Jeff (A Word in Edgewise) has started up this monthly challenge, derived from a previous challenge from R.E.H.'s "Picture Fiction Challenge".

The object is to:


Write a story of any length or style. Long or short, comedy or tragedy, fact or fiction, etc,etc... it's up to you.

Use each of the picture representations in your story. (one from the wild card options)



Here are the portraits for this month's basis of the story and the guidelines:

Photo Credits:

(From Flickr.com/creative commons, unless otherwise noted)
Main Character- Bill Adams
Backdrop- clry2
Purpose- Olivander
Item- Shawn Econo
Wild Card #2- Dave77459


THE CATEGORIES:

Main Character(s): Your story can be told through or about this person(s), i.e. first or third person. Either way you go, their involvement in the story should be a focal point. Have as many or as few additional characters as you wish, but at least one of the ones pictured should be central to the overall story.

Backdrop: This will create the setting for your story. It can take place at the location depicted, be a destination to it, or be a journey from it.

Purpose: This is what drives or motivates the main character(s) to action. It can also be viewed as the objective of the story.

Item(s): The object(s) should have a significant value to the main character, backdrop or purpose of the story.

Wild Cards: Writers choice here. Choose one of the three options to use in your story anyway you see fit.

Here's my story:


Harry looked a flamboyant figure in his Hawaiian shirt, shorts, Panama hat and sunglasses. It was the perfect disguise; no-one would suspect he was a secret agent. Entering the casino he headed straight for the roulette table, found a seat and ordered a martini, shaken not stirred.

His luck was in today. Not only was he winning but the beautiful young woman sitting next to him had given up her seat and was now watching him with one delicate hand resting on his shoulder. Unfortunately for Harry he was winning too much, he’d become the centre of attention and too much attention wasn’t good for an agent.


Professing an appointment Harry collected his chips and cashed them in, it was then he noticed the two burly men watching him from a distance. It wasn’t his money they were after, noticing the bulge in their jackets he realised he had to get out of there.


As nonchalantly as he could he strolled out towards the foyer and just managed to squeeze through the closing doors of the lift. He exited the lift on the top floor, noticing that the other lift was rising to the same level. Running to the stairs he climbed the two flights to the roof, which he quickly scanned to make sure no-one had gotten there before him.


“Thank God for fire escapes” Harry thought, as he started his descent. Things were going really well until he got to the last flight of steps, he missed his footing and plunged over the side, somehow just managing to grasp the rail, which prevented him from plunging to the pavement below. His arms were being torn from their sockets, the pain was unbearable, should he let go and take a chance on the fall? There was no sign of the two men either above or below so Harry let go. Cracking his head on the pavement Harry lost consciousness, the next thing he knew he was strapped to a bed with someone shining a bright light into his eyes.

Monica saw the light flashing on the ansaphone and pressed the play button. She shook her head as the message played back, Harry was in trouble again. Picking up her keys she jumped in the car and headed for the address given in the message.

“The police found him unconscious on the pavement” the nurse told Monica.

“Harry, when will you learn?” asked Monica, his wife. “You can’t go round pretending to be a secret agent; the police have better things to do than keep rescuing you!”