A Strange Request at a Piano Bar
Creative writing prompt from Write The Story
Include the following words:
carnival ~ sprained ~ mask ~ oxidation ~ awkward ~ apple ~ juvenile ~ controversy ~ twirl ~ sassafras
“Play Freebird!” rang a juvenile shout from the back of the room. Harry rolled his eyes dramatically, grinned broadly at the good-natured chuckles from the crowd, and then, to everyone’s surprise, he began the arpeggiated opening chords of the Lynyrd Skynyrd hit. He’d written an arrangement of the tune years ago, as a young wannabe rocker temporarily laid-up at home with a severely sprained ankle.
The carnival-like atmosphere of the cozy piano bar increased as he reached the song’s climax, and it was then that he caught her out of the corner of his eye. He kept his face a mask of concentration as he watched her twirl in his peripheral vision.
Hitting the final bars triumphantly, he was bolstered by the cheers, whistles, and applause from the rowdy patrons. And further enthused to see the joyful woman sauntering toward the stage, casually biting into an apple. He idly wondered where she’d found fresh fruit in this place, but decided it didn’t really matter.
She set the half-eaten fruit on a cocktail napkin on top of the piano and he watched it turn brown as oxidation began. With an awkward grimace, he picked up the core and tossed it into the bin behind him. He reached over to grab the mug on the table beside the piano and inhaled the soothing aroma of sassafras tea. She introduced herself, biting her bottom lip seductively and offering a quick wink. Of course her name was Eve, the original temptress herself. He knew instantly that she would bring nothing but controversy.
