PHOTO PTOMPT © Lucy Fridkin
Carlota watched the cruise ship slide serenely into the bay; the early evening sun sparkling off chrome rails and placid water.
It fascinated her that the opulent chose her island to visit on their luxurious holidays.
Mesmerised by the affluence, dreaming of escaping her sickly, dependent parents and their stone hovel, she craved the obscenity of wealth.
One day it would be her sipping cocktails on a deck lounger, her bathed in Chanel.
In the meantime, amongst those spoilt travellers would be hungry clients, seeking satisfaction.
Applying scarlet lipstick, straightening her dress, she moved to wait in her usual place.
Written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 words story based on a photo prompt. Hosted by Rochelle. Read the other entries here.
Michael Wynn 
Gritty! Well done, Michael
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Thanks, Neil
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Excellent take, especially liked the last line reveal. Hard hitting and pertinent in the world we find ourselves today. Good job.
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Thanks, Iain. I’m glad it came across well as it was a memory of something I’ve seen so needed to do it justice.
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Dear Michael,
Such beautiful descriptions juxtaposed with her squalid condition. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle
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Sometimes a dream can make you do the worst of things… the chasm between the rich and poor is rarely bridged like that.
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Exactly right, Bjorn.
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So many ports are like this, where the rich cohort and the poor attempt to exist.
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Thanks Michael, I’m glad that came across. I lived in such a place and it was sickening to see the majority of the population just surviving while the rich took all they wanted. It’s maddeningly ironic because it’s a beautiful island, their island yet they get the least from it.
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Wonderfully dark portrayal of the vast gulf between the two worlds of rich and poor.
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Thanks, I’m glad that came across. I’ve lived in such a place and seen this sort of thing going on and both are dependent on each other for different reasons, one to survive, the other to maintain their privileged position.
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A symbiotic relationship, but such a stark inequality in dependence. Where were you living, if I may ask?
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I lived in Madeira, where who we referred to as the Madeiran Mafia owned and ran the hotels and the other 90% of the population lived off meagre wages. I know the wealth gap is like this in a lot of places, if not worse, that’s just my first hand experience. Obviously here, I’ve highlighted the extreme.
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Unfortunately, the “extreme” is all too common. I’ve never been to Madeira, but I can picture what it might be like. A lovely exotic resort, if you happen to be on the right side of that economic/political line.
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You’re right it’s beautiful and the people are lovely, they just don’t benefit enough from their own island and endeavours
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craved the obscenity of wealth
What a gorgeous line counterbalanced by what she ultimately needs to do to support her family and herself. Great take on the prompt.
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Thank-you. That’s my favourite line. I liked the idea that although it is obscene, she wants it for herself rather than decries it and will live out a differently obscene life, to achieve it. Sort of an obscene circle.
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It certainly is. And you caught that in your story.
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I really like this. Made me think – about her awful circumstances, but also what she craves, which seems awful in the other extreme.
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Thank-you. That’s what I was thinking of. It’s easy to be judgemental but on the other hand sympathetic towards her because, why shouldn’t she have some of the good things? Maybe there’s no option but to do what she has to do. But obscenity does have extremes and bits in the middle, she’s not blameless.
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Superb, love it.
To have and have not, as Mr Hemingway says.
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Thanks and I’ll take any association with Hemingway all day long. 🙂
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Quite sad. Neither her current circumstances nor her dream sound like the best of ways to live.
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Exactly, it’s a bit of a trap she’s in and probably she’s aiming for the wrong goal with the wrong methods
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There’s a girl with some big ambitions. Now I’m wondering if she’ll fulfill them. Great tale Michael
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Thanks Lynn, she seems determined but her methods are fraught with danger and probably unlikely to succeed
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Very true. Treading a dangerous path there
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Story construction just GREAT, Mike! Character, too.
She definitely is going to be in trouble unless she finds a better way.
Great work this week, sir.
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Thanks very much, that’s a much appreciated comment
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I hope she finds a better life one day.
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she’s gotta do what she’s gotta do. it seems that there’s no other way out.
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I think that’s how she sees it, whether it’s the right way to go or not and whether she’ll like it when she gets there is another matter
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Dream and reality. Bjorn Rudberg’s seems almost a sequel to yours!
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Yeah you’re right, I just noticed, thanks
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Lusting for wealth …and willing to do whatever it takes…maybe she’ll get there. Nice descriptions.
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Maybe or perhaps she’s just too hard nosed for her own good.
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Hello Michael,
I almost wrote about the same subject as my hubby and I are avid cruisers.
There have been many ports I’ve seen with this image from the prompt.
I decided I needed to go elsewhere. But, you’ve written a precise descriptions of what it’s
like to travel on one. I enjoyed the story very much. The story shows the characters fortitude to perhaps forge forward into what she recounting, one day.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Isadora 😎
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Thanks, I’m pleased you liked it
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The obscenity of wealth – well done. I was picturing a young girl living in poverty but the last line took me by surprise.
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Thanks. She’s not girl but still young and has chosen the wrong direction, I feel
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I loved the phrase “obscenity of wealth” also. Let’s hope her day comes.
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Hope so, but I doubt it’ll be all she hopes for.
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That is such a great story, fascinating, thought-provoking and the last line is like a punch to the gut. I don’t think she’ll get what she wants. Dreams and reality are wide apart.
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Thanks, I don’t think so either
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Michael, you’ve captured the dark reality of so many places, so well. While I love the story, it hurts to read it… bleeding heart that I am.
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Very well described.
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Thanks Dawn
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That’s very dark, pessimistic. And a sound comment on the way things are. If only things were different.
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Thank-you. It is a shame that the ordinary people don’t get to share as great a part of the rewards as they should
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Excellent story. Loved the ending.
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Thank-you and thanks for reading. Glad you enjoyed it
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Ooh! Nice twist. What a sad situation, and not so far from reality, I’m sure. Well told.
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Thank-you, Margaret
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I’ve never been on one of the islands but heard of one where the poor people inland use special forks to dig through garbage piles for food while people in hotels are treated royally. The poorest here also search through garbage for edible food in competition with feral dogs. It’s very sad. —- Suzanne
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Yes, the contrast, the sad contrast is what I was seeking to show. Thanks for your comments
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I want to add, good writing, Michael. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I love how you have described the wealthy in this. It shows the vulgar side of prosperity very clearly. Although, it was apparent she was poor, the last line still took me by surprise. Very interesting to see tourists from the POV of the indigenous people.
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Yes at the end of it all, there always seems to be an us and them. The indigenous have lost out throughout history by those plundering in one way or another
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