PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson
Carter lay back on his lounger lulled by the swaying palms and the soft lap of the water slapped by a kindly breeze, against the sides of the pool. Inhaling deeply the mingled aromas of suntan lotion and iced rum cocktails, he revelled in the freedom of cast off clothing and the warmth of the sun on his bare skin.
He sighed contentedly; he would stay here as long as he could deny the cell walls and the stench of incarceration. With eyes closed, he repeated his mantra, ‘perception is reality’ and settled to dwell in his tropical paradise.
Written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 words story based on a photo prompt. Hosted by Rochelle. Read the other entries here
Michael Wynn 
Probably the best way to gt through it.
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I think it’s maybe the only way
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What a lovely take on the prompt, Michael. IF it helps him get through the day, more power to him!
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Thanks, If he can maintain his perception, he should be alright
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This is an excellent take on the prompt, Michael. My fingers are tightly crossed for Carter. If he can stay with his mantra and positive visualisations, he has a good chance of surviving.
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Thanks, I’ve been reading a bit of philosophy lately where they ask the question, ‘What is reality?’ and thought if you can create and believe in your own reality, nothing else should affect you. Hard to do but we can try
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In one of my least favourite jobs I was frequently to be found sitting in the garden reading, as far as I was concerned. Good piece.
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Yes, escapism works. In one of mine I used to make up songs, singing them in my head. By the end of the shift I’d have a new song and the shift wold have passed really quickly.
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Illusion is sometimes the best reality. We had somewhat similar thoughts on the prompt this week.
https://michaelsfishbowl.com/2017/06/16/i-sit/
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We did. I’ve been reading some philosophy lately which poses the question, what is reality and thought if you can create your own, you don’t need other people’s. Thanks for you comment
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Excellent. Indeed, perception is reality for many.
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Thanks. Whilst it’s not without its dangers, I think used well, perception as reality can help in certain situations
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Yes. All we can deal with, really, is what we see.
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Vivid and descriptive
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Well done. I was on a tropical isle with him and didn’t see slap of reality coming.
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Thanks, I hoped the build up would work enough to make the ending effective
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This reminds me of when I was having a bone marrow sample taken and the nurse was telling me, “Imagine your happy place, Go to your happy place.” JAB!
More power to Carter. I tend to escape into storybooks when the going gets tough.
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Thanks for a great comment. You’ve nailed it with the Happy Place, we should all cultivate one for when the going gets tough
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Nicely done, Michael. Maybe you can’t imprison a writer
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I think you could be right there, Neil. A writer has an immediate advantage in these situations
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So well done. My nose was tingling with the suntan lotion. A clever turn around. How long is Carter in for? Too much mantra-repetition and imagining and he might lose touch?
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Thanks, the danger is that he could lose it because I think he’s in for a while. The other way he may lose it too, if he lets his situation get on top of him
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A very clever take. You lulled me into a lovely place and slapped me with a stark reality. I would imagine it’s a good way to survive prison.
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Thanks, Clare, I think it would be the only way I could get through it. Deny the reality and invent one I preferred
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I love the contrasts in this! And BOOM he’s really an escapee. Nicely done.
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Thanks, Alicia. Yes he escapes without getting over the wall. He sends his mind off to a more pleasant place
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Wonderfully descriptive, Michael. A look inside the mind of someone who has no choice but to adjust for however long his stay will be. I like where you took me the prompt.
Isadora 😎
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Thanks, Isadora. You’re right, he has only the choice to be miserable and in pain or to look outside himself and invent a more pleasant reality
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Wish my powers of imagination were so strong! Nicely envisaged Michael
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Thanks, Lynn. The imagination can help in so many situations, when we’re bored or having to put up with unpleasant circumstances.
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Very, very true. It lifts you away from a situation when it becomes too much.
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You just have to dare to use it, rather than be despondent at reality
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Enjoyed what you did with the prompt, I struggled with it.
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Thanks, Michael. It’s funny how one week we’ll struggle and the next something just arrives. Having said that, I really enjoyed yours this week. As I mentioned, I laughed out loud despite it not being a humorous event, if you analyse it. I think it was the straight, no nonsense delivery of the last line that does it.
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Perception is reality for most of us. Great take here.
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Thank you. Perception sometimes helps us, sometimes leads us astray.
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Dear Michael,
Perhaps one day Carter will make it as a writer. Some call it detachment, others call it daydreaming. If it works for him, wonderful. Loved your descriptions. I could smell the suntan oil myself.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle. Hopefully he’ll get out and be able to flourish a as writer.
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i don’t blame him. under the circumstances, that’s the best he can do.
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It is better than staring at walls all day long
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I think imagination is the best thing to do… hope it’s not too many years left.
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Too many years and he could go crazy with this kind of coping mechanism. Thanks Bjorn
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You set up the scene so well that I could feel the breeze and smell the suntan lotion. I certainly didn’t see the end coming. I hope he can keep his insanity by “escaping” to his island getaway.
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I hope so too. He needs to escape in his mind but somehow control it so that he can come back to reality when he needs to. Thanks for commenting
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He is fortunate to have such a vivid imagination.
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He is, it could save him. Thanks Dawn
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That is something I could use about now. Did great, Mike! Wrote outside the box. Wonderful.
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Thanks, glad you liked it
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He was fortunate to have a great imagination. Good writing, Michael with great description. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thanks Suzanne, pleased you enjoyed it.
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The power of creating paradise within your own mind. It’s often much better than reality, even if you aren’t in prison.
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I think you’re right, but why not? I used to go to all sorts of places when staring out the window during a boring lesson at school
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However, there’s always something to bring you back.
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That’s the problem alright, unless you consider the good times wouldn’t be so great without the bad to compare them to.
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