What’s the plot point you can develop from this photo? You take it anyway you want–humorous, scary, poignant, suspenseful. In the comments, tell me your inspiration. Here’s mine.
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Somehow the woods look deader in March than in the fall. Maybe because all the fall color has been washed away in the winter snows. And with the overcast skies threatening spring snow or sleet, the woods appear even deader, if that’s a thing, on the day of the spring equinox.
Hitching the straps of the backpack, I head down the trail. Grandma said The Man with the White Umbrella can always be found on this trail on this day, when the boundary between the two worlds is equal and easy to pass from one to the other.
There he is, up ahead, his white umbrella startling against the lifeless browns and grays.
I break into a jog, my loaded backpack bumping my spine.
I have to reach him. Before he disappears for another six months.
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Very unique! Your story reminds me of a bit of a Mary Poppins vibe!
Here’s mine:
On this trail so close to downtown, the guy really doesn’t stand out from any of the other businessmen taking a walk on their lunch break. But Byron told me the right guy would be carrying a white umbrella, so it has to be him. My instructions were clear. Pass him on his right, let the $20 bill fall from my left pocket. He’ll confirm he’s the right guy by saying, in these exact words, “Sir, might this be yours?” When he hands me the money, he’ll slip me his address written in code on a scrap of cream-colored paper. The life-saving address where I can bring my family to escape the persecution. If any step of this fails, I will be arrested. Risk arrest now or death later. The choice is easy and hard at the same time. I take a deep breath and quicken my pace to pass him on his right.
What a provocative start to a story! You took it a completely different direction from mine. I love that!