‘Stage Fright’

Suddenly, the marionette came to life, her strings fell to the floor. She took a step. The children clutched their parents’ hands; “God help us!” the audience cried.

The Little Marionette whirled around the stage, embracing the energy that flowed like a torrent along her spine.

“It will devour us alive!” someone yelled.

Helplessness assailed the crowd.

Unexpectedly, a child shyly spoke: “But we are strong, we must do something.”

“So we are!” the crowd declared.

A wave of bravery rippled through the audience like wild fire and everyone bellowed a chant: “We are strong, we hold power, we are strong, we hold power.”

The Little Marionette swirled and sang and skipped. She was a dolphin, skimming the waves as they rolled passed her, sailing over the vast ocean. Her head alive with dreams. Without warning, a small pocket knife sliced her hand. Then another, then another.

They were coming from the direction of the audience.

The marionette looked out at them through the darkness.

The crowd roared and shrieked, their eyes glaring menacingly.

None of them would ever trade places with her, feeling all defenceless and alone. Flames started to appear on the marionette’s small wooden frame but still she danced, her tiny figure enshrined by a whirlpool of fire. Still she twirled, her delicate skin becoming charred and dark and burned…

Until there was nothing left of the little marionette, just a pile of ashes engulfed in a swirl of dark, dark smoke.

DESCRIPTION IN ITALICS: This wonderful piece of creative writing by fifteen-year-old Eva Reid won first prize in the age 14-18 category of the Quay Words Trading Places Flash Fiction Competition earlier this year. I was so impressed with this story, which conveys the potential dangers inherent in failing to take the time to understand those who appear different to ourselves. The marionette just wants to dance, but fear triggers violence in her audience. Congratulations to Eva!

Quay Words is a partnership between Exeter Canal and Quay Trust and Literature Works, the dedicated South West charity that works to support creative writing and the development of writers and readers of all ages and from all walks of life.