Imago feminae
“Christine, please pay attention to your spinning. It is a disaster, yet you refuse to learn. You must use both your hands in rhythm.” Christine thought, Synchronicity, like Papa explained about the celestial spheres.
Her mother continued her rant, “Your father thinks because I did not bear him a boy, he can make you into one, stuffing your head full of Latin and science. How we will ever find a husband for you, I do not know!”
Stifling a yawn at the perennial subject, Christine searched through her Latin. Oscitate, yes, that’s yawning, she smiled to herself. And that hole in my spun fiber, that’s lacuna. Out loud, she said dutifully, “Yes, maman, I will try harder.” She picked up more roving to bear out her promise.
She loved her maman, but she wanted to be a scientist like her father. She wanted to discover whether the pestilence that had ravaged the world was due to the conjunction of three planets, as some thought, or from a miasma, a mala aria in her native Italian. She would be as famous as her father, some day, and not for her spinning. She would be a new sort of woman.
198 words and my very first piece of flash fiction (Yay!) Go read all the entries and vote on the ones you like at http://www.linkytools.com/wordpress_list.aspx?id=108291&type=basic
Elizabeth, I have read around 30, and this is my favorite so far… from the title through to the three characters presented, you convey a clear world in such few words. Excellent writing.
By: Joanna on September 24, 2011
at 2:16 pm
Thank you so much, Joanna. I’ve never tried flash-fiction before, but I thought I’d give it a shot. Your comments are very much appreciated!
By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell on September 25, 2011
at 3:24 pm
Such a lovely piece. And so inspiring, too! I want her to stop spinning immediately and start training to be a “new sort of woman”! Great job!
By: F.E. Sewell (@FESewell) on September 24, 2011
at 2:54 pm
Thank you for your comments, F.E. I want her to stop spinning, too! I may just have to write more of her story.
By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell on September 25, 2011
at 3:25 pm
Oh, I like that she’s going to follow in her father’s footsteps. Sounds like being a scientist be much more fun for her than spinning all day (although spinning can be fun!)
By: K.T. Hanna (@KTHanna) on September 24, 2011
at 4:28 pm
Thank you for coming by and commenting, K. T. I do a lot of knitting, tatting and all that, but I think Christine wants to stretch her wings.
By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell on September 25, 2011
at 3:26 pm
Very nice! I love how you have woven all the challenge words in so beautifully. And yay for Christine wanting to be a scientist! (Mine had a scientist in it as well, but kind of a mad one.)
Mine is #3.
By: Jen on September 24, 2011
at 4:55 pm
Thank you, Jen. I have to admit, being trained in medieval studies, I couldn’t let this challenge go. It’s my first attempt at flash fiction, so it was certainly different. Your mad scientist take works well, too!
By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell on September 25, 2011
at 3:27 pm
Brava! I love the internal dialogue that her mother doesn’t discern is there. She will be a wonderful scientist!
By: Liz Shaw on September 24, 2011
at 6:21 pm
Thank you for coming by and commenting, Liz. I was thinking of all the things I said to myself in those years–my mother had no clue!
By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell on September 25, 2011
at 3:28 pm
wow. This is one of the best ones I’ve read so far. Really great use of the words.
By: Sonia Lal on September 24, 2011
at 9:36 pm
Thank you so much, Sonia! I have to admit, knowing Latin did help! I knew being a total nerd would come in handy someday!
Thanks for coming by and commenting.
By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell on September 25, 2011
at 3:30 pm
Lovely! I like her determination to break the mould.
By: deniz on September 24, 2011
at 9:38 pm
Thank you for coming by and commenting, Deniz. I love to write about feisty women!
By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell on September 25, 2011
at 3:31 pm
Excellent use of the words, and I so appreciated the different take on the challenge. I’d like to read more about her quest to become a new sort of woman.
By: elizabethannewrites on September 24, 2011
at 10:24 pm
Thank you, Elizabeth Anne (hmm, that name sounds familiar, LOL) for coming by and commenting. I am really feeling that I need to write more about this girl.
By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell on September 25, 2011
at 3:32 pm
Really nicely done. I enjoyed this one. Mine is #29
By: bridgetstraub on September 24, 2011
at 10:27 pm
Thanks, Bridget. You had a clever turn on the subject. Thank you for coming by and commenting.
By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell on September 25, 2011
at 3:34 pm
Lovely work, and I would have never been able to tell that it was your first flash fic attempt.
I love the way that you weave the words into the tale, and of course, Christine’s resolution to become “a new sort of woman.”
By: Lena Corazon on September 25, 2011
at 1:47 pm
Thank you, Lena. Coming from someone whose ability to write flash fiction has made me jealous in the past, that is a real compliment! I appreciate your coming by and commenting.
By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell on September 25, 2011
at 4:02 pm
This is a fabulous flash. I think the words work really well in a science-based piece. Well done you!
By: Rebecca Emin on September 25, 2011
at 3:00 pm
Thank you, Rebecca. I think you did a great job with the scientific side of things, too. I appreciate your coming by and commenting!
By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell on September 25, 2011
at 4:03 pm
This was wonderful! I love the scientist angle.
By: J on September 25, 2011
at 3:06 pm
Thank you for coming by and commenting, J. Your piece is well done, as well. You’re certainly in the running for the most “Likes”
By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell on September 25, 2011
at 4:08 pm
That’s a smart way to put in all those words
Sweet and inspiring story, nice work 
By: Daina on September 25, 2011
at 3:47 pm
Thank you for coming by and commenting, Daina. Every so often it helps to be trained as a medievalist, LOL! I appreciate your kind comments.
By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell on September 25, 2011
at 4:26 pm
Very interesting piece. Loved the incorporation of science! ; )
By: Sheri L. Swift on September 25, 2011
at 3:57 pm
Thanks, Sheri. Once I saw all the Latin, it was either science or a monastery, lol. I appreciate your coming by and commenting!
By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell on September 25, 2011
at 4:27 pm
great job! you brought old world to a new world =)
By: tara tyler on September 26, 2011
at 10:30 am
Thank you, Tara. It was the first flash fiction I’d ever done, but I had fun with it.
By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell on September 26, 2011
at 11:35 am
Kudos! You found a way to make some very hackneyed words believable!!!
By: Sandwiched Writer on September 26, 2011
at 4:49 pm
Thank you. I guess there was a good reason I studied Latin, lol! I appreciate your coming by and commenting.
By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell on September 27, 2011
at 12:22 pm
Great piece of writing here! The tension between your character and the mother was awesome. Loved the setting you chose, too.
Great job, Elizabeth!
By: David Powers King on September 26, 2011
at 6:36 pm
Thank you for your kind words, David. I had never tried flash fiction before, but I thought I might be able to make the scene work. I appreciate your coming by!
By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell on September 27, 2011
at 12:24 pm
I liked this setting here, and her rebellion by thinking of the big words her mom despised
. Great work!
By: Cortney on September 27, 2011
at 12:54 pm
Thanks for coming by and commenting, Cortney. Her rebellion is pretty passive-aggressive, but I think that’s pretty normal for kids. I appreciate your kind words!
By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell on September 29, 2011
at 12:57 pm
The yawning says so much. Fabulous job!
By: Angelina C. Hansen (@AngelinaCHansen) on September 27, 2011
at 8:07 pm
Thanks for coming by and commenting, Angelina. Yes, there are those eternal discussions when one is a kid. Who am I kidding? They usually continue long into adulthood with most parents!
I appreciate your kind words.
By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell on September 29, 2011
at 1:01 pm
Great determination in the characters – all of them, really. You made the words stand out in a great way.
By: Kurt on September 28, 2011
at 8:59 pm
Thank you for your kind words, Kurt. I appreciate your coming by and commenting.
By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell on September 29, 2011
at 1:00 pm
An inspirational piece, and I love how you wove in the meanings of the terms inside the story.
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Join me at the Rule of Three Writers’ Blogfest!
By: Damyanti on September 29, 2011
at 11:15 am
Thank you, Damyanti. I have to admit, when I saw the words, I knew I had to write something for the challenge. I appreciate your coming by and commenting.
By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell on September 29, 2011
at 1:03 pm
Excellent. I love how you included the meanings within the piece. Great job with the challenge!
By: Raelyn Barclay on September 29, 2011
at 1:35 pm
Thank you, Raelyn. This story has been haunting me for several months, so when I saw the words, I thought it might work well. I appreciate the kind words.
By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell on September 30, 2011
at 1:40 pm
Nice use of the words and great emotion in the story. I admire a girl who wants more. Plus, I really like her name!
By: Christine Rains on September 30, 2011
at 8:51 pm
Ha, you made me laugh, Christine. I like the name, too! I tend to write feisty women–I write better for them than for wallflowers. I appreciate your kind words; thanks for coming by and commenting.
By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell on October 1, 2011
at 8:20 am
I love to read stories of Independent women Elizabeth Anne…and you told this one well! Great job!
By: Christy Farmer on October 1, 2011
at 11:06 am
Thanks for coming by and commenting, Christy! I prefer to write about independent women, of no matter what era. I appreciate the compliments.
By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell on October 1, 2011
at 2:55 pm
Awesome job on your very first piece of flash fiction. The story was intriguing and I wanted to know more.
#189
By: Karen on October 8, 2011
at 10:00 pm
Thanks for coming by and commenting, Karen. I have to admit, the words called out to me! I’ll run off and take a look at your entry.
By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell on October 10, 2011
at 11:25 am
Great job! Sort of reminds me of Mists of Avalon!
By: Robin McCormack on October 9, 2011
at 9:47 pm
Thanks, Robin. It’s definitely a medieval setting, so the reminiscences of Mists of Avalon are flattering! Thanks for coming by.
By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell on October 10, 2011
at 11:27 am
Nice job! Best of luck in the challenge!
By: Mary Mary on October 18, 2011
at 10:43 am
Thank you, Mary. It was a lot of fun to write. Best of luck to you as well
By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell on October 23, 2011
at 3:12 pm
Came by to re-read this lovely little piece – and this time I can’t abstain from making public how much I like it !
By: Beatrice on November 2, 2011
at 3:12 pm
Thank you, Bea! I feel a bit of pride in it myself, to be honest!
By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell on November 4, 2011
at 8:43 pm