Cafe Terrace at Night, Drabble # 8

[Eighth in a Set of Drabbles based on Van Gogh's Cafe Terrace at Night, 1888]

This was not exactly what I had in mind when I ran away from the farm. I dreamt of becoming someone glamourous- a cabaret dancer perhaps, or the mistress of a famous painter. Had I known I would end up as a waitress in a café, I am not sure I would have come to the city. Had I stayed back, I would have married Jean that fall, and had three children by now. It would have been a different life, a more secure one.

Do I have any regrets? Of course.

Would I swap this life for that? Never!

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A drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words.

Cafe Terrace at Night, Drabble # 7

[Seventh in a Set of Drabbles based on Van Gogh's Cafe Terrace at Night, 1888]

‘Why do you stay here’, Paul keeps asking me. ‘come with me to Tahiti, where the weather is good and the girls are better.’

This is home. I don’t want to leave. But the picture he paints is appealing.

Nobody here appreciates me. It would be nice to have half naked girls ministering to me. I spend every franc I have on paint, and can barely afford food. To have a village feed me unlimited fish and fruit is enticing. I am tempted to leave for Tahiti.

If I paint myself into this picture, would I be compelled to stay?

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A drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words.

Cafe Terrace at Night, Drabble # 6

[Sixth in a Set of Drabbles based on Van Gogh's Cafe Terrace at Night, 1888]

I see them at the Café every evening. Men and women laughing at jokes I can never be a part of.

I long to join them, but dare not. No matter how hard I try, my words and my manner will give me away. I would never fit in; I don’t want to be rejected by them.

I do the next best thing, I promenade up and down the sidewalk every evening, taking in everything. Living vicariously.

But one day, I will be brave. I will walk in. If I am lucky, they may not realise I am the marquis.


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A drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words

Cafe Terrace at Night, Drabble # 5

[Fifth in a Set of Drabbles based on Van Gogh's Cafe Terrace at Night, 1888]

I never thought this day would come. When I would be sitting at a fancy Parisian café with my favourite man. Starry nights are not unknown to us. Many a time we have slipped outdoors during dinner parties - though a country man through and through, he couldn’t’ stand his bourgeoisie neighbours any more than I could. But that is the point. He is a country man. He hates the city, is always anxious to get back. But this time, he seems to be enjoying himself.

Wonder how Dad would react if I get up and dance on the table?

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Drabble (n) - an extremely short work exactly one hundred words in length. The purpose of the drabble is brevity and to test the author's ability to express interesting and meaningful ideas in an extremely confined space.

Cafe Terrace at Night, Drabble # 4

[Fourth in a Set of Drabbles based on Van Gogh's Cafe Terrace at Night, 1888.]

When I first came, the waitress tried to draw me in; spoke to me, offered to introduce me to others. Now, she leaves me alone. The fact that my coffee and croissants materialize before me even before I place the order, the only sign that she recognizes me. This here table is my table. Nobody tries to claim it for themselves. Nobody asks if they can share it with me.

People wonder why I come here, and stay aloof.

Can’t they understand that it is enough that I be a part of the scene. I don’t really want to belong

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Drabble (n) - an extremely short work exactly one hundred words in length. The purpose of the drabble is brevity and to test the author's ability to express interesting and meaningful ideas in an extremely confined space.

Cafe Terrace at Night, Drabble # 3

[Third in a Set of Drabbles based on Van Gogh's Cafe Terrace at Night, 1888. This is a companion piece to Drabble # 1]

The moment I set eyes on her, I knew I had to have her. She isn’t like the others - dancers, models, cabaret artists- they will do it for money. But she is different. She will not sell herself. I have to be subtle, or risk losing her completely.

She has been on the edge all evening. She senses something is up. Has she sensed the magnitude of my obsession? She is buying time. I need time too- to gather courage to say what needs to be said.

I wonder if she will let me paint her…. in the nude.

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Drabble (n) - an extremely short work exactly one hundred words in length. The purpose of the drabble is brevity and to test the author's ability to express interesting and meaningful ideas in an extremely confined space.

Cafe Terrace at Night, Drabble # 2/ Mother's Day

[Second in a Set of Drabbles based on Van Gogh's Cafe Terrace at Night, 1888]

“Mamma!!!”

I whipped around, but all I could see was a sea of heads. How would I ever find my five year old in this crowd?

“Mamma!!!” Louder now, clearer. Waves of panic threatened to engulf me. From a distance, I heard a voice call out, “Claudine!”

“Mamma?”

“Claudine?”

“Mamma!”, a happy yelp as a tiny figure detached herself from the flood of skirts, and threw itself on a woman that was not me.

“Claudine!”

“Mamma!”

Claudine!!! My daughter would have been five this month. If I had been able to let her live, would that mother have been me?

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Drabble (n) - an extremely short work exactly one hundred words in length. The purpose of the drabble is brevity and to test the author's ability to express interesting and meaningful ideas in an extremely confined space.

Cafe Terrace at Night, Drabble # 1

This month, I am attempting a series of drabbles based on one of my favourite paintings-

Cafe Terrace at Night, Van Gogh, 1888

Drabble # 1

I knew what was on his mind when he invited me the opera. He kept his hands to himself; he treated me like a lady. But his eyes told a very different story.

I was the one who suggested we walk home after dinner, I allowed him slip his arms around my waist.

Seamstress cannot afford to be too choosy. He is rich. He doesn’t mind indulging me. I will eventually give him what he wants. Perhaps even tonight.

But I would like to postpone the inevitable.

“My feet are killing me. Can’t we sit down here for a moment?”

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Drabble (n) - an extremely short work exactly one hundred words in length. The purpose of the drabble is brevity and to test the author's ability to express interesting and meaningful ideas in an extremely confined space.