‘Why do you do it, mother?’ Jennie asked, as her mother tucked her into bed and prepared to return to her guests.
‘Do what, darling?’
‘The singing.’
‘What’s wrong with my singing?’
Jennie thought back to the after dinner entertainment. Father sat at the piano, Jennie next to him to turn his pages, and Mother standing in front of the gathered gentry from the city. Her voice screeched through the room, like nails being scratchedย downย a blackboard. Afterwards, the guests would take it in turns to compliment her performance. Jennie thought they all must be mad or tone deaf.
‘It’s awful, mother,’ Jennie answered.
‘Of course it is, darling.’
‘But if you know you can’t sing, why do you do it?’
‘If theseย nouveau richeย from the city want my patronage and my money, I like to make them earn it. It’s rather fun to watch them having to smile and clap politely and lie to me.’
‘What if they tell you the truth?’
‘Then they go up in my estimation completely. Goodnight dearest.’

Written as part of Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. The challenge is to write a flash fiction story in aroundย 150 words, based on the weekly photo prompt. Thanks as always to the challenge host Priceless Joy. For more information visitย HERE.
To read other stories based on this weekโs prompt, visitย HERE.
46 responses to “CLASS SOCIETY”
I think it has just still to officially open yet, should be there at the stroke of the hour.
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Hahahaha! Love it! It is somewhat similar to mine. The lady in my story can’t sing either. ๐ Great story Iain!
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Thanks PJ. Must be something about the picture that suggests she can’t sing! ๐
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Hahaha! Must be! LOL!
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LOL! I love her sense of humor ;D Very fun take Iain.
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Thanks Jade
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I think at least one other story mentions how she can’t sing. I think she sings exquisitely.
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I don’t know, something about the picture suggests it’sโ not enjoyable ๐
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Very good Iain, love the reasoning you had in this one..
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Thanks Michael
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Great story, Iain! That was a fun read.
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Thank you
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Nicely done with a nice kick at the end.
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Thank you
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haha! She knows she sings awfully! Good one!
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Thanks
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Nice satirical piece on society. People would flatter you for their own benefit and gain, but tell me the truth and I might just respect you. Good one!
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That’s the idea, thank you ๐
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God your writing’s awful. Please make the cheque payable to ‘Mr. Mar…
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๐ very good. If only i was in the position to be a rich benefactor!
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The truth is always best in the end, but I will say it only once – great story.
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Thanks Michael
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LOL! How creative, enjoyed it! Smart lady.
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Thanks Joy ๐
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Haha! Really loved this! ๐
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Thank you, glad you liked it ๐
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I like her…a lot! Not sure I’d want to hear her though! Nice one Iain.
My tale is called ‘One beautiful day’
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Would you tell her the truth though? Thanks Keith.
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Nice story Iain! I feel that even though she can’t sing she is a wise woman to teach her daughter the ways of society. But not much has changed in the human race for life has it from then till now? Shallow people still sucking up to the rich and wealthy to gain a foot into society eh Iain, always more behind the words you write here.
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Thank you. I’m glad you saw the relevance of it in today’s world too, only now it is big business and companies that have taken the place of the inheritedโ rich.
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What a lady…! And all this while she was having fun at their expense while they suffered through her song… brilliant take!
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Thank you
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Clever lady! It certainly speaks very well of her character and how desperate people are to climb up. Only children are the most honest.
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Children will always call it like it is, we should all learn from them.
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The lady can’t sing. Hahaha. Good one, Kelly. Check mine where she can sing and how.
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Thanks Neel, look forward to reading yours.
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Ha! Ha! Her guests patronize her for the wrong reasons, so she makes them earn it with her misrable singing and she gets an enjoyment out of it. I guess it’s a win, win situation.
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For her it’s definitely win win. Thanks for reading.
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“โIf these nouveau riche from the city want my patronage and my money, I like to make them earn it. Itโs rather fun to watch them having to smile and clap politely and lie to me.โ”
Woow! What a fun and for me fierce take on the prompt! ๐
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Thank you ๐
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you’re welcome! โค
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very clever ! pukka business minded the mother is !:)
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Pukka indeed ๐
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haha ๐
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Great story! I love the mother’s attitude.
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Thanks, she is a smart lady ๐
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