The naked truth

PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz

 

Sweaty palms and a knotted stomach would not stop her. As a model she never thought she’d take off her clothes for money. But she had to eat and she had to pay the rent on her tiny apartment. All temporary until she got noticed, of course.

“Melody, are you ready?” a man with a silly french beret peeked out from behind a heavy  door.

Nodding, she followed him into the whitewashed room. With a tug her robe loosened and fell to the floor.  As Melody posed, serious faces peered out from behind easels. Eyes darting from model to canvas.

100 words

 

Hope you enjoyed this flash fiction. Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by leading lady in flash fiction, Rochelle. Write a story in 100 words or less.

Click here to read other’s flash fiction and get a different perspective of the same image. Thanks to Ted Strutz for this week’s curious image.

Click here to read other’s flash fiction and get a different perspective of the same image.

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Responses

  1. neilmacdon avatar
    neilmacdon

    At least it’s for art

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Hope the ending was delightfully unexpected! Thank you, Neil.

      Like

      Reply
      1. neilmacdon avatar
        neilmacdon

        It was

        Liked by 1 person

  2. bbryanthomas avatar
    bbryanthomas

    She earns – and learns not to be ashamed of her body

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      I’m sure it was quite an experience for her!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. granonine avatar
    granonine

    Somehow very sad, almost tragic. Good write

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Some people wouldn’t agree with it, it’s true. A friend was once forbidden from studying art by their parents because they didn’t agree with gazing upon naked bodies, even for art.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  4. Miles Rost avatar
    Miles Rost

    An interesting twist towards the end, as the subject could have gotten a bit more…seedy. Well done!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Thank you 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  5. James avatar
    James

    The first time I was an undergrad many decades ago, students would volunteer to be nude models. I was very young and when this attractive woman removed her robe and posed nude for the class, my brain jammed for about thirty seconds. After that, I picked up my pencils and got to work. It’s not easy being the artist either.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      That’s hilarious, James! Though I think my college-self would have reacted in the same brain-jamming way.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  6. yarnspinnerr avatar
    yarnspinnerr

    I like where you took this.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Thank you! Really glad you enjoyed it.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. yarnspinnerr avatar
        yarnspinnerr

        Happy 2018.

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Kelvin M. Knight's blog avatar
    Kelvin M. Knight’s blog

    The ending shocked then caressed me.. Good one, Fatima. Enjoyably light.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Thank you, Kelvin.

      Like

      Reply
  8. pennygadd51 avatar
    pennygadd51

    Nice take on the prompt. I like the way you make your model introspective, almost intellectual about her situation. It fits very well with the serious manner of the artists.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      I tried to portray the artists in a serious, self-centred way. She was worried about baring all, but in the end they were not even thinking of it much. Simply indulging in their creative ‘masterpieces’. Thank you, Penny!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  9. Sandra avatar
    Sandra

    Nice twist there. I was expecting something much worse.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Thank you, Sandra.

      Like

      Reply
  10. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) avatar
    Björn Rudberg (brudberg)

    I love the ending… I think maybe the barret was the first clue… but she was nude for a good cause (but probably less money)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Dropped that ‘beret’ hint before the big twist, thought the story would flow better. And yes, she earned very little, because as I learned from the comments, most of these models do it on a volunteer-basis! Thank you, Bjorn!

      Like

      Reply
  11. Iain Kelly avatar
    Iain Kelly

    Great twist, a way to use her looks and body but retain her dignity. Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Thank you, Iain!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  12. rochellewisoff avatar
    rochellewisoff

    Dear Fatima,

    As an art student, I remember wondering in those figure drawing classes what the nude model might be thinking. I loved the twist at then end. Well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      As a writer I love offering up a different perspective to the reader, so I’m glad to have let you glimpse a past situation from the model’s POV. Thank you, Rochelle!

      Like

      Reply
  13. Clare Hempstead avatar
    Clare Hempstead

    A nice, light-hearted take on the prompt. Loved the twist!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Thank you, Clare!

      Like

      Reply
  14. anuragbakhshi avatar
    anuragbakhshi

    Nice build up of the tension, and great twist at the end.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Thank you for reading and glad you enjoyed it!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  15. Jelli avatar
    Jelli

    Good tale of modeling… sometimes you do whatya gotta do to survive. I can imagine her surprise when she saw all those faces looking at her.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      It’s a tough industry for sure! Thank you, Jelli!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  16. Liz Young avatar
    Liz Young

    That was a neat twist.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  17. michaelwynnauthor avatar
    michaelwynnauthor

    Neat twist, if it’s for art there’s no shame

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  18. Dale avatar
    Dale

    Oh so well done. There is no shame indeed in being a nude model. There are definitely less attractive things she could have ended up doing.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Thank you, Dale!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  19. prior.. avatar
    prior..

    At first I missed the twist other folks noted – but then I got it – it could have been first viewed as being a hooker but then she was an art model – right?
    either way – nice writing – succinct and could feel her plight –
    was she standing in front of the circle sculpture?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Hi there! Yes that’s exactly it. Hooker or exotic dancer. And in the end it was relatively harmless. The circle (bicycle wheel?) sculpture did not feature directly in the story. I used the prompt’s art theme for my flash fiction. Thank you for reading!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. prior.. avatar
        prior..

        ahhh – I see the art connection – -but I was also imagining her leaning on it – haha
        nice take on the prompt
        🙂

        Like

  20. neeltheauthor- author of WHEN LIFE THROWS THOSE CURVE BALLS avatar
    neeltheauthor- author of WHEN LIFE THROWS THOSE CURVE BALLS

    It’s art that rules the world. Wrong, it’s the money. Greatly enjoyed this and HAPPY NEW YEAR.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Kind of sad how true your statement is… Thank you, Neel! And Happy New Year to you too 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  21. kindredspirit23 avatar
    kindredspirit23

    There is a difference between porn and art, though the artist knows it more than the model.
    Mine: https://kindredspirit23.wordpress.com/2017/12/27/friday-fictioneers-lifes-cycle/
    Scott

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Your comment is food for thought, Scott! Had me pondering on it for a while.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
      1. kindredspirit23 avatar
        kindredspirit23

        Glad to hear that. As a teacher, that was one of my goals.

        Liked by 1 person

  22. Susie Clevenger (@wingsobutterfly) avatar
    Susie Clevenger (@wingsobutterfly)

    Well, I didn’t expect that story from the image, but I loved it. Art can be a scary thing a times. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Thank you, Susie! Thrilled you enjoyed it 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  23. Dahlia avatar
    Dahlia

    Unexpected and engaging write!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Thank you, Dahlia. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  24. anie avatar
    anie

    this is a nice article.I like the ambiguity. The bare truth has something very positive for me in the first place. Because it means trusting and opening someone up. Trust is something very personal, beautiful and valuable.
    Doing something just for the money and then something, you do not like is always bad. How bad it is for the person depends what it is and on their personal attitude. For me, it would be too very bad, although I know that it has nothing to do with eroticism and I should not feel bothered. I studied art myself. The nude models were mostly artists themselves and there was never, even for a second, anything erotic in the air (at least not for me, but I can not imagine myself with the others).

    Like

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Opening up to others can be difficult as it means being vulnerable. Although the truth can set you free it can hurt in the process too. I agree with you doing something you don’t like purely for the money is not good. In some cases it feels as if you have sold your soul to the devil. Thank you for your insightful thoughts, Anie. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. anie avatar
        anie

        That’s right, to open up is to be vulnerable. You should think twice about whom to open up to. If you open yourself up to your partner, it can be painful, but also create a very deep connection. Such trust should never be misused for moral reasons. Yes and unfortunately it happens that one has the feeling of having sold his soul to the devil. that is a bad feeling but there is nothing that you can not regret and get forgiven. It is still time to mend and repent.

        Like

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