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Blue Skies Blues: a short story complaint about the weather

The Unicorn Challenge

The Unicorn Challenge invites us to write something inspired by this photo in 250 words or less.

My story Blue Skies Blues is an exact 250 words.

The prompt also inspired me to paint the picture below.

I yearn for a grey sky. For rain. For drizzle | Digital oil painting©️Lesley Scoble

Blue Skies Blues

She opened the shutters. Her eyes blinded by the suddenness of the light. She groans. ‘Oh no.’ She peers at the sky and groans again. ‘Oh no. It’s blue again.’ Her roommate, who is rubbing sleep from her eyes, asks, ‘What’s wrong?’

‘It’s blue again.’

‘What?’

‘The bloody sky is blue again. We’ve been here three months, and it’s been blue every day. Does it never rain?’

‘Well, we took this job in Greece for the climate, didn’t we? For the sun. The ouzo…’

‘I took the job to see something of the world. That’s true. To work in a different country. To broaden my horizons. Not to see the same blue horizons every single day.’

‘I’m homesick.’

‘You were homesick back home. I remember you telling your mother you were homesick. And your mother saying, “but darling, this is your home.” You said yes and I’m sick of it!’

‘That was a joke.’

She looks out of the window.

‘I yearn for a grey sky! For rain. For drizzle. Rain trickling down the window. The pitter patter of it on a street instead of the dry powdery crunch of sand and stone of the dusty trails beneath the remorseless heat of a cloudless sky. I want to see a wet shiny pavement under a leaden grey sky. I want to see the grey stone tenement buildings standing in their neat grey rows.’

‘It’s our day off. Are you coming water-skiing?’
‘Oh yes! Nice day for it. Plenty of sunshine.’

Lesley Scoble, September 2023

A little bit about my thoughts while painting…

It is surprising how a singular photo writing prompt can spark ideas and set the mind wandering…

While painting I YEARN FOR A GREY SKY. FOR RAIN. FOR DRIZZLE, my mind wanders back to the happy days working at the New Theatre Hull. The buildings in the picture remind me of the stone North Yorkshire houses. They were reminding me of my view from my room in theatrical digs…

I was playing Carabosse, the wicked witch in the pantomime Sleeping Beauty, at the New Theatre Hull.

I rented a room in theatrical digs in the same square as the theatre, making it nice and handy. The room was in the attic. I called it the eyrie. From the elevated view I watched tiny silhouette figures below looking like they had stepped out of a painting by L. S. Lowry. 

One evening before going to bed, I hung my woollen skirt from the picture rail to air (the skirt was damp).

Overnight, the temperatures dropped to minus 17 Fahrenheit (I’d never experienced such cold before, or since). The expression ‘my teeth chattered’ was in full chatter.

In the morning, I grabbed my skirt to get dressed for rehearsals. The skirt was stuck to the wall. During the extreme cold of the night, it froze and fused to the wallpaper. I chipped at it to separate it. It was frozen stiff. I stood it on the floor.

By the time I dressed myself, I was very late for rehearsal. When the director asked why I was so late, I explained I had to chip my skirt off the wall.

He didn’t believe me. By the expressions on other members of the casts’ faces, they couldn’t believe me either.

They asked me what number dodge in the Roger the Dodger book of dodges and excuses was as it? I was, however, forgiven for being imaginative.

L. S.

New Theatre Flyer

My name on the bill is Lisa Scoble (my professional name at the time). I wanted to call myself Englebert Humperdinck, but chose Lisa instead. 🤷 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My thanks to Jenne Gray and  C. E. Ayr. for the inspiration.

Lesley lives in the City of London Square Mile. An artist, actor and sculptor (her first ceramic sculpture won the V&A inspired by… Award). Scenic artist & book illustrator, playwright, (her musical play, Rapscallion performed in inner city schools and theatre school); TV dancer; Animator and illustrator for TV production. Set up Pinecone Studios Ltd and IIMSI Ltd drama and filmmaking workshops in London – producing award-winning films made by children.

lesleyscoble

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25 responses to “Blue Skies Blues: a short story complaint about the weather”

  5. Nice to meet you! The painting is beautiful. I live in the Algarve so the story made me laugh. I don’t miss grey skies but a darn good downpour now and then would be welcome. Careful what you wish for, hey?

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  6. You made me laugh, Lesley.
    About a hundred years ago I was living in West Africa and missed the seasons so badly.
    I longed for rain and grey skiesd – you describe the longing so well.
    And then came the rainy season – enough said!
    And you’ve nailed human nature as well.
    Beautiful painting too.
    I’m so glad the photo inspired you to paint as well.

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    • Thank you, Jenne!
      I’m glad you understand.
      I cut my contract short in Greece I wanted rain so much 😂
      Your prompt sent me wandering down many paths in my mind. The northern houses in the photo triggered so many memories. I love up north. The long twilights that they have… the rain…
      I think better while I paint.

      Where do you live now, if I may ask?
      Thanks again Jenne 🩷🙏

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      • Hi Lesley
        Despite all I said about missing the seasons in Africa, I’m now in the South of France, near the Spanish border, mainly for the beautiful winter light. I like a bit of gloom, but as I get older, I find it more of a trial, and it does go on – and on – and on in Scotland. And there’s also the fact that I’ve been fascinated by France ever since I was a child. Studied French (and German) and lived in Paris for a bit. Seems to be my spiritual home.
        The photo, by the way, was taken from my friend in Glasgow’s kitchen window looking across the back court.

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      • I felt the photo was somewhere in Scotland (thus triggering my northern houses pic).

        I haven’t spent the time I’d like to in France. Paris holds part of my heart.

        Merci beaucoup, Jenne 🇫🇷

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  7. Fun story, Lesley, that has clearly struck a chord with most readers. I’ve been on the Côte d’Azur for the last ten years and go back to Scotland for August each year, just for blessed relief!
    Your painting is extraordinary.

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