And now for something new! The Co$t of Coffee will return, fully edited, in September. For now, new ideas are brewing.
Prompts for 1 August 2025 from
Write about a paint gallery
steaming cold
“you’re wrong”
A character who is a culture critic
It was always strange to see the steaming cold fog emanating from the bodies in the freezer. Giles poked a fingernail into the one hanging on the nearest hook. It was nearly frozen, but not quite enough. He decided to give it another hour before breaking it down further.
Closing the door, he heard voices in the gallery in the front of the building. He recognized the voice of Harold, the painter who owned the place, but the other voice, a woman's, was new. Giles tiptoed close enough to hear the conversation without being seen. The woman was adamant that the gallery paint samples were not considered modern art. Giles could hear the passion in Harold's voice,
"My dear critic of everything cultural, you're wrong. These ‘paint samples,’ as you call them, are unique to this gallery alone. Let me show you a bit more about them." Giles heard footsteps as Harold led the woman to the largest painting, hung from the ceiling in the center of the room.
"For example," Harold continued his monologue sounding as much professor as inventive paint artist. "This painting contains no fewer than 15 shades of red, all organic. Eventually, with the passage of time, they will soften into warm browns, each one unique, but all ever changing with the seasons."
Giles knew what was coming next. Whether the woman would understand was the question he had. Very few people did, which was why the gallery always sat on the brink of bankruptcy.
"The highest shade of red there I have named 'cerebellar red.' It, of course, comes from the head, which explains its brightness. The oxygen richness adds that hint of orange. The next one you see there may be more familiar to you. It is made of individual haems, rich in iron. I call it 'haematic red.' You can see the distinct alternations of double and single bonds made by a process that I invented called 'atomic conjugation.' Shall I go on to this more maroon-like shade? It isn't true maroon, you know…"
Giles heard quick footsteps followed by a door slam. Harold was smiling when he saw Giles in hiding. Giles slow-clapped for the artist.
"Masterfully done, sir. I don't think she will argue with you about the culture of art anymore."
"No, Giles, I don't believe we will see her again. There will be others. How is our frozen friend now? Ready to add a splash of color to my newest piece?"
"Very nearly, sir. Perhaps after lunch? I have a hankering for hamburgers."
I was so not prepared for that one! Great take on the prompts.
Wow, you do creepy well!