The title of the challenge is ‘choice’ and I’m giving you a choice of painting for the prompt. The painting I had chosen is another one of Ilya Repin’s, entitled The Grand Duke’s Bride’.
Then I found this one by Grigory Sedov which shows Tsar Alexis choosing his bride, and I was struck by the similarity of expression in the girls’ faces. Is it modesty as they have surely been taught, or utter misery?
Two important, powerful men, a clutch of proud mothers, and a string of girls each waiting to find out if she has drawn the short straw. And what fate is waiting for the ‘unlucky’ ones who aren’t chosen? Something or someone even worse?
Write a short story around these bridal parades and post the link in the comments below before next Thursday. I’m expecting stories as vivid as the paintings!
Jane Dougherty Writes 
They o all look miserable.
I wonder why? (heavy irony).
And marriages continue to be arranged — at least they knew what each other looked like! For some strange reason, reminds me of Cinderella.
All those fairy tale royals must have lived in worlds like this.
Cool paintings. I’m going to have to think. 🙂
I love the colours, and the stories should be pretty passionate 🙂
Sadness, despair, and yet deep hidden hope as well….
I think you should write the story of hope. It might balance up the one I have in mind 🙂
https://myfrillyfreudianslip.wordpress.com/2016/11/04/jane-doughertys-microfiction-challenge-21-the-choice-the-bride-show/
Actually, link to a newly published follow-up to an earlier microfiction challenge too, so two for the price of admission!
(On a cheerful historical note, the tsar and tsaritsa appear to have had a happy marriage).
Hi Jane, I’ve linked the two paintings so hope this is OK for the challenge.
https://pensitivity101.wordpress.com/2016/11/04/microfiction-challenge-21-the-choice/
Everything is fine if it inspires 🙂
My contribution this week, Jane. http://engleson.ca/?page_id=8088
I wrote this when I felt more hope, and it’s over the word limit again. https://merrildsmith.wordpress.com/2016/11/09/chosen-microfiction/
You’re excused. Exceptional circumstances.
🙂
https://fmmewritespoems.wordpress.com/choosing-a-bride
It’s definitely micro, it’s not one of my best,and it’s possibly influenced by recent events.. . Sorry.