Friday Fictioneer photo prompt. Copyright Bjorn Rudberg
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As a girl, Little Jesse tried to count the steps down to the Cliff House, but always lost track as she followed Great Aunt Jesse who was revealing plans for a summer full of escapades.
Jesse (now the only ‘Jesse’ in the family) surveyed the chaos that had once been artful order. Near the studio window, she found an unfinished watercolor: Aunt Jesse smiling, holding out both arms, enticing Little Jesse to take those last steps. It broke her heart that Aunt Jesse hadn’t finished it before dying.
Stepping towards the painting, Jesse picked up a brush . . .
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Friday Fictioneers: Write a 100-word story based on the photo prompt.
To read other stories based on this photo, select the smiley blue frog.
It's a long story ... 
Hope she finishes it 🙂
Me too!
I’m sad that there isn’t another Jesse to follow in the brushstrokes of this one. 🙂
There’s still time, maybe in another story . . .
I think the thought of living something unfinished for generations to come leaves a much stronger legacy than finished perfection… Aunt Jesse probably did it on purpose 🙂
You are absolutely right! Aunt Jesse *did* leave it unfinished on purpose. It was another way for her to get (Little) Jesse to take those next steps into her future. I just couldn’t put everything in with only 100 words.
Love it. Cool house.
There’s always unfinished business. Nice story!
Oh, “Unfinished Business” would be a great title for this story!
Dear Tresha,
Now the younger Jesse will add her strokes to the painting. Might she leave it still undone for another Jesse, too? Just a random thought. Lovely story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Interesting. Maybe she finishes this painting, then, near the end of her (new) career as an artist, she starts another painting and leaves it unfinished. A family tradition.
Lovely story, showing the continuation of life.
Tresha, Lovely story. It seems little Jesse inherited more than just the first name. Happy ending and well written. 🙂 —Susan
Lovely take on the prompt!