If Walls Could Talk
If Walls Could Talk
An autobiography-thriller from the POV of Ford's Theatre? You've got it boss.
"If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher." -Abraham Lincoln
For a few weeks now I’ve been prepping a contest piece in between my schedule that went live on Vocal Media last night.
The prompt? Write a fiction story from the perspective of a wall that can talk.
Naturally as a thriller author, I wanted my main character to come from a place that has seen a lot of dark activity. At some point, political assassination came to mind. Which led to me to the U.S.’s first and most significant: Abraham Lincoln’s.
When researching the widely-infamous Ford’s Theatre I discovered a lengthy history. A building where: over twenty people have died, several war-torn corpses have been stored, and a president was assassinated.
The building has been gutted plenty of times leaving only an original ceiling panel (the ceiling is the wall in which my contest piece’s POV is told) and a few window panes behind.
In three-thousand words, I did my best to encapsulate this history into a single piece called Ford. Here’s an excerpt:
They say history is limited by its storyteller. And that may be true. My worldview only extends to the far side of 10th street. Here I was born, built, burnt, and ruined into the Ford you know me as today. By the curated fate of man, I am forced to exist indefinitely.
Death is an unnameable lust for one as old as I. One hundred and eighty-nine, a duration unfathomable to the human mind. Fifty years is the average lifespan of my kind. A respectable number to represent a life well served. Natural beginnings become of proper endings. I suppose I'll have neither.
That’s the introduction to the voice of a woeful Ford in this coming-of-age fiction short.
Here’s another sample:
While John and Henry didn't always agree with Lincoln, Abe was welcomed here. The American leader came around every so often too. Even a Commander in Chief in the middle of a war craved the temporary deliverance from human barbarity.
For those nine months, I was their salvation. Everyday since has been a counterfeit.
This piece is close to my heart and introduced me to a corner of history that I never would’ve known.
I learned so much writing this work and hope that you find it as thrilling and fascinating as I did. Ford is a judged contest piece and results will be announced on March 3rd. While you can not vote for me, you can like-button the piece or share it to help my visibility - which I would appreciate tons. All in all, I just hope you enjoy it!
Fun fact: Lincoln was an Aquarius! His birthday is coming up on February 12th, just 8 days before Presidents Day.
Thanks for being here and taking care of my work with your loving readership! If you enjoy Ford, please do share it with a friend, a coworker, or a family member. History is best when remembered. As always, I appreciate you.
PS: If you’re reading this at the scheduled time it means that The Sophomore Letters is in it’s final dev editing session! Can you tell I’m excited??
-linds