Inspiration on Tap

Short Story

 

I saw it out of the corner of my eye as I forced my way through the tangle of undergrowth; a metallic gleam. I fairly threw myself towards the golden glow and tore away with my bare hands at the thistles and flotsam that grew all around it. I had found the tap.

 

Upon freeing the tap from it's bushy hideout I sat back on my knees to admire my discovery. It was a plain tap in every way; a single copper pipe sticking up out of the ground with a standard brass head. There was nothing to suggest that this was not an ordinary tap and nothing to suggest that this was indeed the tap that I had been searching for over the last four years. Somehow though, I knew it was the one.

 

I thought back to my grandmothers words. All the years we spent together, writing stories together and wandering in this garden for inspiration. Then just before she left us she told me, “There’s a tap in my garden Honey. Find it if you can because it is a tap of knowledge.”  Remembering those words made my heart start to pound. Here it was! The tap of knowledge!

 

It dawned on me then that through all my years of searching this four acre property I had never wondered what I’d do next. “Now I’ve found it, what do I do?” I asked myself aloud. My words sounded weird in the quietness of the bush. It was midday and even the birds were resting quietly. The sun beat down relentlessly and made me feel dizzy and breathless. 

 

Keeping my eye on the tap lest it mystically disappeared, I took a long drink from my camelback and decided that the logical thing would be to turn it on. This I discovered was more difficult than it looked. Eventually though, using both hands and my handkerchief for grip, I managed to turn the handle. The tap seemed to pause and burp for effect before spluttering out a stream of rusty orange liquid. I watched the water soaking into the earth below and shortly it ran clear and sparkling.

 

"What's meant to happen next?" I wondered. A knot of disappointment gathered in my stomach. "Maybe the others were right all along. Maybe she was talking nonsense. ...Or maybe I'm meant to drink the water... what if I was meant to drink the first drop that came out? It's too late for that now..."

 

"Help me Grandma."

 

At that moment, as clear as a bell, I heard her voice. “Need inspiration? Start to write. You can’t expect water to flow unless you first turn on the tap."

 

So that dear reader is exactly what I have done.

 

 

Author's Note

"Start writing something and the ideas will come. You have to turn the faucet on before the water starts to flow."
— Louis L’Amour

Appreciate any feedback! :)

Reviews

[Russell Little]

Okay, I liked that. A twist in the end, just like a good short story should.

[Stan Lee]

Thanks for your encouraging feedback Russell. I'm glad you liked it. :)

[Viv Wade]

Such an inspiring story! I will bear it in mind every time I am struggling for the inspiration to write. I'll just have to hope that something better than rusty orange liquid comes out! :)

[Stan Lee]

lol. You really do make me laugh. So far I haven't anything on your account that even vaguely resembles rusty orange liquid! :D

[Viv Wade]

Believe me, for every word I type, I have to delete a couple of rusty orange ones! :)

[Taylor]

Stopping by again to see what my young friend is up to. Just a few points which you should accept if they make sense to you and reject if they don't.
1)" Keeping a sharp eye on the tap lest it mystically disappeared, I took a long drink from my camelback and decided that the logical thing would be to turn it on. This I discovered was easier said than done." -- two clichés here - can you find them? Yes, sharp eye and easier said than done.

Well, I could make only one point because this is perfect. I love it. Terrific! You have so much talent. Keep writing, girl!

[Stan Lee]

Thanks Taylor. You're a great friend :D I really appreciate your honest feedback.
Too many cliches you think? :P ...lol.. I'll work on it. :) Thanks again

[Vernika]

I love the way you weaved out an entire story out of a quotation. Good job! :)

[Stan Lee]

Thanks Vernika. I've been running low on ideas for a while so when I read that quote it gave me no excuse not to start trying again. :D