Monday, April 5, 2010

Mag 8

The Painted Egg

Nicole brought the ostrich egg home from the antique store because it reminded her of her Grandmother Anna Nicolette Roman and her love of painting. Entering the front door, she placed the decorated egg, along with it's fine silver stand, upon the entryway table. While the egg was no Faberge, she still thought it worthy of admiration.

Though Grandmother had been formal and old fashioned, Nicole remembered her with fondness. Whenever she visited, good manners and propriety had been stressed to the children, ahead of fun and ease. Nicole didn't know much about her early life. Grandmother always changed the subject as soon as Nicky brought the topic up.

A few years ago, upon learning that he had terminal cancer, Nicky's aged father began sharing stories of his childhood with her. He told her of the numerous visits that his mother had received from adults with heavy accents. About his curiosity and her unwillingness to answer his questions. The whispered conversations he'd overheard about her heritage. About her hatred of Bolsheviks. These facts added to the mystery rather than solve it. He told Nicky of his growing suspicion as an adult, that his mother might have a secret identity. Only at the end. had grandmother whispered her real name to her son: Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia. Could the slurred whispers of an old, sick senile woman be believed?

Unsure of what she thought of the implausible story, Nicole nevertheless found herself unable to resist the egg. Picking it up from the stand, she once more turned it over studying the tiny details. Here in the bright afternoon light she noticed a detail that had escaped her in the dim light of the store. On the bottom of the egg, in minuscule scratching it read; ANR, 1918.



To read more tales prompted by the photo click here.

21 comments:

  1. Wonderful story there a good magpie tale-- nice little twist and turns and a wondering is she? kind of ending ... and the fact that there is still 2 eggs missing only 10 have been accounted for..


    Joanny

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  2. sorry got my facts wrong --- Of the fifty Imperial eggs made, only ten remain in the Kremlin. Eight Imperial eggs are still missing.

    Joanny

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  3. Wonderful, what a great story linked to actual facts.;)
    I love when you write these, you should do this more often.;)
    xo
    Zuzana

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  4. wonderful vignette...love teh woven in history that bring this to life. nice magpie.

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  5. Loving the stories. Maybe at lunch I could read the other tales! The Paris cards are so cute! You are on a very creative roll!
    denise

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  6. I've always been fascinated by the theories of the Grand Duchess Anastasia's possible escape from death. Wonderful story, Stevie!!

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  7. I could imagine this screnario playing out some years ago. Great story.

    Is that little budgie on the side bar your bird?

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  8. What a great short story!

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  9. I enjoyed your take on the magpie! I love stories about Anastasia.

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  10. Fascinating story! Love how you mixed history in.

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  11. I love a story that mimics the magic moments of life with its little mysteries and gut feelings and hunches... Nice one Stevie.

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  12. Stevie: The mystery of the egg is uncovered with the engraving of that pivotal year 1918. Anastasia the 4th of five daughters and 1 son of Tsar Ncicolas II and Tsarina Alexandra Romanov. This is a intriguing account of the egg; a most thoroughly enjoyable and well-written story!

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  13. Ooh! Very exciting! Nicely crafted little story, Steviewren.

    Kat

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  14. Is this what they call faction? Lovely interweaving of fact and fiction.
    (Don't tell anyone but I am actually the Grand Duchess Anastasia)

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  15. Superb .. you tell a fine story,S.

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  16. I think it is a part of American Lore to have a famous relative...almost everyone you talk to will say they are somehow related to Pocahontus or Sacajawea. And, lord, if you are from the South, you have someone in your family tree that was a hero in the "Great War or Northern Agression". LOL

    I would much rather be related to Anastasia. :)

    I like your point of view.

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  17. i'm always intrigued by stories related to that very tragic tale. and i love ingrid in the movie.

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  18. This is your best one yet! I've always been fascinated by that story!

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I'm glad you stopped by and I look forward to your comments. As Dr. Fraser Crane would say, "Hello, I'm listening."