o.henry O. Henry Short Story Prompt 1 – The Green Door

[AC Benus]

Opening Remarks for the Series

 

Why do this? Why use the scenario of another author's story to prompt you to write your own version?

 

I have been kicking this prompt concept around in my head for a while, and think it's a way to help us see the Short Story form means more that just it being short. It is a genre of writing as well defined as Novels or Plays, and must have the following basic components:

 

- Setup

- Development

- Climax/Twist

- Denouement (which is the aftermath, and which is optional).

 

It seems simple enough – and it is – but this discipline allows for unlimited opportunities. This form is also amazingly well-suited to paranormal matters. Some of F. Scott Fitzgerald's best Short Stories freely explore this area where he (as far as I know) never went in his novels.

 

O. Henry was another master of the twilight world of off-shot connections, and his integration of memorable twists with elements of love and romance make him ideal for us to study.

 

The system will work like this: I give you the title and a summary of the characters and action to you get inspired and wanting to write your own version of the story. You scrupulously avoid looking up and reading the original. The prompt is for you to write your own story, and not get caught up in the published version. O. Henry is such a compelling spinner of prose that it would be nearly impossible to read the story and not be drawn in by how he told it; read it after you post yours.

 

Gender: I will give you the name and gender the author chose for his characters, however, I strongly suggest you explore switching up the sexes and feel free to explore same-sex love matches. 

 

The twist: I will not provide it in the prompt. If you want to know how O. Henry resolved the conflict, PM me and I will tell you. You're free to use it or come up with your own.

 

So without further ado, I will draw back the curtain on the initial offering….  

 

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------  

 

 

O. Henry Short Story Prompt 1 – The Green Door

 

Rudolf Steiner is a ne'er-do-well. One evening after a lonely dinner, he's walking down a city street thinking that all the adventure has gone of out modern life. He longs for the unexpected, wants the inexplicable to happen to him – just once – and if it turns out romantic, so be it.

 

Up ahead he notices an impressively sized African American handing out advertising cards to the passersby. Usually he doesn't take one, but tonight he does and sees the only thing the card says is "The Green Door." He watches some people discard what the same man had given them, and sees they are all the same standard advertisement. He swings back a couple more times, and each time, the man gives him the same 'Green Door' card.

 

Rudolf figures it must be related to the building the man is standing in front of, so he goes inside. He climbs each flight and finds only regular doors, but then on the top floor, he sees it.            

 

 

The Prompt: write your own Short Story based on this scenario, and what adventure waits behind "The Green Door."

 

If you want to know what O. Henry's twist is, PM me and I will tell you. Otherwise, try to devise your own.

 

_

Edited September 15, 2018 by AC Benus

[Valkyrie]

I love the concept, AC.  I look forward to tackling it and seeing what others come up with, too.   

[Aditus]

AC! Damn. The little wheels are turning in my head, but I have another story to tackle. I could never resist short stories.

[AC Benus]

I love the concept, AC.  I look forward to tackling it and seeing what others come up with, too. 

Thanks, Val! I hope the weekend finds you spinning ideas for what could be behind the door.... 

Edited March 25, 2016 by AC Benus

[Valkyrie]

Thanks, Val! I hope the weekend finds you spinning idea for what could be behind the door.... 

Thanks, AC   I had some ideas on the drive to work this morning.  How often will you be posting these prompts?

[Mikiesboy]

OH!! What a great idea. Is there a due date on these?

[AC Benus]

Thanks, AC   I had some ideas on the drive to work this morning.  How often will you be posting these prompts?

Perhaps I can manage one a month for the foreseeable future  

OH!! What a great idea. Is there a due date on these?

No due date; work at your own pace, Tim.

[AC Benus]

AC! Damn. The little wheels are turning in my head, but I have another story to tackle. I could never resist short stories.

Adi, I hope the possibilities of this set-up leads you to great things! Knowing your imagination, wonderfully 'dangerous' things could be waiting behind that door.... *maniacal laugh*   

[Aditus]

Done. It just needs to be edited by a native speaker.

[AC Benus]

Done. It just needs to be edited by a native speaker.

Awesome

[Aditus]

Mirror, Mirror. Very short short.

[Valkyrie]

Here's mine

 

https://www.gayauthors.org/story/valkyrie/promptingsfromvalhalla-2016edition/4

[AC Benus]

Mirror, Mirror. Very short short.

Short, but oh so 'moreish,' as in give us more!  

[AC Benus]

Here's mine

 

https://www.gayauthors.org/story/valkyrie/promptingsfromvalhalla-2016edition/4

Loved it. I like how you pulled the man handing out the cards into the heart of the story. Nicely done! 

[Mikiesboy]

Here's my offering!

[dughlas]

Thank you all! I was intrigued when the prompt appeared. I'm not familiar with the O. Henry piece and chose not to read it before reading the offerings I knew were to come. I've read those posted so far and enjoyed them so again, I say ... thank you!

[Mikiesboy]

Thank you all! I was intrigued when the prompt appeared. I'm not familiar with the O. Henry piece and chose not to read it before reading the offerings I knew were to come. I've read those posted so far and enjoyed them so again, I say ... thank you!

Thank you dugh! I don't know the story either, but I'll read it later. Maybe after the series of prompts is over.

[AC Benus]

Maybe we call all go back and read the original after I post my O. Henry Prompt 2 (something in mid April). We can have a sort of book club discussion right here if we want  

[Mikiesboy]

Maybe we call all go back and read the original after I post my O. Henry Prompt 2 (something in mid April). We can have a sort of book club discussion right here if we want

sounds good to me!!  

[AC Benus]

Thanks for all of your support on this new endeavor. The response has been greater than I anticipated, and thanks to O. Henry too  

[AC Benus]

Here's my offering!

Thanks, Tim. I like this story a lot

[Mikiesboy]

Thanks for all of your support on this new endeavor. The response has been greater than I anticipated, and thanks to O. Henry too

Haven't read anything by O. Henry (except for the chocolate bar).  I kinda don't want to ... don't want to be influenced by his style maybe or maybe i just worry too much.

Thanks, Tim. I like this story a lot

Thanks, AC.  I enjoyed all the ones i've read so far...cool to see the differences.

[Valkyrie]

Maybe we call all go back and read the original after I post my O. Henry Prompt 2 (something in mid April). We can have a sort of book club discussion right here if we want

Sounds like fun

[Defiance19]

Hi All,

I attempted the O. Henry prompt, and AC tidied it up enough to make it presentable.. For that he has my unending thanks and gratitude. 

 

So let me me know if I did okay, where I faulted, you know... 

 

 

 

 

 

Rudolf lumbered, lost in thought on his way to the restaurant. For so long he had been content to just move along with his life without being a part of it. Never doing more than he had to. 

Today he had awakened with a feeling he couldn't shake. All he knew was there was this inexplicable need to do something, change his life around somehow. 

But what. Nothing exciting happened to him. For years he had worked the same job, ate the same dinner at the same restaurant. His home life was nothing special either.

As he followed the host to be seated he passed a laughing couple holding hands. He didn't even have love. Who would want him anyway? 

Absentmindedly, he looked down at the card in his hand. The Green Door it read. He had barely paid attention when the big African American man had given it to him. Now, it seemed all-important. His brow furrowed, but with determination he climbed the stairs of the dilapidated building. There was a single light in the distance that cast an eerie glow. Rudolf was reminded of the horror movies he so hated. He hesitated for a brief minute. His thoughts running over each other. 

 

“What am I thinking? When I said I wanted excitement I wasn't thinking I'd be murdered. Who would miss me anyway? What have I got to lose?”

Without quite knowing it, his feet had brought him closer to the light source. There it was. The Green Door. Expelling a deep breath, he turned the knob and stepped inside before he changed his mind. The room was dimly lit. There was nothing in it except for a table. He moved slowly toward it. 

"Welcome, Rudolf."  The voice out of the dark startled him and he squeaked, reaching out to the table for support. 

“Who are you; how do you know my name?”

“I know a lot about you, Rudolf. You don't need to be frightened. I'm here to help.”

The voice moved closer bringing with it a shadow figure of a man. Rudolf could see no features, and just as he opened his mouth to ask another question, the voice spoke again.

“Come, Rudolf. There are three rooms you must visit if you are to ever leave this place. If you do so, your life will never be the same.”

“What do you mean? What happens if I can’t?”

“You want love, excitement, adventure, don't you Rudolf?”

“Yes, but…”

“Then, you must.”

He followed the man just closely enough to pick up a scent of...woods. That was the best he could do to describe it. 

They entered a room and immediately Rudolf was reminded of his childhood. It was as if he entered his father's study. Everything was the same, even the stale smell of tobacco. There was the huge chessboard in the center. Rudolf sat. As he moved the pieces his mind absently wandered to his father, who had taught him to play. His father also had hopes for his future. He believed in Rudolf. Believed that he was capable of great things. There was a lot of advice given in that room to a young Rudolf. He closed his eyes and felt the warmth of his father's pride. It was quickly replaced by shame, as he thought how his father would now be disappointed. He moved the chess pieces around, easily winning the game. Eager to get away from the memories, he pushed the chair back. 

“What's next?” he asked hoarsely. 

“Come.”

He followed into the next room, which opened to an outdoor garden of sorts. A maze, which if he understood the explanation correctly, would take him to the next and final door. Looking around him, he realised this too was familiar. It was the scene from his last family holiday. Why would anyone want him to revisit the most painful time of his life? Swallowing around the lump in his throat, he hurried his steps to navigate the maze. As he rounded the corner, he was met with the laughter of a child. One that he recognized. Lida, his little sister. He followed the laughter, his eyes brimming with tears. How was that possible? His sister had been gone a very long time, along with his parents, but she was an unending source of joy. It was as if she'd always known she wasn't going to be around for very long. Every waking moment she spent following her brother who pretended to mind. She got him to play games and chase her for hours in the garden. He would read to her and she asked him questions like he knew the answer to it all, and he never failed her by way of explanation. She deferred to him in everything. Her hero worship and implicit trust in her brother made him believe he could do anything. He had vowed to be the best person he could be, if only to make her proud. Her laughter once lifted his spirits, but now …. Hearing it now made him sad. He ran through the maze, letting Li's laughter lead him. 

“Li! Li!” he called out. “Wait for me. I want to come with,” he cried.

The laughter faded and he stopped short. There was a bench so he sat, his head on his knees his body shaking with sobs. 

“Why do you cry, Rudolf?” the voice asked.

“I miss her so much. I...I failed both my father and her. Look at me.” He spread his arms wide and looked up miserably. 

A gasp escaped him as he realised how large the shadowed man really was looming over him. 

Chuckling, the man merely placed his hand on Rudolf’s shoulder. His touch was really light in spite of the huge size. As he urged Rudolf to stand, he was again hit with that strong woodsy scent. It didn't seem to come from the man, but it was there. It made Rudolf feel unsettled. He inhaled deeply, but the scent lingered, coiling in his stomach, awakening a feeling in him so long put to rest. He shifted uncomfortably. 

“Look, Rudolf.” The voice cut into his thoughts. “The last door. Go.” 

With a slight push forward, Rudolf moved to the door wondering what memory awaited him. Heaving a heavy sigh, he opened and stepped inside. 

It was his childhood bedroom. The single bed was made with the same cover, untouched, frozen in time. The last time he had been in here…. He walked to the bed and sat with his eyes closed, running his hand over the starched fabric. 

He smelt her before he heard her voice next to him. 

“Rudi."

“Mother.” He felt her arms wrap around him. Her fingers smoothing his hair as she did. Her voice whispered comforting words in his ear as he sobbed. She held him until the storm passed. 

“What happened to my Rudi?” she asked, pulling him away from her to stare into his face. 

He looked sadly at her expecting to find disgust and disappointment. Instead, he was met with tenderness. Her eyes filled with love. Always love. His mother, as he remembered, had always loved him. When he sat in this very room and cried his heart out to her because Antonin hadn't wanted to be his friend anymore. When he realised that he wanted Antonin to be more than just his friend, and when Lukas had broken his heart irreparably. She was always there, loving him through it, assuring him he would love again. That his somebody was out there, just waiting.

“I lost my way, Mother. I don't know who I am anymore. Why did you all leave me?”

 Hot tears ran down his face. But now that the gates were opened, he couldn't stop. 

“I should have been with you. I was selfish and wanted a day to myself, and I paid for it with your lives. I should have been there too.... It should have....”

Her arms caught him again, stopping the pounding on the bed. 

“Hush, Rudi. You are not at fault. No one is to blame; it was an accident. Tragic, but it was an accident. I was happy you weren't there. That way you could go on and live. Live for us. But you're not living, Rudi. You can't go on like this. There's no love, no adventure no excitement or meaning in your life because you're not living.”

“How did you know?” Rudolf asked, shaking his head in confusion. 

“I know when my son is not happy. Promise me Rudolf, promise me you'll live.”

She called him Rudolf. He smiled because she only did that when she was serious about something. 

“I promise, Mother,” he said softly. 

She hugged him to her one more time. Then slowly disappeared, but he was left with the overwhelming feeling of love. 

Suddenly, the large shadow was back. 

“You did it, Rudolf. Are you ready to go out there and live?”

Rudolf sniffed, and nodded.

“Good. I promised your life would never be the same and it won't. Be happy, Rudolf.”

The large shadow man ushered him through yet another door. 

 

“Sir, are you ready to order?”

Rudolf looked up blankly into the waiter’s face. He was still in the restaurant. Shaking his head to clear it, he wondered how all of that had felt so real. He looked down at his hand and the card was there still, though crumpled. 

“I, I'll have the usual…. No, wait…. Can I have a minute more? I'd like to try something new.”

“Sure, I'll be back soon.”

Sliding out of his seat, Rudolf ran to the bathroom to clean his face. After making sure he was once again presentable, he walked back to his table. 

“Rudolf? Is that you?” 

Rudolf turned sharply, and stumbled into the man who had called out to him. Immediately, a familiar woodsy smell travelled up his nose and settled warmly over his heart. 

“Stan. Hi.” He steadied himself on the man’s arm, fingers bunching on his biceps. The warmth spread to his entire body.

“Are you coming or going? I’ve just had the most confusing thing happen. Can we share a table?” Stan looked stunned by the words tumbling out of his mouth, but he was saved when Rudolf readily agreed with a smile. 

“I'm glad we bumped into each other Rudolf. I've wanted to ask you out for a while now.”

“I'm glad we did too. Um…. It's early yet, do you want to take a walk?”

The two men walked outside into the cool air, both feeling that they’d always been together. Rudolf’s steps slowed, his face frowned as he looked over at the face of a large man handing out cards at the corner. There was something familiar….

“Everything okay, Rudolf!”

“Yes, yes. I thought I saw someone I knew.”

Turning away from the man, Rudolf completely missed the huge smile and wink the man directed at Stan. He smiled as Stan wrapped his own arm around Rudolf's elbow, and they headed out into the night. 

Years later, Rudi and Stan still had a hard time convincing their friends how they were brought together, each having a different experience, by a large man handing out cards inviting them to walk through a green door. But they told it at every dinner party, every anniversary party, and to anyone who would listen when they traveled. He didn’t mind that they didn’t believe, for he had all the love he could want, and more adventure than he could plan for. Whatever the mystery of The Green Door, it had brought him Stan and their life together.

[Valkyrie]

Welcome to the red, Defiance!  At least I hope you'll be changing to red soon   I enjoyed your take on the prompt.  It reminded me a bit of "A Christmas Carol", even though he didn't get a glimpse into the future, but rather encouragement from mom.  I liked how Stan also experienced the green door.  Great job! 

 

I was thinking about your story on the drive to work and realized that it was Stan's voice directing Rudi, wasn't it? I probably should have read it when I was more awake.   lol

Edited March 28, 2016 by Valkyrie