Illustration by Vishakh Mohan

The stories that Grandma told me inevitably contained bejeweled Kings and Queens, Princes and palaces with rooms full of precious gems and stones that dazzled the eyes of onlookers.
At the end of every story session, Grandma would hold my face in her hands, peer into my eyes and declare that none of the precious stones sparkled as much my pretty eyes.
Afterwards, as I drifted off to sleep, I’d dream of a handsome Prince sweeping me off my feet, and dazzling one and all, adorned as I would be from head to toe, with his gifts of priceless jewels, just as it happened in all of Grandma’s stories.
Years went by and I grew up to find reality was quite different, and that Grandma had been telling me all the wrong tales.
Precious stones and gems could be found in the nearest jewelry store; all I had to do was work hard and make enough money to buy whatever I fancied.
As for dazzling those around, I do that often enough, sometimes with a smile, at times with my talents and yet other times, by sheer hard work.

©Shail Mohan 2014

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week Lillie McFerrin posts a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate can write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in the five sentences, and is just for direction. This week: DAZZLES