What are Ozlandish Writings?

From July 2010 to December 2014 we ran OZLAND PICTURE STORIES as described below. Sadly though the number of writers reduced over the years and we decided to call it a day. We leave these as a record of the good times we had.

Are "You" ready to challenge your writing skills? Then participate in our OZLAND Picture Stories writing series at The Ozland Art Gallery.

Each month a new picture will be picked, from our OZLAND Artist of the Month collection, with different themes. Your goal is to write a 500-1000 word... poem... essay... or story about the picture picked. This is a chance for you to challenge your writing skills each month. Story can be written in ANY genre... sci fi... romance... ghost... fantasy... fiction... non-fiction... biography... mystery... historical... whatever your writing genre... feel free to experiment. Send your writing inworld to Sven Pertelson as a notecard to have it included on the web site. We meet at the The Ozland Art Gallery each Wednesday at Noon and 6pm SLT to read the latest submissions on voice. More Information


Wednesday, November 14, 2012

"The Devil and the Mandolin" by Llola Lane

"The Devil and the Mandolin" by Llola Lane
(based on the song "Devil Went Down to Georgia" by Charlie Daniels)

The devil went down to Georgia, he was looking for a soul to steal.
He was in a bind 'cos he was way behind and he was willin' to make a deal.
When he came across this young man sawin' on a fiddle and playin' it hot.
And the devil jumped upon a hickory stump and said: "Boy let me tell you what:
"I guess you didn't know it, but I'm a fiddle player too.
"And if you'd care to take a dare, I'll make a bet with you.
"Now you play a pretty good fiddle, boy, but give the devil his due:
"I bet this fiddle of gold against your soul, 'cos I think I'm better than you."
The boy said: "My name's Johnny and it might be a sin,
"But I'll take your bet, your gonna regret, 'cos I'm the best that's ever been."

Johnny you rosin up your bow and play your fiddle hard.
'Cos hells broke loose in Georgia and the devil deals the cards.
And if you win you get this shiny fiddle made of gold.
But if you lose, the devil gets your soul.

The devil opened up his case and he said: "I'll start this show."
And fire flew from his fingertips as he rosined up his bow.
And he pulled the bow across his strings and it made an evil hiss.
Then a band of demons joined in and it sounded something like this.
When the devil finished, Johnny said: "Well you're pretty good ol' son.
"But sit down in that chair, right there, and let me show you how its done."

Fire on the mountain, run boys, run.
The devil's in the house of the risin' sun.
Chicken in the bread pan, pickin' out dough.
"Granny, does your dog bite?"
"No, child, no."

The devil bowed his head because he knew that he'd been beat.
He laid that golden fiddle on the ground at Johnny's feet.
Johnny said: "Devil just come on back if you ever want to try again.
"cause I told you once, you son of a gun, I'm the best there's ever been."

And he played fire on the mountain, run boys, run.
The devil's in the house of the risin' sun.
Chicken in the bread pan, now they're pickin' out dough.
"Granny, will your dog bite?"
"No, child, no."

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

The Devil layed his golden fiddle at Johnny's feet. He heard Johnny mention something about trying again, but all he could think about was how stupid he had been. He was so sure he would win. HOW could this mere mortal beat him? Even the demons had tapped their toes at Johnny's playing. He had underestimated Johnny. He wouldn't do that again!

Angerly the devil turned away from Johnny and the golden fiddle, and with a poof of black smoke was back home in hell. He HAD to get his fiddle back. It was not meant for a mortal to play. He needed a new plan...

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

Johnny picked up the golden fiddle. Even the devils own demons had danced to his music. He smiled to himself smuggly. The fiddle was still warm from the devil's playing, it felt good in his hands. It's gold body gleamed in the light of the risin' sun. He brought the fiddle to his chin and stroked the strings with the bow. They made an evil hiss.

He felt an evil twinge. He knew he should stop playing the fiddle, but he didn't. It sounded great. The devil never played this fiddle so good. The faster Johnny played the more the evil swelled inside him. He tried to put the fiddle down but he could not. It's grasp was strong.

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

The devil heard the music of the fiddle and smiled. He knew the fiddles' curse. You didn't play the fiddle... it LET you play it. But he still wanted it back. He had his plan... now he had to go get it.

The black mandolin with it's golden strings was spun from the same black magic as the golden fiddle. The devil wasn't as fond of the mandolin so he didn't care if he lost it to Johnny. All he knew was he wanted his golden fiddle back. He grabbed the mandolin and headed for the surface.

The fiddle's music burned his ears as he made his way to Johnny. The music was deafening. He knew he would go mad if he didn't get it back. He needed to find Johnny quickly. He followed the music til he found Johnny... still playing at the risin' sun.

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

Johnny played the fiddle hard. A band of Demons had gathered round him. They joined him in his tune. Johnny's eyes were deep red. Tiny bits of fire flew from his finger tips as he rosined up his bow. The devil knew he had to work fast before the fiddle took Johnny over completely. That fiddle was HIS and NO mere mortal was going to take it from him!

The Devil waited in the doorway and listened for his chance. Then he heard it... Johnny was bragging. He dared anyone to be better than him on his new fiddle. Then... the words the Devil had been waiting for...

"I BET this fiddle of gold that I'm better than ANY of you," Johnny yelled out!

The Devil stepped through the doorway and yelled back... "I'll take that bet and you're gonna regret cause... I'M... the best that's ever been!"

The whole room stopped and stared at the devil and Johnny. They waited to see what would happen, they knew an evil battle was brewing but no one knew what the outcome would be.

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

End of Part 1

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