My first publication in a wonderfully productive July was a story with an unexpected twist, “A Golden Opportunity”—written in response to the latest prompt from The First Line: “Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today.”
This tangled tale goes on the talk about an unscrupulous student, a year in Rome, a pilfered Etruscan bracelet, a couple of clean starts, and a rather fine Añejo tequila. The bracelet is indeed a wondrous golden thing:
“From her designer handbag, probably one of those famous Italian knock-offs, she took out a small cloth bundle, then got up from the chair and handed it to me. I hesitated to take it from her, but then, relenting, curious, took the worn velvet as I might an injured bird with its heart fluttering, in both my palms, and held it for a long moment before unwrapping it. Touched with wonder, I likely sighed to see the breathtaking bangle, yellow gold, with the delicate wirework, granulation, filigree that distinguished the finest Etruscan jewelry.”
Available only in print, this issue of The First Line—Volume 26, Issue 2—can be purchased here (see column 2).
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