This story was written for Friday Fictioneers. Each week, Rochelle gives us an image and 100 words to tell a story. She also inspires us with a story of her own. This week’s prompt image comes from Jean L. Hays – thanks! Click on the blue frog below to read more stories that correspond to this prompt and to add your own.
By the way, I’ve been having trouble trying to comment on Blogger or Blogspot blogs…maybe something in my privacy settings? I will try to investigate. I keep pressing the “publish” button, but it won’t publish; the page just refreshes with my comment still pending.
Stolen Collection
(100 words)
“Really?”
“Come on—adventure! Local color!” Ben said, steering Janice into the little store by the highway.
Merchandise was piled against the windows. Ben started explaining their unorthodox honeymoon to the silent owner.
Then she saw it—an unremarkable green plaid shirt—yet her heart swung toward it even before she saw the pink heart patch she’d sewn on the elbow twenty years ago.
It was quiet. Ben was staring at a locket, mouth open.
“How—” Janice said, holding the shirt. “My dad?”
“Things find their way here,” the owner said, sitting back. “People, too. What’s your memory worth?”
If you have a moment and the interest, I hope you’ll check out my story, “The Magic,” published with Necessary Fiction today. : )
Very imaginative take on the prompt
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Thanks, Neil! : )
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Good take, I wonder what the story behind her Dad is, and if there is something sinister going on?
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I’m glad you are wondering! I think something sinister is definitely afoot. At the very least, it seems cruel to make them pay for their memories. Thanks for reading!
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He could at least offer a discount.
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Somehow I heave a feeling that the memory will not come cheap… it often doesn’t
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Definitely not. I don’t think this is a kind-hearted owner/curator. You’re right about the cost of (at least some) memories in life, too. Thanks for reading!
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Mysterious and intriguing. Makes me wonder what happened to her dad.
Good story, Emily! 🙂
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Thanks!
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I like that it can be taken in more than one way. And I hope they get to continue their unorthodox honeymoon. Good take.
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Thank you, Sandra!
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A wonderful mysterious tale.
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Thank you! : )
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That started to feel a bit creepy towards the end 🙂
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I think so! Thanks!
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Beautiful, tad mysterious though. But then there has to be catch, a price to all, what say? Well done.
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I think there does have to be a catch. Thanks!
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This could go either way, I think… It could be positive or negative but either way, it doesn’t come free!
I really liked this, Emily!
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Thanks, Dale! For me, there is more of an eerie feel, but I’m glad that it has some ambiguity.
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Lovely. I was cleaning out one of my adult son’s closet and found many small “memory treasures” among the junk, so this made perfect sense to me. Of course I still threw everything out. haha
Tracey
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You’re not talking about empty beer cans, are you?
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Thanks, Tracey! Good for you for having the discipline to throw things away. My daughter’s just under a year old, and I haven’t thrown out much of anything! Hopefully, more time will help with that!
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I’ve had 28 years to practice. Believe me, you will learn to throw out her junk!
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Dear Emily,
I think there’s a larger story here. You left us with lots of questions. The title says that something ominous is afoot. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle! Yes, I don’t think he came by these things honestly, or that he has pure intentions in keeping them. Sorry for my late reply to your comment! Post-election woe and a teething baby have left me without much mental capacity for writing and the blog! Getting back to it now.
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Wow, what an ending. They both find something dear to their hearts and the evil owner will make them pay for it. Creepy and imaginative, I love it.
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Thank you!
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This had a real Ah-ha! moment at the end. How magical. I hope the shopkeeper is kinder than he appears. I truly like this story.
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Thank you! Unfortunately, I fear that he isn’t very kind at all–very glad you enjoyed it!
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Great story, Emily. Now, you’ve got the wheels turning in the reader’s mind. That’s the mark of a fine author.
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Thanks so much! And sorry for the late reply!
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Despite being creepy I still felt my heart was warmed by her finding her Father’s shirt. Maybe I kist don’t want to go down a dark road with the story.
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Thanks for reading and for your comment! I think there is some warmth here for me too, despite the shifty circumstances.
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This is like the great start to a longer story. What’s happened to her Dad, is the storekeeper implicated or not?
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Good questions! And I’m not sure I know the answers–the shopkeeper is definitely involved in something nefarious. Thanks for reading and commenting!
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A great beginning of a story that one really wants to hear the continuation of.
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Thank you!
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I like that this feels like a full story piece but opens up to the reader taking it and running with possibilities. Nice one!
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Thank you, Poppy!
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i think he knew something about her dad, but it wouldn’t come free.
as for commenting on blogger, some sites test if you’re legit by requiring you to respond to a question. if you ignore it, your message won’t be posted.
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Thanks for reading and commenting! Definitely not getting something for nothing from this guy.
Yes–I go through the process where I click to prove I’m not a robot, but then I get stuck in a loop where I keep pressing post after that, and it asks for confirmation over and over again. I suspect it’s a cookies/privacy settings thing? I’ll try and spend some more time on it this week. Thanks for the thought! And sorry for my late reply–election shock and then teething baby and I haven’t been at my writing much!
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I need to hear more, and thats just great
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Thanks, Michael!
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This was great: a full story that still left me wondering, “what next”…..
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Thanks, Louise!
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Very intriguing story, I liked it.
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Thank you!
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