We mocked her filigree curtains.
“They’re sooo passé, Aunt Josephine.”
She smiled; said they afforded privacy, and we’d understand when we were older.
We laughed, wondering what a woman of 82 would do that required privacy.
After she died, we sorted through her possessions and found a hand-written, leather bound journal, together with her accounts books.
And we understood, reading it, that the lace curtains were not to prevent people looking in; they were to prevent them noticing her looking out.
She left us the house.
And a livelihood.
If you don’t immediately understand this, remember that in short fiction the title often forms part of the story. 🙂 Congratulations to Rochelle, the illustrious leader of Friday Fictioneers, whose third book in her trilogy has been released this week. Looking forward to reading it.
How interesting that you focussed on the curtains too!
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Well, there’s got to be a thirty percent possibility of that this week. I’m not big on horses and I feel as though I’ve done snow to death.
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Dear Sandra,
I’m fond of those curtains myself. 😉 And the view from my writer’s garret. I’d love to know what’s in that book of secrets…or would I? Well written as always.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Must be lovely to have horses so close. Except in high summer I guess. Thanks for the photo prompt.
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It was nice until they moved the horses. It’s still a beautiful scene to look out on. Needless to say, it’s my favorite place in the house. 😉
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Aww, I didn’t know they moved the horses. Bummer. 😦
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As cleverly conceived and constructed as always, Sandra, fascinating little tale with delicious twist.
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Thanks CE. 🙂
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I was hooked at the title all the way through to a great ending. There are a few Aunt Josephine’s in every neighbourhood, they’re just not usually as enterprising!
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A girl has to make her way in this world… 😉
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Wonderfully subtle as always, Sandra.
janet
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Thanks, Janet. Hope all is well with you.
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I love that you took a small detail and did something fresh with it. You painted a great picture here. Nice work.
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Many thanks. 🙂
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Oh, now I have to wonder what Aunt Josephine was all about. May I please open that journal? Well done, as always, Sandra.
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Thanks Alicia. 🙂
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Ooooo…blackmail business handed down. Nice!
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Not a lot of goodwill in this business, but a tidy profit to be made… 🙂
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What secrets she must have seen. Lovely writing Sandra, as always.
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Thanks Iain.
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Oh dear, oh dear! So all those poor beleagured neighbours who danced at her funeral will wake up to a new nightmare.
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I think there might have been a price-hike, too. 🙂
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Ooooh..nice one, Sandra! Rather a lot of uncomfortable people ….
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Thanks Sue. 🙂
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I really love the hints you drops… I can actually see her sitting there finding stories… I wonder if she had binoculars too.
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I expect she’s prepared for all eventualities. 🙂 Thanks for reading, Bjorn.
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Love it! The same holds true for window blinds. heheheee! 🙂
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🙂 Thanks.
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What an interesting and naughty lady,
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Thanks for reading Michael.
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Fabulous. I like Aunt Josephine.
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As long as she doesn’t have something on you, Louise. 🙂
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i never expected where it would lead. very nice.
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Thank you!
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I wonder what was in that book. Probably some accounting of the bank notes, I’m sure, or a novel, maybe of best-seller status, etc. I hate to think she was running a brothel, but, one near knows.
You delivered the goods, Sandra, with taste and excellence.
Five out of five glad-to-see-you-agains. 🙂
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I meant to say “one never knows.” It’s 5:26 AM as I’m writing this! 😦
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We had a neighbor named Flossie who was somewhat like Josephine. That journal would make a good movie script.
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🙂 Thanks for reading, Russell.
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I shall be reminded of this whenever I see filigree curtains. Loved this one.
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Thanks for reading. 🙂
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Less high-tech than all this webcam blackmailing I keep hearing about, but no less lucrative. Nice one!
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You can’t beat the old ways… 😉
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Ooohh that aunt Josephine.
Absolutely loved, hope they don’t blackmail the wrong person.
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I suspect Josephine has been orderly in her journal entries. I hope so, anyway.
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I agree wholeheartedly about the importance of the title. It can easily save you a couple of sentences. Trick is give enough, but not too much, away.
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Yes, I could have been a bit more subtle here, though. 🙂
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Merry Christmas, Sandra 🙂
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And the same to you! Have a good one.
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Oooh great take – I do like a bit of blackmail!
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I take it you have a journal yourself then? Thanks for reading, sorry to be so late.
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Haha I don’t but there’s a thought…
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I often use my title to explain my stories as well.
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It’s more important in a 100 word story, but always worth giving the title a great deal of thought, I believe.
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Dear Sandra,
I love this type of story. Uncovering secrets and other goodies after someone has passed on.
I think Aunt Josephine would have been interesting to know. I like the way you chose the curtains over the farm. I must start to look at the photographs from a different eye. Thank you for the lesson.
Enjoy your weekend …
Isadora 😎
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Thanks for commenting Isadora, sorry to be so late acknowledging. As I said somewhere up the page, I don’t really know enough about horses to write about them, but I see lots of others did! Have a nice Christmas.
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I’ve been on a Christmas holiday cruise. I just arrived back yesterday. I’ll be trying to catch up too. It happens. : – )
You have a fantastic ‘2017’ May you have more love than your heart can hold and smiles to accompany all of it. 😍🎄☃️🎉😎
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A crafty lady, that Aunt Josephine. A great twist, made me laugh.
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Thank you! glad you liked it.
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I’ve had neighbours like that, though theirs was mostly a non-pecuniary interest 🙂 Nothing escaped their gaze, CIA could learn a thing or two.
Nice story.
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Thank you!
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“And a livelihood”
Is the narrator a PI or a cop?
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Just a nosy old lady out to make a buck or two. 🙂
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Fantastic story! I loved the reveal.
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Thank you Clare!
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Bad Aunt Josephine. I will never look at curtain twitchers quite the same again, wondering if they have a book of secrets, too. Better watch my step. There’s one of them living in my road! An excellent take on the photo prompt, as per usual.
By the way, I just saw your picture in the January 2017 edition of Writing Magazine, showing you as winning 2nd place in short story category of the Magic Oxygen Literary Prize. It’s such fun when you see a familiar face looking at you out of a magazine! Wishing you hearty congratulations somewhat belatedly.
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Thanks for reading Sarah. And thanks for your congrats – it was funny opening my mags and seeing my face grinning back at me. 🙂
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Beautiful take on the prompt. I thought the horses would be the focus on every story this time. Loved it.
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Thanks for reading Indira. 🙂
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Well done! Aunt Josephine would have been a keeper!
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A book-keeper? 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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I also want to know what she’s seen. The ultimate curtain twitcher
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Every street has one. One of my former neighbours obligingly told me that she had her mirrors placed so that she could see who was coming up and down my path. She then realised what she’d said, and assured me it was only in the interests of security! 🙂
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Missed you last week, Sandra–– I messaged Rochelle, worried. Alas, we all take breaks it seems. I didn’t quite get this one, even with the title, but the comments are another piece of short fiction! 😉 Good to see your story this week. Happy holidays!
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Sometimes the muse just won’t visit, Dawn, but thanks for enquiring after me. A simple case of blackmail this, but not to worry… 🙂
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Oh indeed… I’ve struggled mightily with muses this year! Just glad to have you back! 😉
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