Copyright Jan Fields
You see things in the forest… in the dark.
Sometimes rabbits, startled by torchlight, or dead voles and dormice, abandoned by fleeing owls or foxes.
I hurry back to camp; no-one saw me leave and now they’ve kicked over the embers, everyone’s gone to bed.
The lamp is extinguished in my parents’ tent; Mummy was tipsy, and is already snoring.
But a light still burns in Aunt Josephine’s tent, and silhouettes move in strange ways.
I’m getting a pony; maybe a puppy too. I know this.
Because otherwise I’ll tell Mummy what I saw in the forest… in the dark.
Something of a revamp this week, I’m afraid. I’m still trying to restore cognitive functions after entertaining three grandchildren for five days. We loved having them, and are amazed that one pink sock was the only thing left behind. This must be a record. Thanks to Rochelle for her leadership of Friday Fictioneers, in what I know was an equally busy week for her.
castelsarrasin 
Lovely sinister feel to this. Got to love a family secret!
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They can prove very fruitful, for a little girl with a commercial streak. 🙂
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What a spoilt little girl. She will go far, unfortunately.
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Oh, Aunt Josephine, this is going to cost you dear! Love your descriptions of the night (those dropped, dead creatures hinting at the dark twist to com), Sandra, the little girls voice and her calculatiing certainty. Nothing all that sweet and naive about that one. Hope you recover quickly from your lovely – exhausting – week.
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I’m on the mend, Lynn. The same can’t be said for the washing machine… Thanks for reading about this particular little horror. My visitors were angels. (some of the time)
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My pleasure. Speedy recovery!
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I love this, Pastoral and sinister
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Thanks Neil.
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Dear Sandra,
What a sweet, innocent little girl. Too bad she wasn’t in your story. 😉 Loved the voice in this, it was almost audible. Mommy and Aunt Josephine better mind their P’s and Q’s. Revamps are nice. No laws against updates. Glad to see you survived the grands. Your character isn’t based on one of them, is it? 😯
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks for reading Rochelle. No, my little visitors were devastatingly candid. No sooner was it thought than it was said. 😉
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Love this. Reminds me a bit of Cold Comfort Farm. “I saw something nasty in the woodshed!”
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Thanks, glad you liked it. 🙂
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Wonderful little story with more than a hint of the dark. Loved this Sandra.
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Thanks Neel.
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Oh dear. This child could grow up to be rather dangerous 🙂
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And rich… 🙂
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🙂
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Oh, the joys of tent camping and lights. HEHEH!
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All part of the learning curve… 🙂
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Now I won’t get sleep wondering what she saw in the dark 😦
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I hope not… 🙂
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Hmmm, I hate to guess at what she saw, but I’m wondering if it is Daddy who will buy the pony and puppy, not so-called “Aunt” Josephine as others have said….
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If Aunt Josephine has any sense, she’ll get in first with the puppy and leave it to Daddy to provide the pony… 🙂
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Right, the big purchase needs to be left to Daddy….
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Aunt Josephine is making hanky panky with Daddy? Wow.
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I wonder what and all the little girl saw “in the dark”. The little girl’s curiosity intrigues me .
Wonderful story, Sandra! 🙂
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I’m worried about what this child will be like as an adult. She already knows the manipulation game… I think you’ve recovered your cognitive funktions very well, Sandra. 🙂
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Well now… if Daddy and Aunt Josephine are not going to wait to be in a more secluded area, then they have to suffer the consequences. Sharp kid!
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Looks like Daddy’s in trouble! Loved the images of kicked over embers and silhouettes moving in strange ways.
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The clever kid who wants a puppy :). A Clever take on the prompt too!
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Never knew that camping could be such fun or so rewarding.😉😉
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Loved this! Wonderful atmosphere. :o)
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Great story! The character’s voice was beautifully judged, to the extent that it sounded like an internal voice and not spoken out loud.
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It will cost a bit… and the little girl has learned the easiest way to make money… great story.
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Oh, Daddy is a very bad man. I love your descriptions of what one sees in the forest in the night. One heck of a story.
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Great voice. Daddy should be proud, it will cost him now but the little girl is going to grow up to be a fine politician one day.
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Oh me, Oh my … What little girls see when they spy !!
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You’re never too young to start your blackmailing career! I liked the atmosphere of your story.
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Your little girl sounds very well versed the the birds and the bees. This little girl sounds a bit too calculating and scary. Well done.
xx Rowena
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This little but big manipulator will always have her way in life as the dark holds many secrets and she knows where to look. loved reading you naughty story, Sandra C.
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Ooooooo this is creepy. Well told. I think that daddy is going to regret this holiday
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what a courageous and inquisitive girl. she’d go far in this world. 🙂
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This is so brilliantly written that even I could see what was going on! Happy blackmailing young lady.
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Blackmail in the forest! Nice. Kids do say the darndest things, don’t they?
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Smart girl. I sense she has a future in business–or politics.
I can relate to your remark about regaining cognitive functions after entertaining three grandchildren for five days. Connie and I can barely make it through fourteen hours in the same situation. The recovery time takes longer after each visit. She feeds them a lot of ice cream, which seems to keep them sated and happy.
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Clever girl she is. Loved the story.
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Infant blackmailer – love it!
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An adolescent blackmailer! She will have an interesting future. Love the dark feel of this.
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You’ve evoked a feeling of worry as to the adult this one will be.
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Lovely take on the picture
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Hmmm, I think this little girl has a future in politics…
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Love the contrast of the lyrical language, paired with the girl’s opportunistic nature.
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