As always, many thanks to our gracious and multi-talented Rochelle who faithfully sets up the stage for Friday Fictioneers to exercise their quills and keyboards and shows us how a story can be told in 100 words.
Thank you Kent for the intriguing photo that made me think of other symbols.
PHOTO PROMPT © Kent Bonham
Garage Sale
Maria is moving.
Tired and lost, she watches her life piled up on tables and chairs, spread out, hung on doors…
Her eyes run along remnants of china, linens, books… then stare at strangers coming and going.
Why are these people here?
For the garage sale, Mama, remember?
Yes. She nods.
Is Julio coming?
No Mama. Papa left when I was four, remember?
Yes. Her eyes close.
A woman fingers her wedding tablecloth of white cotton with blue thread embroidery… and grey wine stains.
Maria never could wash them out of her life either.
For two dollars a stranger buys her shame.
unbuttoned or undone 
A really powerful character study, and a final line with punch! Great!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. Glad you liked it.
LikeLike
Dear Emmy,
That last line not only delivers a punch but adds another chapter to this well told tale. Good job.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Rochelle.It needed to be there to make us care about Maria I think.
LikeLike
Nice one Emmy
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Tony. Glad to see you here.
LikeLike
That last line, wow! Well told.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the wow 😉
I am pleased that you liked it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
well deserved!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh this is heartbreaking and beautifully written.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Claire. The power of emotions in directing our lives is often forgotten past the moment that creates them. and yet, sometimes…
LikeLike
Amazing what we see as mere objects and yet, the emotions and memories attached to them can be so strong. No wonder I have packrat tendencies! 😀 Wonderful story, Emmy! Lots of stuff in there for an engaging tale.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed! We are quite capable of turning objects of little value into quasi relics! Emotions come and go but objects stay, lest we forget.
I am glad you liked my tale inspired by your photo of symbols in black and white. Of course, it is more than that, but that’s what did it for me..
LikeLike
Cool. 🙂
LikeLike
Heartbreaking. So many great lines, and such a powerful ending. Poor Maria.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. If it moved you than I did my job.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a sad story. Others have mentioned your last line – I wonder what the story is behind that?
LikeLike
I could probably write a 1001 words to lay it all out as I imagine it, but I’ll let you build your own version. What do you think happen to Maria? But that said, I am thrilled that you want to know more because it tells me the story works for you . So a big Thank You.
LikeLiked by 1 person
As Rochelle said, that last line!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I needed to put it there to round it out, Glad it grabbed you! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my… that last line! Really. Two dollars for a failed marriage. *sigh*
LikeLike
You have a compassionate heart, but something that doesn’t work is hardly worth more don’t you think? What broken things are we keeping that are reminders of stuff we should let go of and move on? Without shame. Thank you, I appreciate your comment.
LikeLike
Heartbreaking indeed, but there’s so much more I wish I could know…why her shame and not ‘their’ shame? was the failed marriage her fault alone? Well done, emotionally exceptional..tugging my non-existent heartstrings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s the thing about shame it’s not necessarily shared or deserved. I started the tale with 193 words. It explained more, but still not everything. 🙂
I had to be ruthless. I am pleased as punch to have tugged at your nonexistent heartstrings! and you get to write the sequel 😀
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well I would be honoured haha, ruthlessness appreciated! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A generational story in 100 little words. Great work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Tracy. Well,to be honest, it was a challenge! I am very glad you liked it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Really well crafted 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you Helen. I am happy you liked it.
LikeLike
Wonderful, Em, just wonderful.
You take us into a life, into a world, full of pain, regrets and guilt.
In 100 words.
Wonderful, Em, just wonderful.
So good I said it twice.
LikeLiked by 2 people
And with a hurt hand! Awww you are so encouraging! As you know I can be long winded, so this was a challenge. Thank you. Merci, merci.
There, said it twice and raised you one. ( It’s my blog, I can do the funnies :-D)
LikeLike
This was brilliant, Emmy… wow. Like everyone said, so much told in so few words and so much more to be said… Loved it!
LikeLike
Thanks Dale. Sorry for my late reply, life caught up with me there:-/
LikeLiked by 1 person
No worries!! There is no statute of limitations!! I know the feeling!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I could feel the pain, shame and desolation. Well done.
LikeLike
Thank you Sandra. Desolation is a good word for Maria’s old age.
LikeLike
Succinct and sad. Well done.
LikeLike
Thank you so much.
LikeLike
Beautiful poignant story, I really liked it:-)
LikeLike
So glad you did! A life is a terrible thing to waste.
LikeLike
I really love this story.. So much you manage to tell without really writing it.. Truly a wonderful tale
LikeLike
Thank you Björn, It’s like drawing a connect-the-dots story: the reader does all the work.
LikeLike
Ooof – exquisite, precise, heartbreaking.
Amazing what you (you, Em, specifically) can do with 100 words… 🙂
LikeLike
Aww, thanks Kat. I think I had more on the ‘cutting room floor’ that I had left on the page! It’s a good exercise.
I suspect we have all come across old women like Maria who lived their lives scripted by others. Carpe diem my friend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is sad and beautiful all at once.
LikeLike
You are very kind, thank you. I suppose Maria is a reminder that life is not a dressed rehearsal, it is it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Time for her to move on and start again, this time without the wine stains. Great writing.
LikeLike
The poor thing is a bit old to start again; she’s probably on her way to a nursing home, what with Alzheimer’s eating her mind… Cheers!
LikeLike
Good story. I read it and thought “nursing home”. It sounds like Alzheimer’s. My mother suffered from it. She also forgot my dad had died. about fifteen years before. So sad. Well done, Emmy. —- Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Spot on Suzanne. Thank you
LikeLike
Life’s kinda like that these days, isn’t it? 🙂
LikeLike