‘My Aunt – my mother’s sister – had a sable stole.’
‘Stole?’ Cara frowned.
‘A collar, a scarf, made from real fur,’ I said. ‘Once, I came home early and it was draped over the back of a kitchen chair. I was reaching out towards it when she came down the stairs, my father following her.’
Cara raised her eyebrows.
‘She said I could stroke it and touch the tiny paws if I said nothing to my mother.’
‘And did you?’ Cara asked.
‘Touch it, or say something?’ I sighed. ‘She left me the stole in her will. I watched it burn.’
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The name of this house took me in a less than obvious direction this week for my 100-word Friday Fictioneers story. Join in. Read other people’s. The picture this week is supplied by Ceayr.
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Author and book-blogger, Jen Campbell is doing a worldwide competition to win one of five copies of my book, Our Endless Numbered Days, or Sweet Home by Carys Bray. Click here to enter.
Delicately done and all the more effective for it – and I like that the narrator ends her account without answering. Left me thinking.
Thank you! I like leaving it slightly open ended.
Dear Claire,
Ever so subtle and well told. I read it a couple of times and am better for having done so. Funny that her aunt should leave her the stole, isn’t it? As for your take on the prompt…perfect.
Shalom,
Rochelle
I guess as payment, assuming she said nothing.
A twist with a twist. I like it.
Ω
Thank you!
I like the last bit especially. One of the things I enjoy about your stories is that you give the reader just enough information to construct an entire reality around the hundred words. The burning of the stole, enlivened by the active sentence. Dynamic and tense with a great rhythm. Well done.
Thank you so much. I like readers to have to do some of the work too 😉
You really led us gently into that open ended conclusion didn’t you! The art of saying something indirectly. Magnificent.
Thanks so much Graham. I like that we still don’t definitely know if she told or not. It’s up to the reader!
I really like this… first of all there is an inherent pun in the combination “sable stole” (as if there was a sabre stolen)… and that worked so well into confusion resulting in explanation.. Then the last part of the dialogue that really turned it all around again… I actually think this could be a brought directly into a play… (are you becoming a playwright also?)..
C – really nothing to add…
Thanks Bjorn. ‘Stole’ is such an odd word for the thing you put around a neck. No plans for being a playwright yet!
Almost as if she was buying her continued silence. This scenario holds certain memories for me. 🙁 Well done.
Oh no! But the writer in me is curious – although I’m not expecting to you explain publicly. And yes, I think that’s what the aunt is doing.
I like how Cara raised her eyebrows (simultaneously to mine). It is so difficult for children to be faithful to both parents and not be torn apart. You present guilt and regret for betrayal subtly and with great skill, I have nothing to C.
Thank you! It is so hard, no matter how hard the parents try (and that’s not very hard in this case)
Oh… this one is a great take on prompt, great idea, cleverly executed… just perfect! Says so much; the unsaid definitely louder and, delightfully I see, that hint of darkness too. BRAVO!
Hah! Of course – I had to make up for the lacking darkness last week! Thanks, Poppy.
I keep reading the first line as “…stable stole” even though I know it doesn’t say that…lol.
Hah! Now that would be odd
The last thing I would want to do is to touch the tiny paws!! I prefer my little paws alive. Glad she got to burn it, but still thinking about the full beaning, said and unsaid of your 100 words.
Me neither. Thanks for reading.
This does produce a shudder both for the stole itself – those odd bits of animal that women actually used to wear – and then mirrored the whole nasty betrayal. A lot here.
Excellent take.
Excellent tale.
Betrayal and bribery, guilt and petty revenge.
Fabulous.
And that is such a perfect summing up. Thank you!
Terrible secret for a child to have to keep.
Yes, and I think she did. Thanks for reading.
What an awful position to put a child in! A wonderfully nuanced narrative!
Thank you. No, not good, but it makes for an interesting story I hope.
First reading….interesting. Second reader, following the relations, I realized why she burned the stole. She was witness to her father and aunt having an affair. As if touching the tiny paws could erase that image and that knowledge. I’d burn it too.
Well done!
Thanks Lillian. Glad you enjoyed it.
An exquisitely worded, painful story that leaves so much to the imagination, and still lets the reader know about all the undercurrents swirling around the edges of the story!
Loved it.
Thank you so much, for reading and taking the time to comment.
Evil Aunt. Great story.
Definitely a nasty piece of work.
Different times, different awarenesses … nicely done. 🙂
Yes, children’s sensitivities weren’t considered important then.
My aunt had a fox fur tippet which I loved. That was before the politically correct days, of course.
‘A fox fur tippet’ – what a lovely sounding phrase, even if it is a pretty horrible thing.
Oh so well done! And yes, I love that you don’t clarify just what was or was not said!
Not my favourite aunt…
Mine neither… thanks Dale
A subtle story of love and betrayal. Not her favourite aunt obviously.
That she left it to her in her will shows how narcissistic she was. I love that the niece burned it.
You’re right. Thanks Dawn.
It’s when the details click together and you read it the second time that the weight of this story really comes across. I really liked how the main plot happened without anyone really mentioning it.
Thanks Martin. Glad you enjoyed it.
So many layers to this simple sable stole, Claire. The sense of betrayal is powerful.
Thanks, Dawn. Glad you liked it.
Ooh so much going on in 100 words! I wonder how this affected the narrator’s relationship with her father too.
Good point. Not sure it could have been good.
Sorry about the ‘Oh’ above. Not sure what happened there. I was going to say ‘Oh dear …’ but I’ve totally lost my train of thought now. So I’ll just say that I really like this story, and I admire how you’ve suggested at so much in the narrator’s motives – obviously she didn’t tell, but why? And with the burning of the stole, is she guilt-ridden, or relieved? So much to ponder. Wonderful.
Yes, lots to ponder, because I don’t know the answers! Thanks for reading and commenting Margaret.
Damn this Flash Fiction stuff – it’s addictive!
Love this piece.
I feel for the glamorous aunt who has to bear the brunt of disapproval from all the adults commenting here! Think Daddy had a part to play too!!!
However, a child’s eye view would definately put her in the villain’s role!
You’re absolutely right on both counts.