They make quite a collection when they’re together on the mantelpiece. I dust them every day, very carefully; I don’t want any more accidents. One little nudge, and whoops, china and ash all over the carpet. It’s the devil to vacuum out. Happened to my brother Alastair just the other day. But I never could stand him. Sometimes I like to rearrange them: Dad beside Jeremy – couldn’t abide each other in life, or Agnes next to Peggy. I wonder who will tire first of that incessant chatter? But little Minky, my darling pussy cat, she’s always at the front.
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This is a 100-word flash fiction story inspired by the picture above (this week provided by Sally Ann Hall. Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Writers around the world write their own 100-word stories in response to a picture. Click here to join in, or here to read some others.
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This week I was lucky enough to have my website featured on the WordPress Discover site, which brought a lot of visitors to my previous Friday Fictioneers story, and hopefully a few more to Rochelle and other Friday Fictioneers writers.
This brought a much needed smile to my face. Thank you!
Thanks Susan!
I loved the rearranging of the urns
Thanks Neil.
I feel sort of sad for her, sounds like she’s the last of the family left. At the same time, very amusing 🙂
I like to think she actually killed them all, although I don’t know why.
That puts a new spin on it…!
Very nice.
Thanks!
I love this, Clare, straight out of St Mary Mead.
But the title made me think of Inspector Clouseau!
Oh yes, ‘My little minkey’! Thanks.
Decided to explore the world of flash fiction tonight and found this with the help of Google. It did make me smile but also got me worrying about this strange woman and her macabre collection! Great read.
Thanks Lesly! Glad you found it, and liked it.
Is she very old to have outlived everyone or did she play an active part in it?
Ceayr mentioned Inspector Clouseau, but my first thought was of a Monty Python interview where they “accidentally” overturned the urn with Graham Chapman’s ashes….
Up to you, how all her relatives came to be dead! I don’t know that MP sketch, although I’m very flattered if that’s what popped into your head.
If you have time, you should take a look (the set up is that since Graham Chapman had passed away, and the entire troupe was getting together for the first time in ages, they brought his ashes to the interview): https://youtu.be/Ox9bcx_LZMs
Hah! That’s very good.
I love this Claire, it made me smile. I love the character you have created here, she seems like a bit of a chatterbox herself 🙂
Certainly a lot going on in head! Thank you.
Not sure I could stand one deceased relation’s ashes on my mantle let alone a whole bunch of them.
No, not normal behaviour
I love this. Reminds me a bit of the Hall of Ancestors in Mulan.
Thanks! I’ve never watched it, but hoping its a good reference!
So. I’m not the only one who thoughts turned to ashes this week! Great take Claire
Click to read my FriFic!
It was the first thought that came to me. Thanks Keith.
What a deliciously grotesque little chiller! I’m sure you’re right about her active role in her relatives’ deaths!
Thanks Penny!
Why does this sound so creepy and sinister to me? I just hope the cat had a natural death.
I’m glad it does. It did to me too.
I felt that it was not enough to kill them all… she found pleasure in torture them also in their urns, love where you took it.
Thanks Bjorn.
Wonderfully macabre! I loved it.
Thanks Edith.
Oh, what fun. I love the idea of putting the ashes next to one another, due to love-hate, or love-love but the fact that the cat is always in front made me truly smile.
Cat’s should always go in front!
Yes!!!! I totally agree. I so admire kitties. We’ve always had THE BEST cats ever.
Okay, that’s funny. What a strange person, though, dusting those things and making sure the cat is foremost. Made me smile.
Thanks Gran!
Dear Claire,
I liked the eccentric, if not macabre, feel to your MC. Nicely done.
Shalom
Rochelle
Thanks Rochelle.
I love the rearranging of the urns to drive each other crazy in the afterlife…
Oh my goodness!
Great story, Claire.
Thank you!
Brilliant!
Thanks Hilary.
LOL. I love the idea of rearranging them to put those that didn’t like each other together. Sounds quite therapeutic.
It does, doesn’t it? Thanks Irene.
She has a load of dead relatives – how many of them did she kill, I wonder?
Hmm, I wonder that too…
That was wonderful! I loved it. :o)
Thank you! (And I love your name!)
Haha! It’s a joke from my childhood and when I was setting up the blog it just popped into my head. It must have been fate. :o)
Now isn’t this what we should all do with our dear departed? I’d be happy to sit on someone’s mantelpiece.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Yes, definitely!
I like the tone of mischief, how she puts people next to each other who loathed each other in life – she’s quite the stirrer! Very dark, but in a good way! Congats on being featured on Discover – nice to be appreciated by WP and to increase your followers 🙂
That’s a good way of putting it: tone of mischief! Thanks Lynn.
My pleasure 🙂
This was wonderful! Wish I had thought of it. lol
Thanks Dawn!
This story is amazing. 🙂
Thank you!