In The Shed

/ Dee

I have been AWOL from Friday Fictioneers for too long; hopefully the reduction in workload will allow me to resume my writing which I have really missed, along with the interaction with my FF friends. Thanks as always to our ever supportive leader  Rochelle and thanks too this week to Doug MacIlroy for supplying the photo prompt.

Copyright - Douglas MacIlroy

Copyright – Douglas MacIlroy

Genre: Memoir

Word Count: 100

In The Shed

It’s in the shed, go and find it.’

Mum, I don’t like going in the shed, come with me?’

‘I thought you would have forgotten that little scare by now. Old Sam died two years ago. He was only seeking shelter from the snow after all.’

I wish I could forget the dirty old man I found lying on sacks in the corner. I was only five and with the curiosity and innocence of childhood had smiled and asked him his name.

The memory of his rough hands on me and the smell in the shed will haunt me forever.

 

29 thoughts on “In The Shed”

  3. Something happened in the wood shed… I like the way your story left it hanging in the balance there. And it’s lovely to see you back again. Hope you can stay this time… 🙂

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    • Dear Rochelle
      There had been a heavy fall of snow that winter and my mother was taking my cousin and I to Mr Taylor’s farm to play on the hill. I had gone to the shed to get my toboggan when I found a man in there. Turns out he was a local tramp and he was taking shelter in the shed. I remember screaming and as he was trying to pull himself up, he caught hold of my arms to steady himself and that’s when my mother came rushing in.

      Nothing happened, but the memory comes back now and then, it really did affect me for quite a while and I don’t ever remember going into the shed again.

      Take care

      Dee

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  5. Dear Dee,

    Someone I know read this story and exclaimed, ‘Eeww’. Very well written and characterized. A perfect fit for the prompt, yet outside of the spider web that so many have gotten snared in. I hope that you are free now from the worst of the memories. Thank you for sharing.

    Aloha,

    Doug

    P.S. Welcome back.

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    • Dear Doug

      How lovely to hear from you and than you for your kind comments.
      Though the memory does come back from time to time, nothing really happened except a bad scare.
      Glad you liked it.

      Take care

      Dee

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  6. This is grim… and can’t be just sure how sinister Old Sam really was. Does mum know the full story?
    That said, this was an excellent use of 100 words. This take on the prompt was chilling without being graphic.
    Well done.
    KT

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    • Thank you so much, I’m pleased you liked it. Mum came running as soon as she heard me yell, I was unharmed though did have nightmares for a while I had never been that close to a tramp before. I didn’t go near the shed after that.

      Dee

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  7. Welcome back to the playground, Dee! You’ve returned with a zinger of a story. Good work telling such a tragic tale in so few words. I want to smack that momma for not grasping the trauma of the event.

    All my best,
    Marie Gail

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    • Thank you Marie Gail – mum came a running when she heard me shout, but I don’t think she ever understood just how scared I was. It was Ok to say it’s only Old Sam the tramp, but I had never been that close to a tramp before, or since come to think of it!

      Thank you for reading

      Dee

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    • Yes they do. As soon as I saw the spider I thought of the encounter in the shed. He turned out to be the local tramp but I had never been that close to anyone that dirty before, I was quite scared.
      Thanks for reading

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  10. I like the dialogue between the two – sometimes we mothers really don’t pick up well on the torrents of emotions going on in our kids. And your description of her memory of her frightening moment is effective – smells and sensations do linger in the mind.

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    • Thank you Margaret, so pleased you liked it. You are right, though mothers do have finely tuned antennae we don’t always pick up on everything.
      Have a lovely Christmas

      Dee

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  14. Ohhhh creepy and great! Mu grandma had a shed. It was never scary, but I’m sure had I gone through what that kid went through, I’d feel the same way.

    Well-done, Dee! Good to see you. I’m trying to catch up on things at FF Central myself.

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  15. Dee, Welcome back. Good story. I’m glad it was just a scare for you and not more serious.. As a child, I lived in a neighborhood where train tracks were near. Men “rode the rails” and used to come to our house for food. Mom would give them a sandwich if they came to the kitchen door. They were always polite, but mothers would warn us children not to go too near the tracks to play. They didn’t say why, but the warning was enough. I love your Santa theme on the page. Happy Holidays to you and yours. 🙂 —- Suzanne

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    • Dear Suzanne
      So pleased you liked the story and thank you for sharing your memories of the men who ‘rode the rails’ and the kindness shown them by your mom.
      Old Sam was a well known character and quite hatmless it serms, but he sure scared me that morning.
      Glad you liked the Santa theme, I really love Christmas and the timed spent with family and fruends.
      Happy Holidays to you and those you love.

      Dee 🎄

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