By some miracle, seven days have come and gone since Rochelle posted last weeks photo. If that isn’t enough to convince you that miracles occur, take note of my word count and let all doubt go.
If you were hoping to see Penn again this week, I beg your forgiveness. Truthfully, Penn was the first one I saw in this prompt. But then…
A little angel on my shoulder whispered, “This one’s mine.”
Please join me in welcoming Angelique into Claire’s library for the first time.
Copyright-Claire Fuller
Shelved (80 words. Eighty words. A-T words. 8. 0. You will never see this again.)
“Everyone has a story,” Claire said, “full of secret memories and hidden sorrows. You can read it in their eyes, if you look deeply. Or…”
She pulled a small volume from a bottom shelf and tucked Angelique’s report inside the back cover.
“Is that the fat man’s story?” Angelique asked.
“This thing?” Claire waved the thin book in the air, then looked up at the floor-to-ceiling bookcases lining the cozy room’s walls. “Heavens, child. This whole room belongs to Steve.”
*****
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Lisa Dunn 
I like this a lot, but it’s a little bit mysterious.
Thanks. Maybe I should have used those extra twenty words! 🙂
That’s quite some life Steve’s had. 🙂 Nicely done, good to see Angelique back.
Thanks. I’ve missed her. 🙂
Ahha! But it’s all vinyl on the bottom shelf. I agree with Bjorn – mysterious!
Claire
Err… Could it be the soundtrack to Steve’s life?
No worries – I had the same quandary about the vinyl, and in the end decided to simply ignore its existence (though I would love to know what it’s comprised of Claire!)
The book is holding Angelique’s secrets? I would think a whole library would be needed for this.
I should have been clearer. The report is Angelique’s accounting of the fat man’s end, in which she played a prominent role. The books hold the secrets of his life.
AnElephant doesn’t like to appear dumb, but this went way over his head.
Sorry.
Sorry to you, Elephant. I don’t think I was as clear as I should have been. Short version – Library holds story of Steve’s life. Angelique’s report concerns his final moments, completes the collection.
Again, sorry for not giving more information.
Aha!
So Steve is the fat man?
Judging by other comments, it seems these characters have appeared previously.
Would it be clearer if AnElephant knew them?
Probably. Short story is: Angelique is a bit of a death angel, and Fat Man/Steve was one of her assignments. He wasn’t really a nice fellow.
the ending said it all… if only my story were similar 🙂 nice.
Thanks. I was going for the idea – at least it was in the back of my mind – that everyone, regardless of who they are, has a story that could fill an entire library.
Dear Lisa,
A life well lived. Nicely told. And Claire’s library was a double entendre for you this week.
Shalom,
Rochelle
I’m not sure his life was well-lived… just that it was lived. I smiled as I typed that line about Claire’s library, too.
Hahaha! Very good. Libraries rock, you know that, don’t you? 😉
They do indeed! 🙂
Just beautiful. I love that idea, of us each having not just a story of our lives, but a whole library. 🙂
Thanks!
The ‘Fat Man’ was the guy on the bus when I first met Angelique… I’m thinking. ‘Claire’ must have a lot of rooms… everyone as a story.
Lisa, I read your story out loud… I do this with yours and a few others… It read well.
Bingo – Fat Man Steve was in my debut FF story! (If you remember than, you may not want to read any of these books!)
I thought about the size of Claire’s house, too. I’m thinking she must have some magical rotating library or something like J.K. Rowling’s Room of Requirement – the door opens to whosever library she needs at the time.
I’m charmed that you read this aloud. The life words take on after they are written is marvelous! 🙂
As always, thanks for stopping by!
I really like it. It locates us, but leaves a lot of space for imagination.