Photo by Susan Wenzel
Ashes to ashes, he always said. It sounded strange until you got to know him. He’d lost his wife and spread her ashes out over the ocean. They say he never recovered. On any given day, you could find him on the pier, muttering to himself, holding a seashell in his hand. Rumors swirled among townsfolk that there were ashes held captive inside that shell, the last remains of his beloved wife. You could set your watch by his appearance, until you couldn’t. He just disappeared one day, the opened shell floating along the shoreline the only evidence of his departure.
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Another Friday, another image to inspire my muse this week from Madison Woods and her clever #FridayFictioneers. A picture, a 100 words. You can do this!
I welcome constructive criticism. I would love to read your thoughts in a comment.
Thanks for stopping in!!
08/13/2012 at 7:59 am
What a beautiful piece this is. I love the ending – a little bit of mystery about whether he’s gone to join her or started his life afresh. Either way, this is a lovely love story and really well-written.
08/13/2012 at 10:57 am
Thanks, Jen. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
08/13/2012 at 2:12 am
It’s such a touching story! Thank you for writing it.
08/13/2012 at 10:56 am
Thank you for reading it!
08/11/2012 at 4:39 pm
Flowed well and I like to think he joined her.
08/12/2012 at 1:07 am
Thanks, Yaral!
08/10/2012 at 9:25 pm
The calm mood to this works so well, paired with that ending — the suggestion that maybe he’s gone to join his wife at last, only in his own way — it was great. Among my top 5 for the week I think!
Brian (http://pinionpost.com/2012/08/10/the-reunion/)
08/10/2012 at 9:48 pm
That’s quite an honor, Brian. Thank you so much!
08/10/2012 at 9:34 am
A beautiful and poignant love story, SAM. Nicely done.
–Jan
http://janmorrill.wordpress.com/2012/08/10/fridayfictioneers-flashfiction-shell-phone/
08/10/2012 at 12:38 pm
Thank you, Jan!
Sent from my iPad
08/10/2012 at 8:30 am
Very gentle. Check out the lyrics to a song by Pearl Jam called, “Force of Nature.” I was reminded of it by your story.
08/10/2012 at 12:39 pm
Oh! I definitely will!
08/10/2012 at 6:48 am
I suspect she wasn’t ashes as such and was some mermaid or other who eventually came to claim him. Really well written and thank you
08/10/2012 at 12:40 pm
I love this idea!!
08/13/2012 at 7:13 am
Oh good, glad you did
08/10/2012 at 6:11 am
Touching. You painted a vivid picture in a cramped space of 100 words. I felt the old man’s pain.
I’m #11 on the list.
08/10/2012 at 12:41 pm
Thank you. I will be by.
08/10/2012 at 5:08 am
Oh very nice. Reminds me of the song “The Light House’s tale” in a way.
08/10/2012 at 12:41 pm
I will have to check that song out!
08/10/2012 at 1:21 am
The local legend who is remembered long after he’s gone. I love the idea of some of the wife’s ashes being in the shell.
08/10/2012 at 12:43 pm
I’m so glad you liked it.
08/10/2012 at 12:10 am
I think your sad and lonely man jumped off the pier to join his wife. This reminds me of an elderly man who lives in my bldg. He misses his belated wife so much he carries a tiny, plastic bag everywhere he goes. Inside is her photo but I often wonder if her ashes are in that bag as well.
08/10/2012 at 12:45 pm
Thats so interesting!! I think he may have joined his wife in the ocean too, but he didn’t tell me so I’m enjoying reading everyone else’s take.
08/10/2012 at 12:02 am
enjoyed it…. hope he went to a better place…
08/10/2012 at 12:45 pm
I hope he did tooo!
08/09/2012 at 11:38 pm
What a sad but intriguing story. I enjoyed it greatly. I think he missed her so that he stepped off the pier to join her. Great use of the photo!
~Susan (www.susanwenzel.com)
08/10/2012 at 12:47 pm
This was a fabulous photo. Thank you for the inspiration!
08/09/2012 at 10:03 pm
wow, great story Sam.
08/10/2012 at 12:47 pm
Thanks, Raina!
08/09/2012 at 4:39 pm
Amazing short story Sam. Loved it!
08/09/2012 at 9:30 pm
thanks!
08/09/2012 at 3:38 pm
I really like the line ‘You could set your watch by his appearance, until you couldn’t.’ A great story.
08/09/2012 at 9:29 pm
thank you, claireful
08/09/2012 at 12:05 pm
Nice one, I think this image will stay with me.
08/09/2012 at 1:07 pm
Now that is a great compliment. Thank you so much. You made my day!!!
08/09/2012 at 11:03 am
What happened to him? I must know! Great read, thanks!
08/09/2012 at 1:02 pm
You’re welcome!! Thank you!!
08/09/2012 at 10:20 am
A well written piece.
A sad tale with a touch of mystery.
Thanks for a great read.
08/09/2012 at 1:02 pm
Thanks for being a great reader and offering your kind thoughts on my writing.
08/09/2012 at 9:04 am
Awww…this is touching and can be so real. Very well done. Mine is here http://boomiebol.wordpress.com/2012/08/09/this-image-friday-fictioneers-810/
08/09/2012 at 12:59 pm
Thanks, boomiebol.
08/09/2012 at 7:20 am
I liked it too. Very soft and touching.
I kept visualizing him listening to the shell as if his wife’s voice could be heard inside of it.
I also, being the humorist that I can be, and having just watched an interview between Mel Brooks and Dick Cavett, though of the story that Mel told of someone who tried to throw his father’s ashes into the east river and a wind blew the ashes back on him, and all day he kept dusting himself off crying, I love you dad. I’ll miss you.
08/09/2012 at 12:57 pm
HAHHAHAHHA,. That made me laugh. I like your view on him hearing his wife’s voice from the shell.
08/09/2012 at 2:42 am
Sad and suspenseful. My mind is reeling with ideas about why and how he disappeared.
http://ebooksscifi.wordpress.com/2012/08/09/aromog-and-modos-copyright-2012-ilyan-kei-lavanway/
08/09/2012 at 12:58 pm
Oh good. That’s exactly how I wanted it.
08/08/2012 at 9:35 pm
Wow! Well told
08/08/2012 at 9:55 pm
Thank you!
08/08/2012 at 6:05 pm
Not all stories have to be sinister. In fact, my whole life is made up of a continuous string of non-sinister stories!!
I like the idea of the ashes being held in the shell although, as with most rumors, I don’t think they’d fit in a shell this size and I doubt the townspeople were into symbolism. But who knows? I hope they’re together now!
08/08/2012 at 6:07 pm
perhaps he didn’t sprinkle them all and saved a bit for the shell?
thanks for stopping in, Janet!
08/08/2012 at 1:18 pm
sadly sweet
I can see some resident of the town standing on the pier sharing the story with a newcomer.
08/08/2012 at 1:23 pm
I was hoping for that. Somehow, lately my stories aren’t coming out as sinister as I want them to, LOL.