PHOTO PROMPT © Randy Mazie
Miriam had been taught to take good care of her skin. She knew that sun, cheap soap, and crankiness would result in wrinkles, age spots, and blemishes. Miriam stood out in a crowd, especially at bingo. Although seventy, people said she looked forty.
At the weekly bingo game, a middle-aged man sat next to Miriam. Handsome, with longish blond hair, he kept her laughing all night.
As they prepared to leave the bingo hall, the man said, “May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?”
“My name is Miriam. Yours?”
“Gumb. Jame Gumb. See you next week, Miriam!”
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the gracious host of Friday Fictioneers.
Notes:
1) When I took a good look at the picture, I saw the building as a face, with the windows as eyes, and the greenery as blemishes on the white skin.
2) Jame Gumb is the main antagonist in Thomas Harris’ novel 1988 The Silence of the Lambs and the Oscar-winning acclaimed 1991 film adaption.
Tao Talk 
Aaah, thanks for the note at the end, wasn’t making sense to me till then :-)
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You are welcome :)
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I was going to comment “romance at the bingo” until I read your footnote :-)
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Good. I gotcha :)
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The note at the end transforms the meaning of this, which I wouldn’t otherwise have got
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Intentional. I didn’t expect anyone to “get it” unless they started wondering why I was going on and on about how perfect her skin was…
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I’m guessing Miriam hasn’t seen the movie!
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This was way before the movie!
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What a waste of such diligent skin care. Gruesomely good.
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:) Thank you, Sandra.
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It’s all very well to enjoy flattering attention, but it’s pretty clear Jame had an ulterior motive.
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Yes, exactly, Penny. Because Miriam was so prideful of her flawless complexion and was told she looked younger, she never questioned when a younger man took notice of her and flattered her.
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Perhaps not the best person to show off your beautiful skin….Yeah, I had to read your note to get it.
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Thank you for reading and commenting, Trent.
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Silence of the Lambs’s Buffalo Bill is actually a terrifying mash-up of at least four murderers, those being Ed Gein the Butcher of Plainfield, Ted Bundy, Gary Heidnik a murderer who kidnapped, tortured, and raped six women, killing two of them, while holding them prisoner in a pit in his basement in Philadelphia, and Edmund Kemper a serial killer and necrophile who murdered ten people, including his paternal grandparents and mother.
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Wow, didn’t know that, Jim. The place I found his name only mentioned Ed Gein. Jame “Buffalo Bill” is concentrated evil, able to do what he does because he’s good-looking and charismatic.
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bingo! i see the making of a new romance. :)
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Plaridel, that’s what Miriam thinks, but read the notes at the bottom. Jame isn’t what he appears to be.
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Ewww he’ll be harvesting her perfect skin one of these days! Good story, though. :)
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Sorry, I got a little gruesome on this one, but it is also a PSA to BEWARE of handsome, charismatic men!
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“It puts the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again.” Thanks for the notes. I knew Jame Gumb was familiar but couldn’t place it. That’s why one should not take care of oneself. Someday someone will want to cut off your skin to wear it as a suit. Good twist.
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lol I appreciate your comment, Nobbin, thank you.
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Thanks for the footnote! I had forgotten that maniac’s name!
Oh my, oh my, oh my. Run, Miriam!
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You are welcome, Dale. It leaves things a little tense.
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Dear Lisa,
It’s all about what you see. ;) Thank you for the explanations. I saw Silence of the Lambs but didn’t remember the name. Don’t go to lunch with him, Miriam. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle, thank you very much for your thoughtful comments :) Shalom, Lisa
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I knew the name “James Gumb” was familiar, so thanks for the notes at the end. Chilling, for sure.
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Thank you for reading and your comment, Linda.
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Just brilliant! Can only hope for Miriam’s well being!
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Thank you, Venky! Yes, I hope she stays safe.
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Awesome story! Loved it! <3 Very nicely done!
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Glad you enjoyed it, Carol.
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Yikes! Nice write though.
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Thanks, Lisa :)
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Thanks for the note that explained the man’s name. I read the people on Netflix were upset when women wrote in concerning their film about Ted Bundy and sounded like they were attracted to him. They weren’t at all expecting that to occur. No wonder he was able to attract so many females. These men have a fatal charm. Miriam is walking right into a trap. A good story and well written, Jade. :) — Suzanne
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Suzanne, I appreciate your thoughtful comments. I wouldn’t watch those netflix Bundy productions just for that reason — I don’t want to associate Zac Efron with a serial killer, and I surely don’t want to see actual film clips of Bundy telling his side of the story. Fatal charm is an excellent term for it. Glad you enjoyed the story.
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I thought she was in for a good time there until I read your explanation. Don’t go, Miriam!
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I hope something interrupts that trajectory!
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