PHOTO PROMPT © Rowena Curtin
The narrow lane is just as I remember, with its rainbowed walls of eclectic shops and cafes. What were cobblestones are now slabs of concrete that detract from its character. The tidy appearance belies secrets that hover, invisibly, yet palpably for people like me.
I look to the end of the block. There sits the sandstone brick library with its steep clay roof tiles. Your mother was the librarian then. She let us play in the attic room – until that day.
Will the new librarian let me see the room again? She looks up from her desk. It’s you!
[99 words]
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the springy host of Friday Fictioneers.
Tao Talk 
A lovely stroll down memory lane :-)
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Thanks, Iain! :)
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Oh, great turnaround!
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:) Thanks, Neil!
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A lot of mystery in this story…what kind of person is she that secrets are known? What is special about the attic room? I like how you pulled in the building at the end of the lane and made it a library!
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Clare, sometimes with the images I like to zoom in on them and see what catches my eye. That building did this time. Thank you for your thoughtful comment.
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Now that’s a surprise! Full of secrets too. (K)
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Certainly changes the dynamic doesn’t it. Thanks, K.
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A surprise ending! A good one or not!
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Thanks, Sadje :)
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You’re most welcome
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Nice and mysterious story based on the photo prompt!
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Thank you, Christian!
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Makes you wonder what happened that day.
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Exactly, Max! I purposely left it ambiguous to make you wonder :)
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Yea I want to know what happened in that attic! Leave us wanting more!
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Libraries can leave such an impression. I wonder what happened.
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Me too!
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i wonder what happened back then. i guess there’s more to the story that could possibly be told in 100 words. :)
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You got that right, Plaridel. Just enough to get you wondering…
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As ever, a great take on the prompt.
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Thank you, Sandra!
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A lovely story with a hint of mystery and intrigue! Nice one, Lisa.
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Thanks much, Keith, glad you like it.
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Very intriguing.
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Thanks, Dawn!
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I really enjoyed this, Lisa. Now we are left to wonder if the new librarian remembers the same things as the narrator does. We lose sight of childhood friends (life and all that) and finding ourselves back in the place of our memories does get the emotions going.
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Thanks, Dale, so true.
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:)
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I dont know hwy bt a sense a less than happy reunion here. Awkward at best is what I think.
Great story
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I think you’re right. Thanks for reading :)
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I love the ending! Beautiful nostalgic piece with a hint of surprise.
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Thanks, OP!
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This story really touched my heart. The way the author described the narrow lane with its eclectic shops and cafes and the sandstone brick library with its steep clay roof tiles brought back memories of my childhood. I could almost smell the air and feel the cobblestones beneath my feet. But what really struck me was the mention of the attic room in the library. I remember spending many afternoons in my local library, exploring every nook and cranny, but I never knew about an attic room. It makes me wonder what other secrets libraries hold within their walls. So my question is, have any of you ever discovered hidden rooms or secrets in your local library? And if so, what were they?
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Wonderful comment and question. I never found any but I have read a few stories about people who have. One is by Murakami called The Strange Library (iirc) and another more recent one about a cat that leads two people into other dimensions in the library. A good, GOOD poet, Bjorn Rudberg does poems about The Librarian at dversepoetspub.
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This is too enticing left me wanting answers! :)
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:)
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Very enjoyable Lisa. The nostalgic and foreboding twist opens so many possibilities for a longer piece of fiction. Thank you.
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Glad you liked it, Susan, thank you!
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You left me wanting to know more. Well done, Lisa, including looking deeper in the pic. :-)
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Thanks, Bill, it’s a cool pic to study.
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Mysterious. I read it twice. The first time left the impression that something very bad happened. The second felt more like someone returning to the place of her childhood, looking to rekindle childhood memories. Still, something happened on “that day.” Great use of ambiguity to challenge the reader to wonder.
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Thanks, Nobbin! My work here is done ;)
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Dear Lisa,
What a lovely trip down memory lane replete with a tinge of mystery and surprise ending. Methinks this is just the beginning of the story. ;)
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, it does feel ripe for more doesn’t it. Thanks much!
Shalom,
Lisa
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It seems to me that the narrator isn’t the only one who can’t let go of the past, whatever the secret is.
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Gabi, good call!
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Ooh, until that day … now she’s the new librarian. I hope the attic is safe, with history repeating itself and all. Nice one!
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Thanks, Brit :)
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How serendipitous and mysterious!
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:) Thanks!
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Ooooooo
Amazing memory becoming reality. I wonder if they’ll catch up like they used to?
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I wonder also!
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