Mystified Cottage it was called, a stocky one storey building snuggled in the lap of the Dales.
In the parlour two Carver chairs scuffed their backs against a worn sideboard, in the kitchen a Welsh dresser wore a motley of grease from generations of braised brisket and pigs head pies, gifts from the blackened range.
Tom Dunty the coalman would chuckle under the slick collar of his backing hat that the cottage was so called because all were mystified as to how the Crofts raised seven children inside. Though as Tom signed the register on his wedding day with an X, I’d guess he was parroting his snippish wife Mary.
He was wrong of course.
The name was no riddle to any who stayed a night beneath its eaves, any who dreamed of oily black feathers, of straw dollies swinging from dusty beams. Who heard The Lady call their name …
Written for What pegman saw, a weekly prompt using Google Streetview as its inspiration. See here to join in and to read the other stories.
The ‘backing hat’ Tom Dunty wears was a cap with a strip of leather sewn to hang from the back in order to protect a coalman’s neck and shoulders. See here to learn more.
Well written
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much 🙂
LikeLike
MORE. Must have more! Such rhythm, such world-building, such storytelling. Love this story.
As a side note, I’m always so delighted with the things people uncover on Pegman and this cottage is no exception.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ah, thank you so much Karen for the lovely comment! I do enjoy dabbling my toe in these other worlds and other lives, trying out a few characters too. I have a confession to make though – Mystified Cottage is a name I plundered from a property I found further along this same road. Saw it and just had to steal it! Thanks for reading 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
love it
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
I love all the words you brought to this piece to bring us inside the building: Carver chairs, pig’s head pie, oily black feathers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much. Love a little world building, even in flash fiction! Thanks so much for reading and for your kind comment
LikeLike
Wonderful story! I love that you found the name, Mystified Cottage. Also appreciate the background info you provided.
I also wrote about this cottage, or at least what is hidden in the bushes. I love being able to walk around and choose a screen shot 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! Glad you found this lovely cottage too! I was searching for what it might have been in the past (I can’t believe it was built as an actual house, it’s so small!) that I found Mystified Cottage further down the road. Sadly the real Mystified is not half as pretty as this one, but I loved the name so much, it sent my mind spinning off into all directions. Thanks so uch for reading 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Carver chairs, pig’s head pie, oily black feathers. You are a walking talking thesaurus. In awe, Lynn.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, thank you so much Neel. You’re very kind to say so. I think I just enjoy wandering through the past – the same but very different 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Really an inspired piece, and wonderfully written. I’m a sucker for the key details, too. Well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much! I love a detail too and a good wander into the past has me revelling! Thanks for reading 🙂
LikeLike
Dear Lynn,
You have a talent for description. I love the way you set the scene and built the character. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, thank you so much Rochelle! Lovely of you to say so. Thanks very much for reading 🙂
LikeLike
Loved it! I could quite happily read more… lol 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, thank you Sammi! I did like the feel of this story as I was writing it. I don’t have any long projects on the go at the moment, so maybe I should try to think where Mystified Cottage might lead me. Thanks so much for reading 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is one of my favorite regular features you do, I think. Like the premise, and the signature style you have, that’s dense and feels true to a specific era, and often dark reveals. Hope things are well, looking forward to when we’re back ‘in touch’ more on both sides, probably the fall, right? Ha! — Bill
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Bill. Yes, this is a great prompt Josh and Karen have running and because of the scope of streetview, we get such a range of stories every week. I do love that density of prose, probably very unfashionable, but I can get away with it a little more with the historical fiction 🙂 Yes, feel like I’m flailing around the blog at the moment, gripping onto it with my fingernails … Thanks for dropping by
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t worry about it. It will all work out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks 🙂
LikeLike
What an enchanting tale to go with a wonderful, little, and enchanting cottage. perfect.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person