PHOTO PROMPT © Randy Mazie
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‘Odd Fish.’
The old women whispered as he passed the yard, rocking in their chairs, fanning damp faces with crimped newspaper. Samuel dipped his head, avoiding their dry, puckered gaze.
Clouds of dust rose as he crossed to the cemetery. Passing sharp, white headstones he reached a wooden cross in the shade. Taking out a well-thumbed book, he peered closely at the text.
‘Here’s the book I was telling you about, Mama.’
Clearing his throat, he read, ‘If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born …’
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Written for Rochelle Wisoff-Field’s Friday Fictioneers. See here to join in, to read and comment on the other tales.
I’ve been away for a while and what a joy to be back in my blogging home.
Note – Samuel is reading the opening lines of J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye.
Word Shamble 
Another quiet and moving piece, Lynn, thank you—so much expressed in a handful of words. Wonderful.
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Thank you so much Chris. What a lovely comment 🙂
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Lovely descriptions, Lynn
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Nailed it, time and again. Impressed. And I shall make no joke on yours about the reincarnated goat. 🙂
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Thank you Crispina! And you have to love a reincarnated goat 🙂
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Indeed. 🙂
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You paint such a vivid picture in so few words, Lynn.
And maybe I am slow today, but what is the significance of ‘Catcher’ here? It seems a strange book for what I assume is a young man to read to his mother.
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Thank you C. The Catcher reference was just my clumsy way of emphasising what an outsider Samuel is, and perhaps – considering others who have been captivated by Salinger’s story, mainly John Lennon’s assassin, Mark Chapman – those old biddies should watch who they’re gossiping about. Sorry if I was being a little too oblique for the word count. Thank you for your kind comment C
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I think you are being far too harsh on yourself, Lynn. I was also captivated by Catcher back in the distant past, one of the iconic books of my teenage years. And it didn’t do me any…
Oh never mind!
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Haha! I must admit, I’ve never read it. Never entirely appealed to me, too gritty and not magical enough. And is there really a plot? I can imagine it a book I might admire but not like
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You always set such an evocative sense of time and place, Lynn. So pleased your back on the ‘squares’ again. Looking forward to reading more from you.
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I agree with Sandra! Nice to have you back, using words to paint an evocative world.
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Thank you Lish! Nice to be back 🙂
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I meant you’re not your. Obviously I’d rather see your front on the squares. 😶
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🙂
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Thank you Sandra. Work’s tricky at the moment but hopefully I can juggle things and be back regularly 🙂
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Dear Lynn,
I’m doing a happy dance to see you back in the FF queue. As always, you didn’t disappoint. I love the contrast between their damp faces and their dry gaze. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ah, thank you Rochelle. Lovely to be back. Thank you for your kind words – a lovely comment. All the best for 2019
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There’s such a feeling of dry, oppressive heat at the beginning of your tale and coolness and comfort when he sits down to read. Lovely, as always. Welcome back.
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Thank you so much. Really glad you liked it
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Your stories tell me every time’ There’s no lazy-way to good writing.’ Thanks for inspiring with your work.
Admire the vivid detail in your story.
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Ah, thank you so much Moon for the lovely comment. You made me smile
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My pleasure, Lynn.🙂
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Yay! You’re back! And with gusto, giving us a wonderfully described scene that we can so easily picture.
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Thank you Dale! Nice to be back – such a lovely place to be 🙂
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I wonder why a son would feel the urge to read Catcher in the rye for his dead mother… somehow I think he felt that he had been neglected.
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I imagined him having discovered the book and wanting to share it with his mum, something that chimed closely with how he felt living in that community, one that made him feel an outsider. Thank you for reading Bjorn
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I enjoy the way you create such a vivid scene, “fanning damp faces with crimped newspaper” and “avoiding their dry, puckered gaze.” Gracefully written!
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Ah, thank you so much. I’m really glad you liked those phrases as I was rather proud of them! Thanks Brenda
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Beautifully told, leaves me wanting more.
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Thank you so much! Really glad you liked it
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Love the language too as mentioned above and the contrast between the old bitties and the iconic brooding teenager, clasping Catcher in the Rye.
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Thank you Andrea. So glad you liked it
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Gorgeously moving.
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Thanks so much
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Lovely story. Interesting comments.
I’ve never read “Catcher in the Rye” but it is on my list. I’ve always thought of it as a must read…now I wonder…
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Thanks Dawn. I confess, I haven’t read it either, partly put off my the terrible events it’s been associated with. Thank you for reading
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Your words don’t need illustrations to create depth. Such a lovely read.
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Thank you so much Ira. Really glad you thought so. Thank you for dropping by and leaving such a kind comment
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