Her breath quickened and her pulse raced as she set foot on the familiar porch. Hands gripping the railing of the wooden porch reminded her of the way she would stand there, waiting for her dad to come home after a long, arduous day at work.
Inhaling deeply, she could recall the wafting aroma of fresh bread that her mother would take out of the oven. Eyes misting over, she closed them to remember how her brother would wriggle out of her grasp, every single time the ice cream truck clattered down the beaten path at the end of their driveway.
Glancing sideways, another memory rose up. Mr. Simmons, from the house next door, who always smiled at them. She remembered how he’d invite them all over for high tea and tell them jokes. The friendly neighbour, that was him.
She could just as easily recall the way his fingers snaked into her blouse that April afternoon. And the way she looked up in shock. Or the way she fled that house. And the way she locked herself in her room and cried all alone.
Or the day she smiled when he breathed his last.
Memories.
~~~~
My theme for the Challenge this year is
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Memories are a mix of good and bad ones, thankfully!
I am loving your stories. Such beautiful tiny tales 🙂
Ouch! Thought something bad would pop-up when list of memories were getting to be so good.
Ah memories. Bitter sweet as they are.
Oh gosh! that was sad. Memories make our lives and sometimes bad ones are hard to get away with 🙁
Sweet ending though the memories will continue to hurt and haunt.
Even the World of memories isn’t always perfect! 🙁
Poor girl ! 🙁 Just when I thought all memories are good, I realized we don’t live in a perfect world. Such memories are really haunting. Good one !
It’s generally someone you know, isn’t it? Nicely done with this tale Shailaja!
Dang. What a memory. Those sort of memories are usually repressed. But this story is common. You’ll never suspect that guy, he’s so nice ………..
Memories are all we take with us when we die and hopefully she won’t go to her own death bed with this one in mind!
That was a chilling tale. May the likes of Mr Simmons perish from this earth!
Powerful and hard-hitting! Nicely done.
*Shantala @ ShanayaTales*
I think memories can be good or bad but what we take away from the memories are more important. I’d have felt happy too at the death of such a neighbor. But I wish she had gathered the courage to tell her parents. My memories of my childhood spent in my ancestral house are a mix of bitter-sweet memories. Brilliant writing as always 🙂
We Both chose to write about memories. yours was brilliant.
wao… you sure know how to leave your readers stunned!! Brilliant storytelling 🙂
A short, but powerful story. Glad I read it. Poor child.
J.L. Campbell – The Character Depot | A-Z Challenge Co-Host
Love the twists that you come up with, in all your stories!!
Oh my! That little story packed a punch. Well done, Shailaja. You are a queen of the short short with a twist!
I held my breath as I knew where the story was headed. Memories! There are some of those which never get wiped off, try as we may.
Rough! So glad he got what he deserved – death!
My Soul to Steal
The neighbour didn’t sound too good. Glad he was no longer around.
A breathtaking story.Shailaja?.
what a powerful post! and what a punch in your writing!
Rough! Thank god there are memories that give a sigh of relief too.
Superb post Shailaja! Hardhitting one in such a small package 🙂
http://sundarivenkatraman.blogspot.in/2015/04/a-z-april-challenge-2015-m-for-mohini.html
I was expecting something bad about the neighbour, maybe something like kicking dogs. This one was more horrific though… well done, it gave me the jeepies… your words hit the right spot!
That was chilling, Shailaja. Well done.
Wasn’t expecting that ending! Wonder if she helped him along?
Ooofff. That ending, heavy yet light somehow. Lovely write up. Memories can be haunting.