I could never wear white. Washes me out. But you pull it off. Probably your dark hair. Olive, that’s my daughter, changed my burial dress to this white thing. Can you believe it? Jealous little witch. Delicious scandal and I couldn’t gossip to anyone! Well, she got the last laugh. I’m stuck forever being photographed in white!
Get on with it then. I usually like to perch on the pillar but, in autumn, the leaves are a bit scratchy. How about I stand next to the grave? Hello?!
“Hello?”
Ooh! You’re one of those people! This should be fun…
Flash Fiction Challenge over at Carrot Ranch
October 21, 2015 prompt: Cemeteries – In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about a final resting place. You can take any perspective that appeals to you from the historic to the horrific. Just don’t scare me too greatly. You can also choose to write about those buried before they came to their final rest. An extra challenge is to discover a story or character from a local cemetery. I double-dog dare you to join me with your own cemetery day!
Lemon Shark Reef 
Charli, dear. 😉 I took you up on your challenge (dare) and had a bit of a cemetery day. I wish I had more time…
The title, Ruthless, is a play on the woman in white’s name: Ruth. Also, of course, what her daughter, Olive, did to her. Ruth married John (her cousin) and they had two children. One of them is Olive, who never married.
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Yes! You won the dare! Great play on her name, and her wicked game with “those” types! That’s a spectacular tombstone the three of them share. And what beautiful colors those leaves are revealing; perhaps a more apt reflection of Ruth’s true color? And the tidbit of cousins marrying (common back then), and wondering why Olive never did. What a rich flash. Thank you!
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Isn’t that a gorgeous stone?! I thought it was beautiful in the spring and summer with the tree that drapes over it but the leaves down the front? Stunning. The color and contrast. You know I love cemeteries. How could I resist this dare? (Ha! Ruth’s true colors.) 😀 Thanks for this week’s prompt. I’d never looked into their history and, I have to say, I think it will be addictive. Really interesting…
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Lol clever and witty!
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Much appreciated. 🙂 Fun character…
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Very fun ď
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Wow – good work!
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Thanks! 🙂
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that’s so great – lots of content in 99 words here.
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Thank you. I’d hoped you could get a lot out of this ranting monologue. I think I used to be better at the 99 words… They seem so short now. I love the challenge!
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I think it’s like waistlines and debt – they’re more difficult to control as you mature
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That made me laugh out loud. 😀
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Clever you, Sarah, taking your story from a genuine gravestone. Was this one you already knew or was it serendipity?
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Serendipity. Does that still count or do I have to put this flash in last week’s prompt? 😉 I just took this photo on Friday but have others of it during spring and summer. Something about it I love. This is total fiction. The only thing I know are the names and that the daughter didn’t marry (all of which I looked up last night — never did a search so I’m thrilled Charli urged me to do this).
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You’ll get hooked…!
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I believe you. 🙂
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This one is awesome Sarah! So clever and witty – I love it.
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Thanks, Kate. 🙂 (Maybe not so clever. I was wearing a white jacket…)
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LOL….loved your take Sarah
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Thanks! 🙂
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But not a strait white jacket! This is definitely fun, Sarah. You have really pulled it off. And I wasn’t as observant as Anne. I hadn’t noticed you used information from the gravestone photographed. You are a clever girl. I love all that is implied in your story. I’d love to know what that clever little witch of a daughter got up to! 🙂
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It was not straight, if you must know. 😉
This was all Charli. I’d seen this stone before but never looked into the history. So interesting. Other than the names, I’ve completely made up this silly fun but now I wonder what they were really like… Oooh, Charli!
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It is definitely fun to imagine. You did a great job of making up a spooky story. Your version may be more interesting than the real, but who knows? I wonder if someone researching the family history will read the story on your blog. I wonder what they would think. 🙂
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Eek! I hope I don’t offend a distant relative!
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I am sure you won’t offend! It’s just me thinking and wondering! 🙂
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Love your flash. The grave is magnificent and immediately brought to mind a friend that I was bridesmaid for. Her maiden name was Stiff (not good for a nurse) she married a Bourne and could then honesty say she was “Bourne Stiff.”
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Thank you. Isn’t that grave stunning? Haha! No, not good for a nurse. And not a great married name combo either. 😀 Bourne Stiff.
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Oh this is delicious, your photo and the flash, and very clever (read your comment above)….’Ruthless’! You are so good at this Sarah 🙂
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Thanks, Sherri. The photo turned out so nice. I think it actually does justice to the beauty of the stone with the autumn leaves trailing down… Yes, “Ruthless”. I couldn’t help myself. 🙂
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