Every week, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (thank you, Rochelle!) hosts a flash fiction challenge, to write a complete story, based on a photoprompt, with a beginning, middle and end, in 100 words or less. Post it on your blog, and include the Photoprompt and Inlinkz on your page. Link your story URL. Then the fun starts as you read other peoples’ stories and comment on them!
PHOTO PROMPT © TED STRUTZ
The Music of Time
Strangers walking past the house sometimes pause and listen. Sometimes they smile; sometimes they weep.
If you ask them why, they say, “Why, it’s the music, of course!”
I heard it myself once. It was soft and gentle; tranquil; joyful; resigned; a piano played with no virtuosity but great art.
I walked around the house, all the way around. The windows were shuttered. There were no lights despite the dull, grey evening.
The garden was untended, lawns merging with flower beds and ivy strangling the trees.
By the front gate, a shabby sign creaked.
“For Sale”, it said.
I liked it that she was the only one who couldn’t hear the music
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Dear Neil
Thank you for reading and commenting. Locals often fail to hear the music in their midst.
With very best wishes
Penny
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Dear Penny,
There’s something special about the house, isn’t there? I love the idea of audible music from the house even through it’s “vacant.” Lovely story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
Thank you for reading and for your kind comment. The house is, as you say, special. It reminded me of the March family home in Little Women. Who would haunt that? Why, Beth, of course.
Shalom
Penny
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Oh, I think she MUST buy it, and restore it lovingly, and hears the music all through the day 🙂
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Dear Linda
Thank you for reading and commenting. The temptation to restore the house is strong, I agree, but I wonder whether the music would survive the renovation. I think new occupiers would bring their own music, perhaps.
With very best wishes
Penny
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A musical ghost! I think I’d like to buy that house.
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Dear Bernadette
Thank you for reading and commenting. I think a musician would be more likely than almost anyone else to become a perceivable ghost because we focus so intently on communicating emotion.
With very best wishes
Penny
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If could hear the music as I read. Well done Penny.
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Dear Iain
Thank you for reading and for your kind comment. I’m glad you could hear the music.
With very best wishes
Penny
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Oh I dinner l wonder if our speaker managed to get that house!
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Dear Shweta
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m not sure the narrator wanted the house. She knew it had been empty for years.
With best wishes
Penny
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A piano playing ghost — I could go for that! 🙂
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Dear Dora
Thank you for reading and commenting. Yes, a piano-playing ghost would be less scary than most!
With best wishes
Penny
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The memory of music refusing to leave the house is a lovely image.
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Dear Minister
Thank you for reading and commenting so perceptively. You have identified exactly the emotional response for which I was hoping.
With very best wishes
Penny
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Maybe the For Sale sign is for her eyes only…the house has chosen her.
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Dear doodletllc
Thank you for reading and commenting. The For Sale sign has been there a long time…
With very best wishes
Penny
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A great story, full of melancholy beauty.
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Dear Joshua
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you found the story beautiful.
With very best wishes
Penny
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it’s must be time to sell. the house needs tender loving care.
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Dear Plaridel
Thank you for reading and commenting. The house has been on the market for years. I wonder why nobody wants to buy it?
With best wishes
Penny
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I’m sure the house will one day find an owner who will enhance the music.
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Dear Ali
Thank you for reading and commenting. I hope you’re right; it would be good for the place to house a family again.
With very best wishes
Penny
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Lovely story lovingly told!
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Dear Jolly
Thank you for reading and commenting so kindly. Yes, although the house immediately struck me as haunted, it nevertheless had a friendly feel to it.
With very best wishes
Penny
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A lovely story, Penny. Good to see you back again.
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Dear Sandra
Thank you for reading and for your kind comment. Thank you especially for the welcome back!
With very best wishes
Penny
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This was a lovely story. One wonders why she can’t hear the music and maybe the ‘for sale’ sign really is just for her…
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Dear Dale
Thank you for reading and commenting. The narrator is a local. I think she tunes out the music most of the time because it’s so familiar. The For Sale sign has been there for years…
With very best wishes
Penny
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Oh well. I tried… 😉
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Ghostly music and an old house – perfect elements for a great story!
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Dear Siobhan
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you enjoyed the story!
With best wishes
Penny
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This tale reminded me of the song from Phantom of the Opera: The Music of the Night.
I love music. I hope the house is restored. It looks like it has good bone. lol
Have a wonderful day … Be Safe
Isadora 😎
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She should buy the house, musical ghost and all. Maybe then she might hear and enjoy the music.
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I am not sure if this selling technique is working – this house has not sold – if the owner could just tear his body of bones away from the piano and tidy the place up – well that might work. Who wants to buy a place with a ghostly piano, then again it would be a great talking point when you have guests around for dinner, and entertaining to boot. This is a sweet ghost story, loved it.
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Whilst I don’t wish to cast a dark shadow over the house, I hope the music isn’t there simply to lure some unsuspecting soul inside.
Here’s mine!
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Very nice story in that each reader gets to add things. Well done.
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It sounds like you need to have a special awareness to sense the music… or maybe it’s enough to be looking for a house to buy.
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Amazing post
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