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Marcia beamed at her children. She loved these dinners. What did it matter if she wished Sophie would wear clothes that covered her bosom more and that Angus would drink less. Peter and Donna made a lovely couple. Soon she’d be a grandma. Her heart swelled with pride and joy. She smiled at her husband, Roy. “Love you” she mouthed.
“Pass the salt down here, please.” A voice boomed.
Angus, drunk, obliged. The salt fell like snow from the chandelier making the two worlds converge momentarily. Conversation below ceased.
“We have to move,” Marcia said. “She’ll clean the chandelier tomorrow.”
Join in Friday fictioneers writing 100 words of flash over at Rochelle weisoffields where you can access other entries via the blue frog.
About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Yes, we all have these characters in our families, love them still.
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Yes we do.
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I think I’ve met such a grandmother! 🙂
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Nice old lady…..
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there’s an otherworldly feeling to this story. it’s either that or i have a wild imagination.
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No you have got what I have unsuccessfully tried to convey. There is a family living in the chandelier whilst another family lives below. Due to Angus throwing the salt down Mum knows the family below will see that as a sign to clean.
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oh ok, sometimes i tend to over-imagine things. 🙂
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Not at all. 🙂 At least you thought it was other worldly which was my aim even if my other world and yours was not the same.
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Oh, you’re writing about your family??! Whew! 🙄
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If only……. 🙂
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Two worlds here, I suspect although I didn’t quite follow it all. Love your family characters though – so true to life.
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Patrick, I was supposed to get across which I obviously didn’t that there was a family of creatures of some sort (little light people) who were dining in the chandelier whilst another family dined below under normal circumstances. The voice from the normal lot asked for salt and it was delivered from the top lot causing the bottom lot to stop talking. Top lot’s mum realised they would have to move on as the bottom lot would clean the chandalier the next day (a result of the salt falling.) I had hoped to get that across but am aware that I failed dismally. oh well You win some and lose some. Back to the drawing board. 🙂
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Dear Irene,
I’m also a bit confused. Grandma’s a ghost on the chandelier? Strong characters nonetheless.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
A failure on my part I fear. I was hoping to get across, which I obviously didn’t, that there was a family of creatures of some sort (little light people) who were dining in the chandelier whilst another family dined below under normal circumstances. The voice from the normal lot asked for salt and it was delivered from the top lot causing the bottom lot to stop talking as they saw the salt fall. Top lot’s mum realised they would have to move on as the bottom lot would clean the chandalier the next day (a result of the salt falling.) I had hoped to get that across but am aware that I failed dismally. Back to the drawing board.
Cheers Irene
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Reminded me of The Borrowers: good piece.
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Haha. Again I had to look this one up and it sounds perfect. Miniscule little people that live in the walls and floors and borrow from the big people. I’m always too late. They say everything has been said before. Thanks for introducing me to what sounds like wonderful stories for children.
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Similar but not the same. Yours was still an original idea.
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True. Thanks
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Well, I got it! And I liked it. Any pepper up there?
Rosey Pinkerton’s blog
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Glad you got it Rosey. No pepper but I’m sure they can borrow it from the big table.
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It was reassuring to see I wasn’t the only one confused. 🙂 It was a good idea, and having seen the explanation, I think it almost came off. Good try.
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A good lesson for me Sandra that clear in my head doesn’t mean clear to others.
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I read enough of the comments to understand what you were trying to convey. After reading your story twice, I got that there was something otherworldly going on, but I thought it was ghosts or that she was imagining an ideal reality that didn’t exist. Either way, you got people’s attention and that can never be a bad thing! 🙂
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Thanks Lorna. It has taught me a couple of things and that is good. 🙂
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Ha, ha! That chandelier is big enough to hide a family! Wonder where they’ll squat next in the rambling mansion they must be in?
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Could be fun following them around as they run from the duster and broom. 🙂
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A whole family living in that chandelier! Amazing. They sound just like us.
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only miniature.
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Those faeries living in the chandeliers. what a take.. and damn that Angus that made them homeless.
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Yes drunks in the family always cause havoc.
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Great take on this photo – a family inside, and outside of the chandelier! And the family dynamics are similar for the little people and for the big ones!
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Absolutely. Glad you enjoyed it.
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Oh this is fun, they have faeries in the house. Great story, and funny, too.
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Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it and laughed. 🙂
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