FF – Inheritance
Here is my story for this week’s Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was contributed by Mary Shipman. Thanks, Mary!
Click on the blue froggy for this week’s other stories.
Copyright Mary Shipman
“Wow, Dad sure did sell a lot of old trash.”
“Yeah. How much d’ya think we can get for this place?”
“Not a lot. Off the beaten track, and his stock? Well. We’ll sell it somehow.”
“Hey, here’s where you carved your initials.”
“Yeah, I got a telling-off that day! And those… what did he call them… ‘quality vintage undergarments’? Still not sold. I remember when he bought them. Family outing to that antiques fair outside Brighton, remember?”
The brothers fell silent, each lost in his own memories.
“So… you take the counter and I’ll welcome customers?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
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draliman on life 
I bet they would crumble into bits in the wash. LOL
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Yeah, probably. No refunds!
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I have seen quality underwear in a museum in Sweden once.. wool and human hair… apparently the best if you go fishing on the North Sea… wonder if it’s part of that stock.
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I don’t much like the idea of wearing human hair (though expensive wigs use it), but I bet human hair and wool is warm and keeps out the wind!
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Or, more mysterious (and possibly gruesome), the ladies who wore them melted through the ceiling, leaving only the undergarments behind?! But I do love your fun interpretation, and the turn at the end is priceless.
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I like your “horror” take 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed my story!
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Oh, just wait. I hope to have time for a silly FF-inspired post later today. 🙂 I hope you’ll like it!
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Looking forward to it 🙂
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Oh, and you really should consider submitting (if you don’t already) your work to magazines and such. Many times, they also have prompts or at least a theme [if you don’t like working on ‘open’ writing challenges].
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I do consider trying something like that from time to time. I need to get myself organised and do it! Thanks 🙂
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Yes, just do it! (Gauntlet thrown.) From lasers to phasers . . . my life story told in fiction and nonfiction!! 🙂
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🙂
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Oh, almost forgot. And throw in a Tardis and sonic screwdriver. Lasers, phasers, and spanners? Sadly, no rhyming there.
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You don’t need rhyming when The Doctor’s involved. He sells himself without any gimmicks!
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There ya go!
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I love where you went with this! Hope they see lots of business!
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I hope so too! Something slightly different from me this month.
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quality vintage undergarments, great name for secondhand knickers, lol. Great little piece 😉
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Yes, he had a way with words! Glad you liked it.
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Beautiful story.
Family ties.
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Thanks! Those ties can be hard to break when there are so many memories.
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Very true.
🙂
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When life gives lemons … then again, unless life gives you water and sugar, your lemonade’s going to suck! Looks like they found way to sugar and water it.
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Yes, just add a few treasured memories to the mix.
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Inheritance, perhaps they will get to like selling and being behind the counter. Vintage garments to the film company, plenty of money there. Love this take on family life.
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You never know, they might make a go of it and yes, there are plenty of period dramas being made which might jump at those undergarments. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
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Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be… but apparently it was enough to save the family store. Besides, finding quality vintage undergarments isn’t easy. Love your take on the prompt, Ali. 🙂
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Very true, but just enough for them to hold on to the shop. Glad you liked it!
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Some quality pieces in that store. I hope they have nice tall ladder in case someone comes in and wants to purchase some of the quality vintage undergarments, which, incidentally, make great polishing rags when cleaning windows 😀 Clever take on the prompt D-man
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You can’t use quality vintage apparel to clean windows – that’s just wrong! Brings back memories of all the old pairs of underpants my mum used to use as rags 🙂
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I bet they’d sell for a fortune on ebay. Betcha 🙂
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Very probably! I’m sure they’ll bring new ideas to the shop 🙂
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I’m more interested in the shop’s selection of rolling pins….
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I thought you might be. They have Buster’s head written all over them…
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They should go into real estate selling with tags like “quality vintage undergarments!”
LOL! 😀
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It certainly sounds like estate agent speak for “useless old tat” 🙂
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All they need is an online shopping portal and voila back in business. Nice nostalgic touch to the story.
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I have a feeling that if they decide to make a go of it they’ll be online in no time. I’m glad you liked it!
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! 🙂
i really liked this piece, doc.
ellespeth
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Thanks! The photo gave me something a bit different this week 🙂
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Good to see the will to carry on with the old traditions.
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Yes, they’ve put the family business ahead of a quick buck, quite rare these days I expect.
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Nicely done and all in dialogue – lovely way to get the characters across. I like the sound of their old man, even if he was a hoarder and perhaps not the best judge of stock! Great read 🙂
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Thanks! Yes, he sounds like a nice old chap, who children might visit to hear stories of the olden days and whatnot 🙂
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A good grandad to have I bet! and my pleasure 🙂
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🙂
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Dear Ali,
Glad they decided to keep the old family business going. Heartwarming and the voice adds to the atmosphere.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Me too! I glad you liked it, it was a bit different to my usual stuff.
Ali
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The local museum might take the vintage clothing. Sounds like they’ll keep the business. Sweet story, Ali. Are you mellowing? Just asking. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I did wonder about putting a “warning” at the top that there was no dark humour 🙂
I’m sure they’ll make a go of it!
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And the legacy continues on… REALLY loved this story… Reminds me of our “Rabbit Hash General Store”. A mainstay historical place that our community recently lost in a fire. I shall forever miss the old place with it’s unique treasures… (Spent way too many dollars there, myself)
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I’m glad you enjoyed it!
That sounds like a lovely place, a real shame that it burned down. Places like that can never be replaced.
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Awww, all the fond memories made them realize the treasure the old antique shop is! Great story!
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Exactly. You can’t sell a place so full of treasured memories!
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Selling off old memories. How bittersweet. Like your interpretation of the prompt!
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I’m sure they’ll keep hold of the most treasured stuff. It doesn’t look like it will sell anyway!
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I enjoyed this and pleased they kept the place
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Thanks, me too!
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I think the bigger twist than the actual twist was that you didn’t twist it into something darker. Still, I liked it.
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Yeah, not sure what happened this week. Glad you liked it anyway!
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they’re selling memories. i guess they’re ready to move on. 🙂
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Everyone has to sooner or later, though hopefully the actual shop will remain in the family.
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This is great, I love every word of it. I could almost see their memories tick through their heads, give pause, and cause the twist in the end.
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Thanks, I’m glad that came through. I wanted some more memories to really drive it home but sadly ran out of words. I’m glad you liked it 🙂
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Maybe they could hand-paint those rolling pins and they would become collector’s items…maybe not. 🙂
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Novelty rolling pins! As long as they’re careful what sort of paint they use 🙂
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I like the ending– keeping the store open till the very end. That underwear really sets the atmosphere of the place!
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Yes, you see many shops with big white underwear hanging from the ceilings!
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Oh, I love this story! It sounds so real, so immediate – and what a tender and sweet ending! Most things are so much MORE than the things themselves.
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I’m so glad you liked it! I decided to keep all darkness and whatnot out of it this week. A lot of things are very much worth more than the items themselves. I’d never part with the gong and candlesticks I got from my Granny, they have pride of place on my mantelpiece.
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Indeed! And I love how you remember your Granny through the things she gave you.
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🙂
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I like the way you ended this, too. They are seeing it through. They could toss the stuff, but some things are more important. Nice one. I like this one a lot, Ali!
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Thanks, I’m really glad you liked it, Amy! I’m sure they’ll enjoy the time they spend in their Dad’s shop surrounded by so many memories.
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Is this how family business are passed down generations? The brothers falling silent is a sad touch to the story. Nice one.
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Thanks! They nearly sold up but there were too many memories. I reckon they made the right choice, but most of these decisions are financially-based I expect.
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Great last three lines – beautiful silence and words.
Doesn’t the V and A have an underwear exhibition at the moment?
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Thanks! I think I did read a BBC article reecently about the V and A having an exhibition of underwear through the ages.
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I like the humor here and the situation the brothers find themselves in: following in their father’s footsteps despite even though they don’t quite want to.
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Thanks. They’re going to give it a go for old time’s sake.
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Awww, sweet story.
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Thanks 🙂
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Nice. The shop’s back in business. Great dialogue between the brothers – I like how they change after their ‘moment of silence’ from just thinking about the money to remembering good times together.
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I’m glad you liked it! That’s exactly what I was going for. I wonder how often that happens these days?
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I really liked this! Great dialogue and interaction between the brothers. You can’t go wrong selling antique underwear. I’m sure there’s a huge demand for it … somewhere. I also like the nostalgia the conversation stirs.
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Thanks!
Antique underwear is going to be the next “thing” 🙂
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A lovely story, Ali. 🙂 I hope they manage to make the shop successful… or manage to keep it going, at least!
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Me too, it would be nice to keep it in the family 🙂
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Sometimes basking in the old memories is just the thing to do…. for a while. Enjoyed!
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Yes, I wonder how long the nostalgia will last…
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