SHROUD
It was a village tradition – the candle that had illuminated
Rosa’s mother’s coffin now burned at home.
Rosa never snuffed out the flame, and the shroud of wax was allowed to grow unchecked. She believed her mother was still there while the candle lasted, so when Isaac lit his cigarette from it she was appalled.
“You disrespect Mama’s soul!”
“Superstitious rubbish – dead is dead.”
That night, while Rosa was visiting friends, the candle flickered in a zephyr breeze. A curtain blazed, a chair ignited, and Isaac saw the ghost of his mother-in-law - just before the smoke snuffed out his life.
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If you enjoyed this story do please leave a comment so I know you've been, and do feel free to browse the rest of my blog.
Friday Fictioneers is an online world-wide group of writers who use a photograph to prompt stories in just 100 words. Visit Rochelle's blog to read this week's other stories.
http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/
Another one that made me shiver! But he did deserve it...
ReplyDeleteHe did indeed - never disrespect the mother-in-law!
DeleteRespecting the dead sounds like a healthy choice... lighting a cigarette... hmm very disrespectful
ReplyDeleteRespecting his wife's beliefs would have been good too.
DeleteChillingly good!
ReplyDeleteThanks Seaview.
DeleteHmm, I guess dead is NOT dead, then, huh? Nice story!
ReplyDelete-JudahFirst
Dead maybe, but not yet gone!
DeleteGreat story! Immediate tension and leaves me wondering! Loved it!
ReplyDeleteThanks Genissa.
DeleteHmm, Never mock the wife let alone the mother in law !!
ReplyDeleteHow true - and so many men never learn till it's too late!
DeleteDisrespect paid a high price. Very clever.
ReplyDeleteI suspect it wasn't the first time Isaac had disrespected his mother-in-law!
DeleteAlways knew smoking was dangerous!
ReplyDelete:)
DeletePoor Isaac. Still couldn't get the last word in. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteHer revenge was rather too extreme!
DeleteThat's mothers-in-law for you! Never forgive a slight. :)
ReplyDeleteBeing the mother of two married daughters, I know what you mean! Only joking - I love both my sons-in-law.
DeleteOh wow, you NEVER disrespect the wife and mother-in-law, especially at the same time! Great creepy little piece!
ReplyDeleteCheers Jennie - I hope any man reading this story takes note!
DeleteThat will teach him! Well done!
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading and commenting Freya.
DeleteHa, Lizy, I enjoyed this one. Too bad the m-i-l couldn't just burn him and leave the house for her daughter, but what do I know about it? :-)
ReplyDeletejanet
well, maybe the smoke killed him and the house survived?
DeleteHa-ha. What could be more base than lighting your cigarette in the flame of you mother-in-law's candle? Revenge is sweet.
ReplyDeleteProof that smoking is bad for you!
DeleteBeware the wrath of the mother-in-law - even from beyond the grave. Loved it :)
ReplyDeleteThank you ELA - mothers-in-law unite!!
DeleteA very good reason to be nice to your mother-in-law!
ReplyDeleteIn this life and the after-life!
DeleteDear Liz,
ReplyDeleteAnd that's what he gets for smoking. ;) Oh yeah...and disrespecting his MIL. Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks Rochelle - though I'm not qualified to be superior about smokers - I only gave it up two years ago!
DeleteTwo years is nothing to sneeze at....or choke on as it were. Good for you!
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteRevenge is sweet, even if it was from beyond the grave. Enjoyed reading your flash fiction. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Maria - I hope you scrolled through to read more?
Delete