Photo Copyright: Amy Reese :
NOTE: The New Your Public Library in the United States has just uploaded nearly 200,000 digitalized images (pictures, maps, posters,etc.) anyone can use for free. They’re free of copyrights due to age so are in the public domain. The link is as follows:
http://digitalcollections.nypl.org
Here we all are again for another week. Today we’re gathered near a virtual old vine-covered stairway. Our hostess for this gathering is the gracious and talented author and artist, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. We’re the Friday Fictioneers group. Our challenge this week and every week is to each write an original story with no more than 100 words. It’s supposed to have a beginning, middle, end, and follow the picture prompt for the week. This week’s prompt was supplied by Amy Reese. Thanks, Amy.
To read the other stories by the group, just click on the link given below, then on the little blue frog in the blue box.
The link for this week’s stories is as follows:
https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2016/01/13/15-january-2016/
Genre: Speculative Fiction
Word Count: 100 Words
THE VINE-COVERED STAIRWAY By P.S. Joshi
Twelve-year-old Sarah was visiting her grandmother in the summer of 1967 and was bored.
Her grandmother gave permission to walk through the village, but not to go near the old estate on the edge as it was dilapidated and dangerous.
Sarah entered the village and saw the estate wall with a vine-covered stairway going to the top. It looked safe so she started to climb. It was sweltering, she felt dizzy, but finally reached the top.
Was her imagination tricking her? Stretching before her was a vast green meadow with a castle in the distance. She was in medieval dress.
Musings on Life & Experience 
Oh yummy, I like a good fairy story. I enjoyed that!
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Thanks, Graham. I’m so glad you enjoyed the story. I like fairy stories too. 🙂 — Suzanne
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What a wonderful adventure for a young girl. Well done.
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Thanks, Alicia. I’m so pleased you liked the story. It’s what a lot of young girls would like to happen. 🙂 — Suzanne
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First thank you for the link to those images… a sure source of inspiration… secondly i really love what you did.. and I hope she can go down the stairway as well..
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Thanks, Bjorn. You’re most welcome for the link to the images. I’m so pleased you liked the story so much. I think she’ll get back down the stairway. Perhaps as in other stories, not much time will have actually passed. 🙂 — Suzanne
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And, I suspect, she’s in for the adventure of her life! Nice one, Suzanne.
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Thanks, Sandra. I’m so pleased you liked the story. Yes, she’ll really enjoy herself. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Nice one. Now you can write a book on her adventures.
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Thanks, Indira. I’m so happy you enjoyed the story. As to the book, only time will tell. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Nice twist at the end.. and it can really open up the story. Good one.
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Thanks, Lata. I’m so glad you liked the story, especially the twist. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I can see that as the start of a new book Suzanne.
xxx Hugs Galore xxx
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Thanks, David. That would take some research. We’ll see. Hugs Galore to you also. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
Sounds a bit Narni-ish to me. Fun story. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle. I know it does. That kind of story always will. My son owned the series and I saw several of the movies. It I was going farther with it, I might make it a comedy. I’m so pleased you liked it.
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Ooh, I hope she has a nice time and doesn’t fall foul of any “dark knights”. Fun fairy tale 🙂
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Thanks, Ali. I’m so glad you liked the story. I hope she’s safe also, but that could be boring. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Loved your story. So open ended as to what can happen. Thanks also for the Library link. 🙂
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Thanks, Susan. I’m so glad you liked the story. You’re most welcome for the Library link. I think it’ll be really helpful to everyone, especially writers who are always looking for pictures to use for stories. I hope your daughter’s feeling better. 🙂 — Suzanne
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She really isn’t but they switched her antidepressant and that takes at least 3 weeks to kick in. She has less suicidal thoughts though, Thank God. We are just taking it a day at a time. 🙂
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That’s all that can be done for now I’m guessing. At least, she’s getting the help she needs. Sadly there are so many people who don’t. Friends and relatives don’t see the signs. I’ll continue to pray for her. — Suzanne
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Nothing like a curious stairway to open the imagination.
Story transitioned well to the ending – it can stand as it is or travel on to a longer form ( I can see how you might lean towards humor) Well done.
Enjoyed touring your blog (and the link) Sounds like an interesting writing challenge.
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Thanks, PM. These 100-word stories are an interesting writing challenge. I often lean towards humor but like to experiment with other genres as well. I’m so glad you liked the story and my blog. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Fun story. Hope it’s a fun place up there for the little girl.
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Thanks, Ansumani. It is a fun place but there are some problems as with any place. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be an adventure. I’m so happy you enjoyed the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thanks for the link to the pictures too 🙂
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You’re most welcome. I think it’s great, especially for writers. 🙂 — Suzanne
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great story. a good start for what hopefully be a children’s book.
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i mean, a good start for what would hopefully be a children’s book.
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Thanks, Plaridel. I’m so happy you liked the story. I’ll think about the book. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I wonder if the estate behind her had vanished, trapping her there! 🙂 😀 And if it had, would she have loved it?
Lovely story!
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Thanks, Vinay. Probably for the time being the estate has closed off, but I’m sure she’ll find a way back when she’s ready. I’m also sure she’ll enjoy her time in the kingdom. I’m so happy you enjoyed the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Sort of a Jack and the Beanstalk tale. I wonder if she’ll encounter a giant?
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Thanks, Russell. I don’t think there’s a giant involved. In a fairy tale, though, we’re never quite sure. Perhaps, if there is one, he’s a friendly giant. Now a dragon is a different matter. 😀 — Suzanne
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Nice take. Liked it.
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Thanks, Yarnspinnerr. I’m so pleased you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I love it, a portal to a fairy world. And I suspect grandma wanted her to go there and have a good time. Why else would she tell a teenage girl NOT to go there. That’s basically a guarantee that she’ll do it. Great fun.
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Thanks, Gah. I’m so happy you loved the story. I suspect you’re right. The grandma knew if she said not to that the girl couldn’t resist going there. Perhaps Grandma had gone there when she was a girl. 😀 — Suzanne
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That would be cool. Great story, Suzanne. If she enters the meadow will she be able to get back?
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Thanks, Diana. I would guess she’ll be able to get back some way, through the meadow or somewhere else. Probably she’d have some difficulty though or it wouldn’t be much of an adventure. I’m so glad you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Into another world … amazing.
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Thanks, CAH. I’m so pleased you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Love that. Did she ever return, I wonder.
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Thanks, Patrick. I’m so happy you enjoyed the story. My guess would be that she did return. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I’d like that to happen to me. Only not the dress, maybe a suit of armor. Fun piece.
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Thanks, Perry. You never know. There might be portals to those magical lands many places. I’ve often wondered where some of the socks disappear to. I would hope you don’t end up in a dress. 😀 — Suzanne
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Suzanne that was perfectly lovely. Thanks for the free images link — that’s great.
Mega hugs!
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Thanks, Teagan. I’m so pleased you liked the story. You’re most welcome for the free images link. I think those are great, especially for writers. Mega hugs to you also. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Looks like an exciting adventure in store for the young lady.
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Thanks, Tena. I’m so glad you liked the story. Yes, she has adventures ahead. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Sorry I’m a sweet fairy tale, Suzanne! Imagine, all that time: there it was… love that Sarah is adventurous and thinks for herself! Sorry, I’m late this week. Usually get time on Sundays, but with time difference, everything is off! :-p Lovely story!
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Thanks, Dawn. I’m sometimes late too so don’t worry about it. I’m so pleased you liked the story. I’m behind in reading stories and emails as there was a 2-day marathon of Downton Abbey episodes I hadn’t seen. I watched them all and got very little done. That series is addictive. 😀 — Suzanne
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Fun imagery here.
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Thanks, Dawn. I’m so pleased you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Love the fairy tale!
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Thanks, Dale. I’m so happy you enjoyed the story. I saw that old neglected stairway and couldn’t resist. 😀 — Suzanne
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Love castles and fairy tales. I don’t know why but it brings on Joni Mitchell’s song, Both Sides Now.
Lily
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Thanks, Lily. I’m so glad you loved the story. That is a beautiful song. I like it too. I’ve also always loved castles, fairy tales, and knights in armor. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I love your take, Suzanne! How you could resist not going up those stairs when it is forbidden and then to see a castle! Love it. Why can’t this happen to me? Hmm? Great story!
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Thanks, Amy. I’m so pleased you liked the story I wrote from your interesting picture. So far I haven’t found a magic stairway either. I’d love to find one that made me young again and involved a castle, etc., but no such luck. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Oh, me too! Let me know if you find it. 🙂
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😀 — Suzanne
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