The lamplighters had done their jobs – the street glowed in a golden light. Seen from within, the lantern cast stained glass shadows on the sconces as if they too were ablaze.
She knew she should not have hidden in the church, but the night was cold, and the cobbles of the street even colder. Her thin dress, thread-weary shawl, and slipper-shoes were nothing against the wicked winds scuttling snow along the streets.
Turned out again, she sought shelter where she may. The church offered so many places to hide, and she loved the stained glass shadows as they crept across the pews.
She knew how to be gone well before day snatched night from the sky, a few bitter hours huddled in the doorway, perchance before her drunken step-father stumbled out and she could return. To help Moma, no doubt bruised and crying, survive another day.
Written for Sue Vincent’s Thursday Photo Prompt #writephoto lantern
© Lorraine
January 26, 2017 at 1:57 am
Sad but well written tale with vivid imagery.
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January 28, 2017 at 3:09 am
Thank you so much.
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January 20, 2017 at 2:06 pm
Lorraine, sad but well written response.
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January 20, 2017 at 2:35 pm
Thank you — picture seemed to have a sad undertone.
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January 19, 2017 at 4:43 pm
Lovely Lorraine, enjoyed this take very much..
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January 19, 2017 at 7:58 pm
Thank you, Michael, Sue’s picture brought out the Dickens in me.
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January 19, 2017 at 7:59 pm
Well that’s a whole lot better than the ‘willies’…..lol
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January 19, 2017 at 8:01 pm
True — the willies are so disturbing and distracting.
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January 19, 2017 at 2:38 pm
Beautiful, very Dickensian. I really liked it !
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January 19, 2017 at 3:01 pm
Thank you — Sue’s photo made me think of lamp lights and the rest flowed.
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January 19, 2017 at 3:18 pm
It is beautiful!
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January 19, 2017 at 7:53 pm
Thank you — Sue’s pictures are so inspiring.
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January 20, 2017 at 3:48 am
Yes they are always so interesting!
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January 19, 2017 at 9:31 am
Thinking along similar lines…
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January 19, 2017 at 10:16 am
There is something about the lantern seen from within the church that brought out the Dickens in me.
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January 19, 2017 at 10:19 am
It reminded me of the Little Match Girl.
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January 19, 2017 at 10:22 am
Yes, it has that tone.
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January 19, 2017 at 9:30 am
Reblogged this on Sue Vincent's Daily Echo and commented:
First in this week…
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January 19, 2017 at 9:29 am
That’s a hard one… and even the porches of churches are often locked with a lack of cokpassion these days :(
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January 19, 2017 at 9:52 am
The perfect shelter for the perfect reasons denied. So sad.
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January 19, 2017 at 10:14 am
I agree. It seems to go against their very purpose.
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