Footsteps echoed eerily in the fog. Another arrival, probably Aunt Lycria making an entrance, unfortunately for her, cloaked and unseen. Fog wrapped figures hovered, some nervously, others contrite. The atmosphere was moist with their sweat, and sulfurous with their false smiles. Occasions such as this brought out sworn enemies such as Uncle Ernst and Third Cousin Ernest. A forced family reunion; I could hear the hissing and spitting just below the surface. How like my family – even happy events were filled with spite. Or course, there were those in tears. Twelve bells; the pastor cleared his throat: “Dearly beloved we are here today to join Mathilda and Pettigrew, forever in each other’s arms. . . .” The droning ritual nearly put me to sleep. Finally, the sound of dirt bouncing off two coffins, and the assembled vaporized back into the fog. I, too, turned on my heel. Now came the after-party – will reading time.
A Charles Addams (and others) inspired mlmm finish off friday #6: footsteps in the fog
© Lorraine
January 23, 2017 at 6:57 pm
A funeral wedding, well I guess neither bride nor groom cares much. The will would be interesting indeed. I agree with Mark, needs a part 2 :)
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January 23, 2017 at 8:07 pm
Yes, it does need some framing!
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January 23, 2017 at 12:43 am
A dirt marriage…. Oh I’m colored jealous over the idea. Wow, I can imagine the need of a prequel to explain their demise? I do like the familia feeling. 😊
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January 23, 2017 at 1:11 am
Your midnight burial gave me the idea — and Charles Addams who I’ve love since I was a kid and looked at the books my dad had. I had a warped childhood.
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January 23, 2017 at 12:49 pm
I am glad I could dig up the right memories. 😉
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January 23, 2017 at 3:45 pm
I couldn’t have undertaken it without your suggestion.
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January 23, 2017 at 4:17 pm
Spirit of the thought and a chance at of old haunts
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January 23, 2017 at 8:24 pm
wraiths wander in remembories
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January 23, 2017 at 8:49 pm
Spectres loosen chains and wail
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January 23, 2017 at 10:54 pm
cacophony of the dead
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January 24, 2017 at 12:10 am
whispers of life extinguished
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January 24, 2017 at 6:40 am
no longer dormant
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January 24, 2017 at 6:40 am
rising on the winds
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January 24, 2017 at 9:02 am
Embracing wings of the vultures
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January 24, 2017 at 2:24 pm
catching thermals straight from hell
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January 24, 2017 at 3:11 pm
Fumes of brimstone scented in singed hope
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January 24, 2017 at 3:31 pm
burnt offerings
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January 24, 2017 at 3:36 pm
heaved upon the ethereal alter
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January 24, 2017 at 5:50 pm
sacrifice of bone and dust
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January 24, 2017 at 6:01 pm
flesh have been spent previously
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January 24, 2017 at 6:06 pm
cost of doing business with the devil
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January 24, 2017 at 6:59 pm
Had I only recognized my own reflection
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January 24, 2017 at 7:23 pm
in the witch’s cauldron, in the midnight mirror
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January 24, 2017 at 8:29 pm
My intact form could then suffer on
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January 24, 2017 at 8:47 pm
Is this ready for framing in a post? Maybe a pleasant tombstone, graveyard image too?
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January 24, 2017 at 8:53 pm
I think so — I trust you instincts re image: something eerie and atmospheric.
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January 24, 2017 at 9:21 pm
Darling I have the best image with a deteriorating face!
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January 24, 2017 at 9:15 pm
not sure message went: think it’s ready;
eerie, atmospheric picture good.
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January 24, 2017 at 9:21 pm
I got it! ☠️👻
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January 24, 2017 at 10:28 pm
We are posted as Midnight Mirror.
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January 24, 2017 at 10:28 pm
Sounds good.
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January 24, 2017 at 10:32 pm
Where?
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January 24, 2017 at 10:54 pm
I used almost everything… well past 21 words. 😉 It’s on Coloring Outside the Lines
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January 24, 2017 at 11:10 pm
Thanks — I’ve working on a combo of two of our comment strings or it might be a shortie from one. Just haven’t figured it all out and finished.
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January 24, 2017 at 11:12 pm
Sounds good. We are starting the newest trend.
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January 24, 2017 at 11:12 pm
Love it! Image and poem! Great job.
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January 24, 2017 at 11:13 pm
I really liked the image. I thought it gave a face to the words.
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January 24, 2017 at 11:14 pm
It’s perfect — as you say gives face to the words and sets the tone of the poem.
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January 24, 2017 at 11:16 pm
I love Pixabay for images. Free and plentiful
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January 24, 2017 at 11:25 pm
I’ve only recently started mining it for photos. Will be visiting more if I keep running two flash fiction prompts. So many of my photos are on an old laptop or not scanned into the computer. Got hundreds plus some are on CDs.
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January 24, 2017 at 11:28 pm
I have 10,000 pictures on an older netbook with a bad battery. This is easier☺
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