They’re Afraid of the Light
Marsha says she’s not scared of the dark but every night she turns every blasted lamp on. You try to sleeping in a stadium. When her mama was alive she kept the lights on too. But tonight I ought to get a good night sleep being that she hosed the lamps down out on the porch and some neighborhood kids threw rocks shattering them all.
I woke from a deep sleep to Marsha’s mama saying. “This here is your great-uncle Howard. This is his father and this is your great, great, great grandma. And this is your . . .
Link to other stories HERE
It’s time for Friday Fictioneer’s and it’s another week that I am sharing my interpretation for the above photo prompt. For those who haven’t heard Friday fictioneeer is an addictive writing challenge. Thanks to our host Rochelle Wisoff-Fields of Addicted to Purple who provides us with a new photo to work with every Wednesday to interpret with a 100 word story. It is an excellent way to fine tune your editing craft. But it’s okay if you go over or below the word count a little. I guess it’s okay as long as you’re not submitting War and Peace. I find it challenging to work my story down or up until I have exactly 100 words.
Vivid writing! 🙂
Thanks a lot.
you captured the eeriness of sleeping without lights for some people…just in case of creepy things coming around. eek! i enjoyed your story. ☺
Thank you for reading and commenting. I apprehend irate your visit.
I shall keep the lights on. Great voice.
🙂 thanks for reading.
Classic! Thoroughly enjoyed reading it and loved the direction you headed this week 🙂
Thank you. Glad you stopped by.
A classic ghost story! I can imagine telling this one around a campfire… with a few more words to draw out the suspense! Nice job.
Thank you. Enjoy the marshmallows.
A lot of folks are scared of the dark. Evidently, ghosts are scared of the light, or perhaps they just don’t feel comfortable in that environment. Sounds like the whole family is coming back for a haunting reunion.
A haunting reunion good one.
That would explain all those lamps. Fun, spooky story!
Yes they light scared the ghost. Or they couldn’t see them in the light.
It started out such an ordinary scene…well except for the lighting problem and then, bam…wake up to introductions by a ghost! Whoo!
There had to be a reason for all those lamps. 🙂
So true! 🙂
Of course! 🙂
Ah, I see what happened there! Good take, but why would the mother be so afraid of letting the ghosts back? Unless that’s why the story broke off!
Also, as part of my curse as English tutor, I noticed some hiccups. “You try to sleeping in a stadium” shouldn’t have “to” in it (though it is great imagery!). The line about the kids breaking the lamps could use a little reworking or a comma.
It’s an awesome piece, though! Thank you for posting!
Thanks for reading and your critique. The mom is a ghost. when she was alive she use to leave the lights on too to prevent the ghost from coming back. 🙂
A very different take. Truly horrific – meeting all of ones ancestors as soon as lights dim. Enjoyed this.
Thanks glad you liked.
I enjoyed this. You are right; they are broken in both of our stories. I would be interested, if you have the interest and the time, to go to my blog, go to Carolyn’s page (on the left) and at the bottom read the 7 parts of the story I have written so far. There will only be 8 or 9 and I add them on Tuesday night. I am going to try and publish it when all done.
Scott
I will try to read them as time permits. I have a few projects I’m working on. I have this loyalty thing going on. I read the emails of most of the people I follow and I try not to fall behind. At the same time I’m trying to get my own writing done.
I fully understand that!
I need to sleep in the dark – except sometimes I take a nap in the afternoon – that doesn’t bother me in the least. What I need to do is get one of those black masks for the light. By the way, well done!
I like the dark too and I’m not afraid of ghost. I welcome them. Thanks for reading glad you liked.
I enjoyed your story. I don’t like to sleep with lights on, but in that house I think I’d make an exception. I wonder if the ghosts would follow them if they moved.
The ghost are Marsha’s family I guess they just may.
Hi Znjavid,
I think that eye may have hypnotized me, so who knows what crazy things I’m getting ready to do. Beware the darkness. I think that’s what I learned from your story. Ron
LOL!! I guess that would sum it up. Thanks for reading. Yea I’m ready for a new avatar.
That was really scary. I will definitely sleep with the night lamp.
The darker the better for me. Thanks for reading.
Who doesn’t enjoy evening visits from deceased relatives?
I do. But it seems some people find it creepy. 🙂
Looks like it’s time to get some new lamps quick – I’m sure sleeping with the light on is better than getting woken up by ghosts every night!
Yea I would think. 🙂
Oh, that will get me laughing for the rest of the day. Bahahaha!
🙂 Glad you enjoyed.
No lights for me please. And – any kid that requires a night-light is a no to sleep-overs. I find them distracting. Glad my kids didn’t go through that stage.
Your description of the lights on was so vivid – it prompted me to throw in a complaint – LOL 😉
Thanks Rosy. 🙂
Ghosts make a fine addition to any story. 🙂
I think so. 🙂
Dear Kim,
It took me a couple of reads to get the whole story. It was worth the effort. I love the analogy of sleeping in a stadium. Dare I say brilliant?
Not only is it time to replace the lights, I’m thinking, perhaps, it’s time to move.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Being that’s it family I think Marsha’s is safe but I think they won’t let her get much sleep. Thanks for reading.
Hugs
I bet they are going right out to scour the garage sales for replacements. Or else there will be many sleepless night ahead.However I suspect the ghost is there even with the lights on. And nothing will help now. Great creepy tale.
Oh, so creepy. Look what happens when you turn the lights out…
Yes poor Charles can’t win. Thanks for reading.
Very sinister, very menacing. Loved it.
Thanks Sandra I’m happy you liked.
Nice one Kim, a little scary but kept me interested throughout. well done.
Thanks glad you liked.
Oh my! Urns that light up…
Hey that’s a thought!! I assumed the lamps scared the ghost away. 🙂
The creepy relatives come out at night! Man, that had to be a night of the living dead! 🙂 Great story.
Hence all the lamps. 🙂 Thanks for reading.
Please remind me to never break a lamp, leave them outside, or sleep with Marsha (well, maybe ….) I don’t want to meet great uncle Howard or anyone else yet!
Marsha knew all about the ghost that’s why she lite the place up at night. Glad you liked and you see I edit.
and this is why i sleep with a nightlight! 🙂 great story,kim 🙂
Thanks. I still like it dark the darker the better. 🙂
I have a nightlight, but too much and well that would defeat the purpose of sleep. Please remind me never to break a lamp. haha! Good one Kim.
🙂 Thanks.
It was perfectly clear to me–and it would drive me crazy in one night.
I know I can’t sleep when the light is on. Thanks.
Creepy. I’m confused about this, though…”in stadium.” What’s sleeping in stadium?
janet
It should have been ‘a stadium’. Like a football or baseball stadium lite up with flood lights.
Ahh, that makes sense.
Do you think I should change it to ‘it’s like sleeping in a stadium.’ instead of him saying ‘You try to sleeping in a stadium’ ? To make it clearer.
I think it works the way you have it. I got the imagery right away. That said, “it’s like…” might be clearer to some. I think you could go either way. Thought I’d throw my two cents in. 😉