Saturday, January 29, 2011

The Reunion


One of the weekend's best events is Jenny Matlock's Saturday Centus, and this week she has reverted to form with a prompt that stirs the imagination in lovely directions. (I should mention, in the interest of full disclosure, that we owe this golden prompt to Judie, our fellow Centusian.) Much appreciated, my friend!

The prompt, as always, is in red.

∞§∞

Early morning light was spilling into colors on the attic floor when she lifted the stack of letters from the ancient chest and began to read. The script had nearly faded, but the strokes were bold and strong, with just a little nonsense at the edges. She liked him already.

“My Dearest Annie…”

In keeping with the soft, golden light surrounding her, she had intended to savor each word, but within moments she was swallowing whole sentences, eager to know this man who had lived just long enough to sire her great-grandmother and vanish into anonymity.

The twilight found her sated, nearly filled...heartfed by tender roots, still new and green.

∞§∞

34 comments:

Kat said...

Loved this Sue. I can see that old attic, dust floating in those sunbeams. And the last line? Perfection! Beautifully written. Kat

CB said...

Your attic is much more beautiful than mine - You paint a beautiful picture for the mind.
I really want to read one of those letters and see who this man is too!

Bookie said...

Very nice...how nice to read back and get to know this man.

Koby said...

Beautiful imagery...!! Add me to the long list of people wanting to know more about this mystery man.

Judie said...

Achewww! Excuse me, but the dust in the attic is making me sneeze! You see! I was right about your creatively speaking!!!
O.k., who was he???

elysabeth said...

I can see how this makes us want more - everyone needs to know that unknown mystery man and if we see it through his letters, then so be it - great job. I may actually get creative and write something to the prompt myself but not sure yet, as I've got some editing to do on book #6 and some writing on book #7 to do this weekend. Thanks for sharing - E :)

------------
Elysabeth Eldering
Author of the Junior Geography Detective Squad, 50-state, mystery, trivia series

Where will the adventure take you next?

http://jgdsseries.blogspot.com
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Unknown said...

Well now I just want to know more!!

Karen Mortensen said...

Very good. I want more.

Donna said...

Funny, I can remember a day almost like this...when I found my father's love letters to my mother. He always drew a small mouse name "Sparkey" on the front of the envelope as a pet name for their love. I spent most of a day like your story reading...it was sweet to know you came from that love. Your perfect prose always leaves me wanting more....

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

The imagery and wording are beautiful, Sue. It leaves me feeling sated.
xoRobyn

yaya said...

Reminds me of my Dad's letters to my Mom before they were married and he was in the Army overseas during WWII...great beginning for a wonderful book or a Hallmark movie!

larainydays said...

How about...

He lifted the stack of letters from the ancient chest but then Grandma woke up and slapped him.

Sorry, I just can't help myself.

Darlene said...

There again, you did a great post on this one. Made me wish again that I had some history in letters or otherwise from any of my ancestors. That is why I am trying to hard to finish my life story. Family history is just the best, no matter how it comes to us.

Viki said...

I guess we all long for family history. My father's father and then his step-father died before I was born. I never heard too much about them. I wish I did. Good job on your centus.

e said...

Wonderful Sue! I was there, sun shining through the window, dust tickling my nose. I want to know more about the man too! Nice piece.
~Michelle

anitamombanita said...

Interesting... I may have to try to use your Saturday Centus for my photo blog... it would be interesting to try.

I thought about it before, but today's post reminded me again. I have a small wooden chest that was given to me as a gift, and I keep letters and cards from special people in it. One of the things on the outside of it is a picture of an old letter with the name and city in Germany where my father comes from, the name being the same as my father's family and the postmark being around the time of my great great grandfather. The person who gave it to me neither knew that nor did they care, as the giver turned out to be anything but a friend. Nonetheless, I've always been a bit intrigued by the "coincidence" of it, and I've been meaning to photograph it.

Anyway, that was a bit of an aside, but I like the idea of a "shooting" theme, as much as a writing theme... guess we'll see where I go with it.

Love your blog (and you, of course!)
anita

Dazee Dreamer said...

That was sooooo good. My kind of story. Great, great job.

Grandma Honey said...

I wish I had your mind!

Ames said...

I can relate to everyone's desire to know more. I too want to know my family history.~Ames

karen said...

I always look forward to my Saturday story. You always inspire my imagination, and make me think about what possibly happened next.

Terra said...

Beautiful words Sue, just beautiful. Read it twice

Tina said...

Oh how lovely. Great imagery and you pulled me right in! Will we hear more? Want to join me in connecting your stories from week to week? It's an extra challenge, but oh so much fun.

Jo said...

Oh how wonderful ...I feel a need to sneeze from the dust bits ... great imagery!

Amy said...

That is lovely. I now want an attic full of dusty tomes and love letters. So romantic and dreamy.

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

What a way you have with words, so carefully chosen...painting such a detailed picture.

I love the way you describe things!

Caroline said...

Your words are so alive. Beautifully written. I loved this, Sue.
My family never throws anything away and we have s bunch of old letters. When I am at my parents house, I like to look at them. Handwriting is really a fading form of art...

21 Wits said...

I really like your header, and the last line of your great post is just tremendous and refreshingly new...! Very nice!

Jess said...

Ooh- I love a stack of old love letters story. Perfection!

cj Schlottman said...

It's universal, isn't it, this desire to find our roots? And you have expressed it so poetically. Thanks for a great take on this prompt.

..........cj

Tgoette said...

Oh Sue I loved your take on this, pure genius! Beautifully done!

Unknown said...

Reading yours and other centus-texts makes me wonder what will be left after us for others to read? Does anybody write a hand-written letter anymore?

Wonderful atmosphere in your attic. How did this man disappear? Was he killed in a war perhaps? The possiblities are many.

Thank you for your kind comment on my SC-post.

Hugs,
Anna
For the benefit of other readers:
'Infrequent visitor' SC week 39

Maria said...

A great hook. Well done.

Jenny said...

'she had intended to savor each word, but within moments she was swallowing whole sentences'

I am in awe of this Sue.

So visual.

So perfect.

Thanks for transporting us to this time and place.

Nonna said...

Love it...dripping with vivid descriptions and deep emotions !