Boundaries

wrought iron fence with pillars

picture copyright Sarah Ann Hall

Uncle was an explorer and he kept a strict house.
“Don’t enter the library.” “Don’t touch the souvenirs.” “Don’t cross the fence…”
This last rule I considered breaking. What did he keep over there?
Uncle never said, but one hot and sticky night, I saw him climb across, dragging along a freshly slaughtered lamb.
After that I had to know. I expected some exotic beast, captured on his travels.
So imagine my surprise. No panther. No jaguar. Just Aunt Margaret, long presumed dead, hanging from a tree and happy as a Fruit bat.
But unlike Uncle, quite glad of my company.

This story was written for the Friday Fictioneers. Click the smiley blue guy to read more stories from other authors.



31 thoughts on “Boundaries

  1. Dear Trudy,
    I want to know more about Aunt Margaret. “happy as a Fruit bat”…that brings many visuals to mind. I enjoyed your story.
    shalom,
    Rochelle

  2. Thanks Rochelle, she sounds interesting doesn’t she? I wanted to keep her friendly, and a Fruit bat seems a lot friendlier than a vampire bat!

  3. Wow! Cool and unexpected. Though I’d be expecting a vampire bat, given the slaughtered lamb. Or perhaps a werewolf. (The Slaughtered Lamb was the pub where the ill fated American men went in American Werewolf in London.)
    My mind works in strange ways.

    • I loved that film – must be why my subconscious dragged up the image of the lamb. I imagine she is some kind of vampire, though not a particularly scary one if she’s prepared to stay behind a neat little fence! Thanks for stopping by 🙂

  4. Except that last line… But unlike Uncle, quite glad of my company — has a hungry feel to it. I guess I just read this more ominously than others. Brilliant, darling.

    • I’m happy for you to read something more sinister into it, and you could make an interesting story if you followed that path. Thanks for stopping by!

  5. Wow, that was weird (but in a good, FF way)! That last line was sad, though. Poor narrator if Aunt Margaret is happier to see him/her than a live Uncle (although as odd as he is, who knows?)

    janet

    • He is a trifle odd isn’t he? But he has secrets to keep. Aunt Margaret seems like a fun lady though!

  6. Heck, I’d be happy as a fruit bat if I was getting leg of lamb on a regular basis. I love the concept of this one. Brilliantly executed.

  7. I was a surprised at the narrator to hear about aunt Margaret. I’d really like to know how their conversation went. A lovely quirky idea.
    Claire

    • Thanks Claire, so far the comments have ranged from quirky to weird, I think that’s good!

    • Yes, it could be something a lot more sinister going on behind that fence – some of the other Friday Fictioneers’ stories certainly went that way. Thanks for reading:-)

  8. internet issues here.. i tried posting a comment not sure whether it got posted.. i said the story was nicely done.. reading the last line I wonder whether the boy is a prey or am I reading too much into it ?

    • I’ve got this comment just fine. I left the story a little ambiguous, even regarding the narrator who could be a boy or a girl. Similarly, although I picture Aunt Margaret as a quirky and fun character, I’m aware (and pleased) that she could come across as more scary. Thanks for reading 🙂

  9. I’ve got this comment just fine. I left the story a little ambiguous, even regarding the narrator who could be a boy or a girl. Similarly, although I picture Aunt Margaret as a quirky and fun character, I’m aware (and pleased) that she could come across as more scary. Thanks for reading 🙂

  10. This is great. Presumably part of uncle’s reticence is down to the state Aunt Margaret finds herself in. Would love to know more about these characters.

    • Yes, and he takes good care of her – nothing but the best juicy lamb!

  11. You know you really could work this into a great marketable story for children. I love the idea of her hanging from the tree, happy as a fruit bat.

    • Thank you – I’m glad you think so too. I expect Aunt Margaret and Uncle do have some interesting stories to tell, and I might have to plot out a few more ideas for when I finally finish what I’m currently working on. Thanks for reading – I couldn’t find your story on the linky tool, otherwise I’d stop by for a look 🙂

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