Photograph by Highlander
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Suggested prompt...
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There is a story behind that door... write it.
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4/13/09
Out on the street, the shop seems like your typical small town curiosity shop with bobble headed dolls, new age velvet paintings of dolphins arching over a moonlit ocean, incense burners and books on magic. But why are they open only at night? I have often seen people enter the shop and not come out for an hour or two...strange people who only seem to come out at night. No children, mostly middle aged loners...the kind that look down as you pass by, never acknowledging that you even exist.
6/11/09
Down the alley towards the back of the shop is where they come out...never using the front door that they entered. Are they embarrassed about what they did inside? Are they buying something illegal...not wanting to be discovered? The answer lies behind the alley door.
6/14/09
The locals just change the subject when I ask about the shop. They know and they are protecting someone or something. I moved here 3 months ago to start my new life after graduating with full honors from law school. Passing though the town often on the way to Carmel, I always thought this would be the perfect place to start up a practice...no other attorneys...no competition...just me, my naive idealism and the locals flooding through the door so I can serve them.
6/15/09
After three months, it is obvious I am not welcomed in this cliquish, private club disguised as a town.
6/16/09
Tonight I will find out what is going on in the inner circle...I am going in that back alley door that so many exit from each night.
"The Carmel District Attorney has charged Mayor Richards of Salem, California with conspiracy to commit murder along with several other townspeople to be announced at a later date of the brutal ritualistic slaying of John Williamson on June 17th, a local lawyer. The charges were filed after the discovery of the above journal notations in a drawer at Williamson's office. A news conference will be held later today detailing the raid on the "Courious Finds" shop in Salem.
Dan Felstead
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12 comments:
4/13/09
Out on the street, the shop seems like your typical small town curiosity shop with bobble headed dolls, new age velvet paintings of dolphins arching over a moonlit ocean, incense burners and books on magic. But why are they open only at night? I have often seen people enter the shop and not come out for an hour or two...strange people who only seem to come out at night. No children, mostly middle aged loners...the kind that look down as you pass by, never acknowledging that you even exist.
6/11/09
Down the alley towards the back of the shop is where they come out...never using the front door that they entered. Are they embarrassed about what they did inside? Are they buying something illegal...not wanting to be discovered? The answer lies behind the alley door.
6/14/09
The locals just change the subject when I ask about the shop. They know and they are protecting someone or something. I moved here 3 months ago to start my new life after graduating with full honors from law school. Passing though the town often on the way to Carmel, I always thought this would be the perfect place to start up a practice...no other attorneys...no competition...just me, my naive idealism and the locals flooding through the door so I can serve them.
6/15/09
After three months, it is obvious I am not welcomed in this cliquish, private club disguised as a town.
6/16/09
Tonight I will find out what is going on in the inner circle...I am going in that back alley door that so many exit from each night.
"The Carmel District Attorney has charged Mayor Richards of Salem, California with conspiracy to commit murder along with several other townspeople to be announced at a later date of the brutal ritualistic slaying of John Williamson on June 17th, a local lawyer. The charges were filed after the discovery of the above journal notations in a drawer at Williamson's office. A news conference will be held later today detailing the raid on the "Courious Finds" shop in Salem.
Bravo Dan!!!
Thanks Laura Jayne...this was one of those images that an idea popped into mind as soon as I saw it...a strange topic but I just wrote what came to mind! Thanks to Highlander for such an evocative photo.
Dan
that one is gonna be hard to beat, Dan "ole Boy,,,
Its a scary corner of a rather lovely square of old fishermens houses at the water in Aberdeen - but yes, go there in the dark nights and there is a definite sense of "its too quite here - where are all the people" - you never see anyone, but doors bang and cats are let out and milk bottles appear, but you dont see them when you spin round.
Highlander!!!
I knew there was something weird about the location of this photo! Now I don't feel like I am going off the deep edge! It is always a treat when a photo is able to truly depict a feeling of the moment...you have captured it here....but I digress...Sorry Laura!
Dan
Thanks Glnroz but any interpretation works...give it a try!
Dan
There is the door, and behind the door is normal, at least to those who live there, but to us who don't, it's not. No one really knows what goes on behind that door. I do. I live behind another door. I know. I really do.
umm... this is what i wrote
Escape
'Jack, is that you?'
'Yes, mother, it's me. I'm sorry if I've wakened you.'
'No, son, I was awake already. Where have you been 'til this hour? Is everything all right?'
'Yes, thank you mother, everything is fine. Would you like some hot milk bringing to you to help you sleep?'
'Thank you, son, that would be lovely.'
'Here you are, mother. This should help you to settle.'
'Thank you, Jack. What have you done to your shirt? That's the second time this month that you have blood down the front. Have you cut yourself?'
No, mother, a friend had an accident, that's all. Goodnight, now.'
RIPPER STRIKES AGAIN read the headlines the next day.
It wasn't anyplace special.
It seemed like a dull place. Nothing ever happened there. I didn't think I would find anything interesting there. It was quiet. It was dark all except for the orange glow that wafted off the streetlight just outside.
It wasn't anyplace special.
I wouldn't find anything pivotal here. I wouldn't fix any of my problems here. I wouldn't make a new life here. All I did was knock.
The woman who opened the door was rather dull. She didn't seem very interesting. She was quiet. Seemed rather dark...all except for that orange glow.
I handed her the paper I carried. Because it was what I was paid to do. She turned to grab something to send back with me. I didn't know what it was. I never knew what they were. Then she caught my eye and I saw something different in them.
All at once it wasn't just a dull place. It wasn't dark and quiet. Somehow it became interesting. Her eyes were bright. They seemed out of place. Then, with a nod, she closed the door and I was forced to withdraw.
There was a story behind that door. It was her story. I didn't know what it was. I can't describe what it was.
Then for the first time, I broke the rule. I don't know why I did it. I just did.
I opened the brown bag she'd given me and peered inside.
This was a pivotal moment for me. This would fix my problems. This would start a new life for me. All at once I was part of their game and I knew how to play.
I left that place with a new spring in my step.
The place that wasn't anyplace special.
A picture is worth
one thousand words, but a door
is worth a million
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