Bottle
May 15, 2014 § 29 Comments
This story has been removed from the blog as it has been published by the journal ‘Ariadne’s Thread.’
10th. Feb 2015
Photo courtesy Times Online
Changing Skin: modern haiku and other stories
Haiku, stories and unfinished business…
Changing Skin: modern haiku and other stories 
Liked it then, love it now.
A fascinating tale, it is. 🙂
By the way, you’ve become one of the high points of my mornings, days really.
Thank you. Better keep them coming then 🙂
I surely hope so! 🙂
loved it, very enjoyable read and “funny” ending 🙂
Thank you. I do like my ‘funny’ endings 🙂
lol yeah, they da best
This is a great story, Rachael, full of spooky intrigue, and your ending is just marvellous – it draws a connection between the ectoplasm of Ellie’s childhood and her adult life, which really gets one thinking. Well researched, and I love the little bits of local dialect that you slipped in (‘Them what lets me get on with the job’). A wonderful job!
Ha! Thank you, Chris. This is based on real life when we restored a Tudor farmhouse a while back. Easy to make up stories about such places as they ooze the past 🙂
True, but it takes a rare talent to breathe life into them and to allow the reader a foothold into the narrative.
Thank you! *blushes deeply*
love a good fireplace etc…….
Taking them out of old houses – layer by layer – is fascinating 🙂
A thoroughly delightful tale told with the consummate skill of a born storyteller! I almost never read prose, but this one gets a second reading from me. Bravo, dear Rachael, bravo!
Thank you, Ron. I have a talent for the morbid. It offsets a rather happy life 🙂
What a wonderfully written short tale…..I was willing her to leave the bottle alone…sign of a well told story 🙂
Thank you. This was fun to write 🙂
Fantastic story here, Rachael! I enjoyed all the folklore and legends you wove into the tale. And as always, your dialogue is superb, very natural. In fact, it’s strong enough that I don’t think you need the tags like “tartly” or “flatly.” Interesting how Ellie instinctively knew that the paranormal ectoplasm wanted to be left alone, but as she grew older, she became more skeptical, and because she didn’t leave the bottle be, she paid the consequences.
Ha. I knew you wouldn’t like tartly or flatly! Looking at it, even after the revision, it still needs more work. The ending definitely isn’t right, either, but basically it’s an okay story I think.
Thank you for taking the time on what is basically quite a weird story.
As always, your opinion is much valued, Miranda.
Oh this is splendid. Perfectly written and a fantastic ending, this would be great in a magazine or anthology…
Sent from my BlackBerry smartphone from Virgin Media
Thank you. Perhaps I should send it off… 🙂
Yes, you definitely should 🙂
Reblogged this on theworldoutsidethewindow and commented:
A fantastic short story by my talented friend Rachael…
Thanks, John. *Blushes* 🙂
Congratulations for your publication in “Ariadne’s Thread”, Rachael! I did not have pay attention to your prose… what a pity! You write beautifully, poetry AND prose. Bravo 🙂
Thank you, Frederic. The stories come from another life somehow!
paid attention… 😦
Amazig story, skilled handicraft, and an surprising end – o heart, what more do you desire?
Greetings from Germany,
Salva
Thank you, Salva. I haven’t looked at this story for a while, but I still like it. Thanks for taking the time to read it 🙂
Honour to whom honour is due. 🙂