When the first pair of shoes turned up, well, I were delighted. I put them on and walked. Them ten league boots took me all the way from John O’Groats to Lands End. I walked clear out of them and settled on the promontory overlooking the bean green Atlantic. Waiting
Today, a second pair of boots on my moss-gnawed doorstep. Sinister derelict things. With a note tucked into the right shoe. I couldn’t pull it out, and anyway I can’t read. But I know what it says.
Pebbles crunching. I walk into the ocean. It’s so very cold.
Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields, who has given us boots before, to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here.
My story is a companion piece to Walker, written in response to the first pair of boots.
Neil MacDonald Author 
Dear Neil,
You have me wondering what the note said. Love the voice and “bean green ocean.”
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Perhaps “walk to America”?
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What’s it say Neil? Where have they come from? He sounds like a very desperate man
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Or maybe he’s just a man with a plan
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Some people are destined to keep moving, whether they want to or not.
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If strangers leave them boots
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That was brilliant. So intriguing and so well written! Loved the ‘bean green Atlantic’.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thanks, Susan. If Rochelle posts more boots, the Walker may return
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Very intriguing. I have to wonder what was written in the note and where the walker is destined to go. Well done
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Thanks, Kelley. Perhaps he’s walked into everyone’s dreams
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Is he going to take his own life? Or, maybe he has a boat moored out on the water. Yes, I like that better.
Loved that :bean green ocean.”
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In your story. I’ve provided a boat
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Great voice in this piece. I liked the cadence.
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Thanks so much Joshua.
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Love this, all of it.
The writing, the story, the voice, the mystery, the end.
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Love the comment. Thanks
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These boots are made for walking, and that’s just what they’ll do. Though it looks like they are going to take him to Davy Jones’ Locker. Loved the “moss-gnawed doorstep”.
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Thanks so much
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Oh, wow, what an adventure you’ve woven for us. Such a tragic ending, but fitting. 🙂
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Maybe he grew gills?
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hhehe, maybe!
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I think when your narrator supposes he knows what the note says he’s making a big mistake. Let’s hope it’s not a fatal error.
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In his own world, he knows. Not necessarily in ours
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Inside the ocean with walking shoes? Waterproof clothing should help.
Wonder what was in the note…
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Thanks, Anita
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Wow! This was wonderful especially when read in context with the first part. Enjoyed a lot. 🙂
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Thanks so much. I had no intention of writing a sequel. but Rochelle posted boots again
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Neil, loved this and there’s a lovely voice in it that’s quite person and you’ve captured the colloquialisms well. I decided to be different and say I loved a different phrase: moss-gnawed doorstep. Sinister derelict things.
I’m thinking he should’ve burned those shoes. They mean trouble.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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Thanks so much, Rowena
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I loved your story from start to finish. The voice was wonderful. I had a sense it was the telling of the man’s whole life story, walking to the end.
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Thanks so much, Brenda. I’m really glad you liked it
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Such a good story Neil, from the voice to the mysterious note at the end. What did he read there I wonder. So well done
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Thanks Lynn. He can’t read
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Ah, that explains a lot.
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Perhaps he is being called to do penance, what great story telling
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Thanks so much, Mike
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Well he got quite a few miles out of them boots didn’t he??? Great story! 😉
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Thanks, Courtney
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Interesting use of shoes as a symbol of life’s journeys.
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Thanks, Tracey
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I wondered what was in that right boot! I love the mystery and voice in this tale.
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Thanks, Alicia. I’m still not sure what it is either
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Intriguing and mysterious! I like the idea of “sinister” boots.
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Thanks so much. Wait for the launch of my range of terrifying tee-shirts
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Such an imaginative story. I really like the way you drip-feed us the details of him.
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Thanks Jilly. I appreciate the idea that it’s possible to drip feed in 100 words. That hadn’t occurred to me
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His delight at the first boots. His voice – sometimes apparently effortlessly poetic. His casual reference to being unable to read, All packed in. Not a word wasted.
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Thanks again, Jilly
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Pretty intriguing. Reminds me of Sherlock Holmes story of orange pips as well as The Valley of Fear
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I love that association. It was quite unintentional, I assure you
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I know!👌
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These are very determined boots. Very intriguing.
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The boots may not be, but the person who left them sure is
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Loved this – everything about it.
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Thanks so much, Dale
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That boots found in the ocean thing has always fascinated me. I thought of that as soon as I read this
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Thanks, Laurie
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The soul of a wanderer, perhaps.
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Could well be
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Or the sole of a wanderer?
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Very intriguing.
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Thanks, Lisa
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A personal mystery left hanging, a search that has failed, I wonder. A nice story of suspense.
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Thanks, James
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Thanks to the link to the first piece. These work so well together – the mystery is explained, or rather another mystery presented to think about and ponder on.
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That’s the problem with answers. They just lead to new questions
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Very intriguing. Not sure what exactly is going on, but I did love the dark mood of the piece.
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Thanks, Cheney
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Love everything here__ the voice, the words, the mystery.
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Thanks so much, Neel
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Love bean green ocean, and the story too – a mermaid calling?
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Thanks, Liz. I like the mermaid idea. Or maybe a selkie?
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Excellent and very fun to read!
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Thanks so much, Nan
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I too wonder what the note said!
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We will probably never know
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Shoes…life…the notes beautifully told 🙂
http://drsushreedash.blogspot.in/2018/05/ballerinas.html
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Thanks so much
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One word….WOW!
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Thanks so much, Donna
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Oh, dear.I feel danger coming on. Well done. Love the descriptions.
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Thanks so much
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Loved the narrator’s voice, he’s such a presence- he suits the boots I think. Such a well crafted tale.
I imagined he was poised to end it all, took the note as a sign ?
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That would be a possibilty, but not the one I imagined
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Oh no… I’m sure that it didn’t mean that.
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It can mean what the reader imagines it means
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A well penned tale with a rather unexpected ending. Liked it!
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Thanks so much, Vivian
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😊
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Mysterious and magical. And I, too, loved “green bean ocean.”
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Thanks so much, Jan. Glad you liked it
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Beware of sinister shoes/boots. He knew the second pair wouldn’t lead him anywhere good. A mysterious piece.
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Yeah, he didn’t really learn much from the first pair did he?
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I enjoyed reading this. Am curious about what that note said.
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What such notes always say
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