Hattie couldn’t remember the point when men stopped noticing her, when construction workers no longer whistled and catcalled. Bur one day, while she was out buying a newspaper, she noticed a sense of ease, a relaxation of the shoulders.
Then she discovered she could deftly extract strangers’ wallets. Nobody saw her.
She tried lifting a diamond tiara from Johnstone’s Jewellers. Nobody saw her.
Governments began to offer contracts of extraordinary delicacy. It was dangerous, of course, but paid lavishly.
One spring afternoon, her grandson walked right through her.
“Well, bugger me,” she said. “I’ve passed on and nobody told me.”
Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here
Neil MacDonald Author 
Brilliant. There was a casual approach that took me into this and the ending was just right.
Occasionally, I notice some person who seems out of place, and then, well they just vanish.
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Thanks so much, James
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Absolutely wonderful, Neil. I love Hattie.
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Thanks, Jilly. Is it because she says “bugger me”?
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It’s because she’s so authentic – and says “bugger me”.
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This made me laugh.
And think.
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Laughing is good. Thinking is a bonus
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I inadvertantly deleted a comment from Sandra, which read:
I so look forward to coming here. And am rarely, if ever disappointed. This invisibility theme is one dear to my heart, but I’ve yet to resort to shoplifting. Hattie makes it sound fun though…. Excellent!
Thanks, Sandra
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What a wonderful write! Who wouldn’t like Hattie. I wish she was real and my friend and we could then enter into a joint venture. Good story, Neil
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Thanks so much, Neel
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Dear Neil,
Interesting that our MC’s were both Hattie. Surprising ending. Good stuff.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Spooky. Thanks, Rochelle
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Thanks for almost making me choke on my beer when I read that last line! Inspired Neil
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Thanks, Keith. I hope it was small beer, being before the drinking hour
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I love it. The ghost is the last one to know.
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Maybe ghosts are just people who don’t understand they’re dead
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This is wonderful. Captures the essence of aging but oh that wonderful little trick of an ending!
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Thanks, Tina. Not too many wrinklies become international hit-women either
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As far as you know 😉
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I know the government has a lot of spooks on the payroll, but she might be the only ghost 😉
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You’ve heard of Spectre?
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I like that she was happy and relaxed to become less visible.
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Thanks for noticing that, Iain
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It sounds like Hattie had a good time before she passed on. I’d love to be invisible. A wonderfully fun story!
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Thanks so much, Brenda
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Such a last line!
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Thanks, Lisa
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Hilarious and unexpected ending. I really like this character 🙂
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Thanks so much, Linda
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Oh, Neil, this is delightful I love Hattie!
(Bur one day ~ did you mean But one day?)
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Thanks Alicia. Yes I did, but I didn’t mean to say “notice” twice
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Loved the way you ended the story.
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Thanks so much
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Until that final point I saw only advantages for Hattie, but in the end being a ghost cannot be all fun.
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The pleasures of food and drink, I’m told, are insubstantial
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Ah-hah! I knew she was going to be a ghost. But wait… how long?
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Damn! You saw it coming!
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it must be true. i read on the internet that some people die without even realizing it. 🙂
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Totally true. I swear it
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I was wondering at the “she tried lifting a diamond tiara…”
Wonder if she is Rochelle’s Hattie’s ghost… change in careers and all that 😉
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No. It’s a complete coincidence that we both had characters called Hattie
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I know that. Was teasing.
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This just goes to show there are perks at every stage of life, including the after-life.
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Thanks, Rommy
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A wonderful little story. And a surprise ghost, tho I think Hattie was the most surprised to discover that fact.
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Thanks, Jo. Yes, you could have knocked her down with a feather
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Love this. I somehow don’t think she passed on. The young rarely see someone older, even if they’re related…and sometimes especially.
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Thanks, Sascha
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To find oneself completely ignored has to be quite the shock. I hope she can do a little haunting… if she wants.
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She liked the thieving, but the trinkets tend to slip between her fingers now
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Ha ha ha. Brilliant ending.
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Thanks so much, Anurag
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Ah! Hattie is dead. What use are jewellery and wallet to her?
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I think they help her keep score
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That shock ending made me laugh!
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Then my work is done! Thanks, Louise
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Beguiling story line – I felt drawn in straight away, and loved the ending. Nice writing.
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Ha! Imagine what she could get away with now… 🙂
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She’s beginning to realise that
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Gosh that was clever!
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Thanks so much, Liz
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Teehee! Great take on the prompt. I love the title, too!
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This is fabulous. And a little sad in the end. Very well told. Great points to make. To be seen and not seen. A true invisible woman
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Thanks so much, Laurie
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Absolutely superb! Brilliantly creative and a breath of fresh air for the reading and what a stellar last line. Had me completely doubled over.
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Wow! Thanks so much.
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That was a very different story, Refreshingly unique.
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Just as I was relating to the feeling of invisibility, she was gone!! Excellent!
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Thanks so much, Violet
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well the last line carries the punch. thanks for stopping by on my blog
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Thanks so much
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Hattie Hattie wake up you might be dreaming🙂 if not I enjoyed the end you gave to the story
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Thanks, Michael. I don’t think I’ve done a “it was all a dream” story since 1966
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Loved this. Totally brilliant.
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Thanks so much
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LOL. Hattie did a little tunnelling of her own. A fun read Neil.
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I like that idea that she was tunneling
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Bugger me! This was so much fun.
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Thanks so much
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Love the ending! Hattie sure knows how to take things in stride.
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thanks, Magarisa
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The ending just nailed it! Didn’t see that coming. 🙂
Applause!!
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Thanks so much, Ira
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Seems the afterlife has a few twists and turns for us too!
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It’s much like this life, but the insurance premiums are lower
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HA! I loved this! Hattie is wonderful. I was not expecting that twist at the end. Had to read it twice. Thoroughly enjoyed this!
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Thanks so much, Kita
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