Friday Fictioneers – Where’s Wally?

~ neilmacdon
PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz

A life in polystyrene. Small, really. Compact enough to carry. Though, to be fair, it takes me both hands. And it aches me, what with my bad back and all.

So this is Wally now. A box of ashes—the remains of his body; twenty-two assorted notebooks—the remains of his soul; and a mysterious cardboard box. Which of these holds the real Wally?

The ashes I can tip in the garden. Scattering, they call it. For now, I flip through the notebooks. There might be a novel in them. Or passwords for a secret Swiss bank account.

.

I open the box. I shouldn’t have. Wally’s last little joke.

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

66 thoughts on “Friday Fictioneers – Where’s Wally?”

  2. Hi Neil, I like the idea of a secret Swiss Bank account, it adds the mystery to the background of the real Wally. I am not sure I would scatter his ashes in the garden, they may help the vegetation but I would be forever talking to the grass.
    In all you have captured the expectation and mystery we may have when we go through a deceased persons possessions.

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  24. Oh, you’re a mean little cuspid this week. Inquiring minds want to know what was in the unmarked box…. mean, you are! Great story! A life summed up in one bin…hmmm, intriquing. A year ago, I did that with my own life. Let’s just say, it’s expanded again… 4 bins worth… mostly fabric.

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  28. “Four little Soldier boys going out to sea;
    A red herring swallowed one and then there were three.” Agatha Christie
    I know you want to make me ask. This is me not asking. And thoroughly enjoying the story anyway!

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