He liked confined spaces. In all that vast mansion, his favourite spot was the understairs cupboard. When I asked why, he’d ruffle his tousled hair, grin a toothy grin, and say he was waiting for the owl from Hogwarts.
“But you’re not an abused boy,” I’d argue. “So you don’t have to live below stairs.”
“I’m a magic boy,” he’d reply, as if no more explanation were necessary.
That’s the trouble with books—they bring alarming possibilities into the world.
.
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 
Great observational piece, yes books are there to stimulate children’s imagination.
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Thanks so much, James
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If books bring alarming opportunities, so be it. I cut my teeth on the Rev Awdry’s Thomas books, and have remained a fan of books ever since
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It’s all been downhil since the invention of the printing press
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Dear Neil,
Magic lives with the pages of books. We can travel to faraway places without leaving our chairs. Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks so much, Rochelle
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Haha. Books can be dangerous that way. 🙂
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Deadly!
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Nicely observed piece – kids do love to build or find their own small spaces to make a den in. As for the dangers of Harry Potter, well, let’s say it introduced a lot of people to reading, and that can only be a good thing.
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Reading gives people a divine discontent
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Hmm, alarming possibilities….
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Absolutely
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Alarming indeed. My goodness the places they could go….
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Doesn’t bear thinking about
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At all!
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Great personality, that cat :). Fun story, had me smiling.
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Thanks so much, Linda
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Love this story! I bet your boy is about seven – the age of my granddaughter, who has a similarly fertile imagination.
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Spot on. Or possibly eight
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Great!
Yes, books transport us & transform us too 🙂
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Thanks so much, Anita
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I suppose this little kitty will be writing his own book very soon 😀
Oh, the places our imagination can go in a book. Loved this, Neil.
Isadora 😎
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Thanks so much, Isadora
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Wonderful last line, Neil. What would we do without all of those alarming possibilities…
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The world would be a simpler place, perhaps. But that’s not necessarily a good thing
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So true, they bring everything to everywhere and more
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What a lovely way of putting it
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He’s a very interesting character, so very sure of himself. He probably has a stack of books and a torch tucked away in that cupboard.
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You probably wouldn’t want him in your understairs cupboard, but he’s fine stuck between the covers of a book
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I feel like that kid sometimes. But only in my own house and with my own cupboard. =D Fun story, Neil.
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Thanks so much, Anne
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Alarming indeed. Anything is possible in books.
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Even water bound in straw
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Ha, “alarming possibilities!” Never thought of books in that way before.
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Dangerous things, books. They give people ideas
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Quite an observation. Well done.
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Thanks so much, Sandra
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Nothing is impossible in books, even talking snakes. Another story well told, Neil.
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Thanks so much, Bill
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🙂
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Many an adventure lives within the pages of a book. Nice one, Neil.
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Thanks so much, Keith
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what a charming piece. nicely done. 🙂
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Thanks so much
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Very true last line. Lots to think about there. And your little boy is a most engaging character – he’s built his own little world of magic and stories.
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Thanks so much, Margaret
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Alarmingly disarming. 🙂
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What a lovely comment. Thanks so much, Patricia
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Yep! Ban ’em all. Where would we be without the magic of stories? Fun story.
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Thanks so much
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Aha! Indeed books are magical as are those who read them!
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Thanks, Laurie
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Lovely story, yes books open up worlds of possibilities. Magic, for sure!
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Thanks so much, Fleur
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Nice post
Reblogged it on Sarkari Focus
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Thanks so much
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beware of books, sound advice
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And perhaps also, beware of travelling bards
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The possibilities are endless. Books can transport us to places beyond our imagination.
Enjoyed this tale with this little tyke and his fertile mind.
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Thanks so much, Natasha
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Oh, yes! Books are magic, even when they’re not about magic.
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The books that aren’t aboit magic are the really magical ones
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