The antique shop bell tinkled as I entered. The shadows seemed to dance forever into the endless distance. Most objects were too dim to see, but I discerned the stuffed mermaid and the Gorgon’s head.
The wizened man in the frock coat seemed made entirely of sharp angles. “Good morning, young sir. Something in my cabinet of curiosities that might interest you?”
“Thoth sent me. You have something for him.”
“Ah yes, indeed.” He pressed a heavy leather-bound volume into my hands. “I advise you do not open the lock.”
If only I had listened to him.
.
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 
This bodes ill.
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Bodaciously, I hope
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Dear Neil,
A little like Pandora’s box.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks so much, Rochelle
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Seems the ‘curiosities’ infected him with curiosity. Who can resist opening the lock on an old leather bound book?
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Just a little peek. What could it hurt?
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Famous last words!
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Gotta open it. No choice.
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So it seemed at the time
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Thoth shoulda gone and got his own damned package. Now the young lad is probably sporting snakes for hair.
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Exactly. Meddle not in the affairs of gods.
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Our history is liberally laced with people who looked at things they were told not to. It seems we never learn. Good one.
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Thanks so much, Sandra. I’m glad you were able to post it finally
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Those pesky little books… opening them always leads to danger. I mean, after all, knowledge can be the worst weapon of all, ain’ it so? Loved the story. Very hard for me to read the light gray font, though. Glad I did this morning. 🙂 Shalom, Bear
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Thanks so much, Bear. I’m puzzled by the light grey font, though. I didn’t use one
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It’s an auto setting with the theme. No biggy. I jsust forgot my colored cellophane this morning.
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Ooooo all of this is so good. The shopkeep made of lines description is perfect. Well done.
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Thank so much, Laurie
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One cannot be told not to do something. That just means they will do it.
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Aye, there’s the rub
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darn, curiosity killed the cat?
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Or certainly substantially altered the cat
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eep, yeah maybe don’t open a book intended for a god. Great story. Now you have to write the next part that tells what happened to him. 🙂
-David
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Oh I think we all know what happens to peop[e who cross gods
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Well, if that’s not an invitation to disaster, I don’t know what is. So long, kid!
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Thanks so much, Nancy
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It’s hard not to be curious about curiosities.
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Impossible, even when running errands for the gods
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Books have the sort of pull over us ;).
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Thanks so much, Angela
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