To the side of the trash, they’d stacked a red easel among the desiccated pot plants and old paint tins. On the easel, a hyper-realist painting depicted a cabin in the snow. I couldn’t help myself. Turning as I walked up the path to the door, no footprints showed. Of course—I was in a picture.
The cabin was empty, and the back door stood open. In the yard, a row of desiccated pot plants and old paint tins flanked an easel with a painting of a wooden house.
I couldn’t help myself.
.
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 
Dear Neil,
A magical painting to find in the woods.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You can check in any time, but you can never check out
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That had a creepy feel, like he was in the painting because he was dead.
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A haunted painting! I like that
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Cleverly done! Sounds like it is going to be quite difficult to get yourself out of this one!
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Thanks so much, Violet.
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Wonderful ghost story, Neil. The repetition works well.
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Thanks so much, Lisa
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You’re very welcome.
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Good to see you haven’t lost your touch, Neil.
This reminds me of the Oor Wullie back cover where he sits on his bucket reading an Oor Wullie book where he sits on his bucket…
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Well! There’s a voice from the past. Our Wullie. Thanks so much, CE
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I just realised I did not hit the comment button!
I love this repeating story which has no way out.
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Thanks so much, Dale
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Caught in a time loop, a recurring nightmare.
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Exactly! Thanks, James
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curious where it goes from here…
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I think it cycles endlessly
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it seems like a bad dream and it’s time for him to wake up to smell the coffee.
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Ah, if only he were dreaming
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A bit like the movie Groundhog Day
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An endless hall of mirrors
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There’s probably a word for that continuous cycle phenomenon in paintings or mirrors but I’m not sure what it is. If there isn’t, there should be. Love this mysterious take of yours, Neil.
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Thanks so much, Nancy
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Rround and round and round we go… Intriguing.
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Thanks so much,. Keith
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Trapped in an infinite loop sounds like Hell to me.
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Me too
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I enjoyed imagining this magic user walking among paintings of his choice. Intriguing! There are many a painting I’d like to walk around inside.
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Thanks so much, Brenda
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Very spooky, and a great time loop. Maybe he should close the door, see what the cabin has to offer, and explore the other parts of the picture. Little changes can go far.
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Eventually that course of action will probably suggest itself to him
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Ominous! I hope he finds a way out in the end.
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Thanks so much
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Ooooo a circle within a circle within…
Scary
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Thanks so much, Laurie
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