| General Fiction posted November 3, 2022 |
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Short story for the empty house contest
A Ring of Truth
by June Sargent
The house was empty. I was glad I had the opportunity to explore when no one was around.
I took the ring off my finger right away and put it in my skirt pocket. The day I bought the ring at an estate sale, I had no idea it had the power to transport me back to the time of its owner.
The first time it happened I was freaked out! I only walked around the garden. I didn't dare go into the house.
The young woman who sold it to me said it had belonged to the owner of the estate - it was her wedding ring. She had been happily married for 15 years - then her husband just disappeared one day. There was talk that he had run off with a younger woman.
I was looking at the photos on the wall when I heard voices upstairs. I hid behind a Japanese screen, as they were coming down the stairs.
I recognized her from the photos - it was Alice, the owner of the ring!
"Edgar, are you sure they'll never find my husband's body?"
"Alice, I assure you - I have disposed of the body in a careful and most creative way. I'm more than just a gardener. And I am looking forward to taking art classes in Paris with my share of the insurance money. I have a lot at stake here, too.
By the way, your cherry tree should bloom beautifully next spring."
I was horrified by what I heard! Through the years, the family never suspected foul play. Alice's husband didn't run away with a lover - he had been murdered!
I didn't need to hear anymore. I put the ring back on my finger and I was back in my living room within seconds.
What should I do? Who should I tell? Would anyone believe me?
I decided to go back to the estate to get more information on Alice's husband. The woman who sold me the ring was there.
"No, I don't know much more about the missing husband. I'm sorry."
As we walked by the garden, I saw a huge cherry tree. I asked how old the tree was.
"I think Alice's dad planted it when he built the house. Funny thing, the tree was never a great bloomer. It stayed alive all these years, but suddenly came into full bloom the day Alice passed away. "
My skin began to crawl at the thought - I wonder if the gardener ever went through with his plans to study art in Europe.
Either way, I returned the ring for a refund. I didn't want to know anymore about a possible murder. Let someone else discover the truth.
Meanwhile, a young couple came up to us and asked about the wedding ring in the display case inside the house.
"My fiancé and I are visiting from Paris. My grandfather used to work here as a gardener a long time ago!
We noticed a wedding ring inside - could we have a closer look? My fiancé would love to try it on!"
This Sentence Starts The Story contest entry
The house was empty. I was glad I had the opportunity to explore when no one was around.
I took the ring off my finger right away and put it in my skirt pocket. The day I bought the ring at an estate sale, I had no idea it had the power to transport me back to the time of its owner.
The first time it happened I was freaked out! I only walked around the garden. I didn't dare go into the house.
The young woman who sold it to me said it had belonged to the owner of the estate - it was her wedding ring. She had been happily married for 15 years - then her husband just disappeared one day. There was talk that he had run off with a younger woman.
I was looking at the photos on the wall when I heard voices upstairs. I hid behind a Japanese screen, as they were coming down the stairs.
I recognized her from the photos - it was Alice, the owner of the ring!
"Edgar, are you sure they'll never find my husband's body?"
"Alice, I assure you - I have disposed of the body in a careful and most creative way. I'm more than just a gardener. And I am looking forward to taking art classes in Paris with my share of the insurance money. I have a lot at stake here, too.
By the way, your cherry tree should bloom beautifully next spring."
I was horrified by what I heard! Through the years, the family never suspected foul play. Alice's husband didn't run away with a lover - he had been murdered!
I didn't need to hear anymore. I put the ring back on my finger and I was back in my living room within seconds.
What should I do? Who should I tell? Would anyone believe me?
I decided to go back to the estate to get more information on Alice's husband. The woman who sold me the ring was there.
"No, I don't know much more about the missing husband. I'm sorry."
As we walked by the garden, I saw a huge cherry tree. I asked how old the tree was.
"I think Alice's dad planted it when he built the house. Funny thing, the tree was never a great bloomer. It stayed alive all these years, but suddenly came into full bloom the day Alice passed away. "
My skin began to crawl at the thought - I wonder if the gardener ever went through with his plans to study art in Europe.
Either way, I returned the ring for a refund. I didn't want to know anymore about a possible murder. Let someone else discover the truth.
Meanwhile, a young couple came up to us and asked about the wedding ring in the display case inside the house.
"My fiancé and I are visiting from Paris. My grandfather used to work here as a gardener a long time ago!
We noticed a wedding ring inside - could we have a closer look? My fiancé would love to try it on!"
Artwork by meg119 at FanArtReview.com
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