This week at the Carrot Ranch Charli Mills has challenged writers to In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about property values. Perhaps its a home, business or pencil museum. What makes them go up or down? Go where the prompt leads.
In my response, I’m adding a little more to Marnie’s story. As soon as she could, Marnie disappeared from her abusive family. It was years after her parents had died that the authorities found her. Though she’d travelled back to view the house in which she’d spent her early years, it held no fond memories and she instructed the solicitors to sell. In doing so she thought she’d closed the door on that chapter of her life.
This event occurs some months later and suggests that perhaps property values, as beauty is, are often in the eyes of the beholder.
Property values
The letter lay unopened for weeks. She had no more interest in its contents than she had in the house. She’d finished with all that when she told them to sell. Why were they contacting her now?
When a second envelope arrived bearing the same logo she thought to bin them both, but hesitated, and opened the first.
A cheque? She squinted at the numbers, then held it to the light. She counted the zeros, again. Really? How could a property that held so little value for her hold so much for someone else?
The second letter explained — developers.
Thank you for reading. I appreciate your feedback. Please share your thoughts.
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Reblogged this on Bacon Squad and commented:
Re-blogged from https://norahcolvin.com/2018/05/22/is-the-value-of-property-more-than-money/
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I’m happy she got some money from the move. Now she can build a home of her own.
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She’s all set now. 🙂
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Nice one Norah!
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Aw. Marnie. It’s been a bit since I’ve seen her. This is a welcome development (couldn’t help that pun—sorry). Two-fold sweetness here getting rid of that place and getting some financial security from it. A bit like ginger coated in dark chocolate. Win, win. 💖
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Thank you, Sarah. I appreciate your comment (and pun). Is the ginger chocolate a hint? 🙂
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Haha! Just that it’s DELICIOUS!
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Indeed it is. Hint taken. 😉
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A lovely twist in that tale, Norah. I was going to say ‘as one door closes, another opens.’ Of course, many of us know little of the history that went on in the property we choose to live, or even the places we work. I suppose property is a little like art. I struggle, sometimes, as to why someone would pay so much for something I wouldn’t give a second look at. Which brings me on to another quote ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder.’
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I agree with all that, Hugh. Both beauty and value are in the eye of the beholder. I, too, am staggered by the prizes that some artworks carry. If only our books did! 🙂
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It is all in what the market will bear or bare? When a city area gets ‘re-gentrified’ the prices soar.
I sometimes watch the home fix it shows where they take the worst house on the block and revitalize it. Then of course it probably becomes one of the more expensive properties.
It is so hard in some countries to buy real estate. In some Asian countries the mortgage is multi-generational! I’ve family that tell of buying a home fifty or so years ago in California for (I would guess normal cost at the time) and then now in the selling the same home is worth over a million.
Yes I do believe as you say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Hoping that Marnie does something nice for herself too.
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Ah yes, Jules. The vagaries of real estate. I’ve seen some of those fix-it shows too. It always amazes me how high the price goes with a deceitful splash or two of paint. We are easily fooled.
I hope Marnie does something nice too. She hasn’t told me yet. 🙂
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I enjoyed how you developed and ended this… Nice!
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Thank you, Debora. 🙂
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Am emotional story with a clever ending. The house held little value for Marnie in memories, and only financial value for developers. Sad little house.
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It was indeed a house of sorrows for Marnie. Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Patricia.
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Norah, I’m reminded of how you first developed Marnie’s story and how she no longer needed her unicorn from childhood. Now this development. It must bring many mixed emotions. Developers, on the other hand, have no compulsion about the humanity they give and take from in their quest. A good choice for property values!
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Thanks, Charli. I’d gone all over town in my quest initially and had settled on the Monopoly board, then, at the last minute Marnie came to mind. Glad it worked okay.
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If I were Marnie, I’d have experienced an emotional roller coaster ride as well as substantial relief. Great story with a terrific ending, Norah ❤️
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Thanks so much, Tina. I think that’s just what Marnie experienced. 🙂
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There is so much truth in this flash, Norah. Very good. I have finished reading the community book and will blog my review on Tuesday next week.
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I look forward to reading your review, Robbie. 🙂
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A nice continuation, Norah. It is creative how you can weave in Marnie’s perspective and also someone else’s in the background. A place to someone might mean nothing but to someone else, it can be an opportunity for something more. Maybe Marnie has been disconnected with the place long enough to know she’s stuck and can’t see otherwise. That’s probably what happens when we are stuck: we can’t see beyond what we know and often it takes others to help us see what we’ve got.
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Thanks for reading and commenting, Mabel. I like the way you’ve thought about being stuck. Perhaps it applies to me more than Marnie at the moment. Funny how sometimes I write more of me into a story than I intend. It can be difficult to see beyond what we know and can take a push from someone else to get us out. I’ll think on it. 🙂
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That is such a good observation – that we write ourselves or at least part of our thoughts into stories. Sometimes we write about ourselves because that’s what we know…and often there are others out there who are similar too 🙂
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That’s true, Mabel. It always scares me that I may reveal too much of myself in my writing. Even when I think I’m not, I seem to anyway. 🙂
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Good to meet Marnie again, you’ve certainly captured her need to block out the past. Nevertheless, I think she’d benefit from a bit more therapy so she doesn’t have to deprive herself of the benefits – small as they might be – while moving on from the pain 🙂
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Hmm. Therapy. Now that’s a great idea. If only it were possible to write a realistic fictional therapist. Know anyone who could help? 🙂
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Someone once told me the house doesn’t hold your memories, you do. Seems to fit in this case 🙂 I’m really glad Marnie got something out of the house and that she didn’t bin the cheque!
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I’m pleased too, Pauline. I think Marnie would like to escape her memories of the house. Perhaps she can put the money to good use. Binning would not have been one..
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😃…exactly! One man’s poison is another’s meat….or the other way round😃
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Whichever – you’re right. Thank you. 🙂
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😀
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Good one Norah. Yes, value is in the eyes of the beholder – one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. 🙂
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So true, Debby. Thank you. 🙂
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🙂
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The plot thickens! Well done, Norah. ❤
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Thanks, Colleen.
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I was glad to see Marnie. I just reread that earlier account in the Rough Writers’ Anthology. I hope she puts the money to good purpose.
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I’m sure she will. She just might have to think on it for a while.
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