The One Who Left the Dress #99WordStories

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This week at the Carrot Ranch, Charli Mills challenged writers to In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about “the one who left the dress.” A 1940s-era dress still hangs in an abandoned house. Who left it and why? You can take any perspective and write in any genre. It can be a ghost story. Or not. Go where the prompt leads!

For this story, I tried to write a little more about Sandy and Angus from my story last week. When I did, I wrote a lot more, well a lot more than 99 words anyway, so I’ve had to pare it back and take away a lot of the backstory. I hope that what remains makes sense on its own, and that you enjoy it.

The One Who Left the Dress

The rotten timbers remained upright thanks to the bushes, branches and vines. Grassy tufts sprouted through decaying floorboards where leaves, animal scats and other detritus littered. The only hint of previous occupants was a wardrobe, miraculously still standing. Sandy gasped as its door fragmented as she opened it. Using her phone’s torch, she peered through cobwebs and dust, hoping for treasure. All she found was a dress, completely in tatters, but still hanging.

“Isn’t this your great grandmother’s — the one in the photo in the hall?”

“Could be.” said Angus. “So what?”

“I wonder why she left it here.”

Thank you blog post

Thank you for reading, I appreciate your feedback, please share your thoughts.

Note: The collection of stories made in response to the previous prompt Remote, including mine, can be read at the Carrot Ranch.

35 thoughts on “The One Who Left the Dress #99WordStories”

  2. Pingback: The One Who Left the Dress Collection « Carrot Ranch Literary Community

  6. Patricia Tilton

    Loved your take on the dress. So much rich detail is so few words. But why was it there? When I looked at the promp I immediately thought about a dress hidden by a woman who was waiting to elope, but didn’t. It’s fun what pops into everyone’s mind.

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    1. Norah Post author

      That would be an interesting story too. Your suggestion just popped another idea into my head for this week’s prompt, but I don’t think I’ll follow it. I like to focus on the children rather than the adults. Thank you for your thoughtful comment.

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    1. Norah Post author

      I can’t promise a next installment, but I’ll consider it. 😂 I have been through a decaying house, but it wasn’t like this one. This one was painted with my imagination.

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