Written for Melissa’s Fandango
Flash Fiction Challenge #350.
Here’s where the prompt took me.
Every evening at closing time, Henry stayed behind to sort the returns. The job didn’t require precision …. just put books back where they belonged. But he’d developed a ritual of reading the first line of each book before reshelving it.
Tonight: “My mother died on a Tuesday in March.” He stood there, book in hand, remembering his own mother. How the hospital curtains had been blue. How sterile and unfeeling everything was. He shelved it gently.
The next book: “Nobody ever asks how the monster feels.” Henry smiled despite himself. His daughter had said something like that once, defending the villain in her bedtime story. She was seventeen now …. too old for those stories or to spend time with him. Henry briefly wondered if she’d visit him for Christmas or choose to spend the day with her mother.
Henry picked up the next book and opened it. “You’re either alone or you’re free; it all depends on your point of view”, he read.
NAR©2025
This is “The Word” by The Beatles
All text and graphics are copyright for Nancy Richy and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.
The Elephant's Trunk 
Nancy, you must pick one of them to continue on. This would be one of them.
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Thanks so much, Phil. I’m glad you enjoyed this one. I already have one continuing story and I don’t know if I can handle much more than that, but I’ll give it some thought.
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Great response to the prompt, Nancy.
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So pleased to know you enjoyed my story, Esther. Thank you.
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This is such a cool story!
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So glad you enjoyed the story, Lisa. Thanks very much.
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A lovely story idea Nancy.
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Thanks very much for reading, Sadje.
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My pleasure dear friend
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Beatles know the word…
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They know all the words. Thanks, Dylan.
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Amen Nancy 💜
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Thanks, Willow. I’m glad you liked it.
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💜💜
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How clever. Nancy, reading the first line of a book. I enjoyed your story, and love, love, the music.
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So glad you enjoyed it, Eugi. It’s an interesting image which I stared at far too long waiting for inspiration! Thank you.
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You’re welcome, Nancy. I have the same problem with images. Some spark my imagination right away, and others I struggle with.
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I love the idea of doing this! Wonderful imagination, Nancy.
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I’m so glad to hear that, Jodi. It took me forever to decide what to do with this one. Reading your comment makes me so pleased I took my time.
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Sister, this is marvelous! Thank you for sharing, 💕
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Thank you so much, my sister! This was a real challenge.
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A very appropriate song from a great album … indeed our souls could be made of rubber, because of the way we are to bounce back during life’s trials and tribulations, Nancy
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This is indeed a fabulous album! Thank you so much, dear Ivor; I loved your rubber soul explanation. 🥰 🎶
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You’re most welcome, and my soul was feeling a bit midnight 😍🌏
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I like the idea of reading the first line. The song is a good one. All of Rubber Soul are good tracks
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Thank you, Brian. Pleased to know you enjoyed both story and music. Love Rubber Soul. 🖋️🎶
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