Welcome to Friday Fictioneers. How exciting that my photo was chosen for today’s prompt. Thanks, Rochelle, for the honor of selecting my photo and for your dedication to this group.
Personally, I think storage units are strange, fascinating and a bit disturbing. This one gave me the creeps. But, I think generally storage units are places of transition, what we leave behind, can’t fit into our life, or simply don’t need or want. A lot of ideas about having stuff and what it all means came up for me, but it didn’t quite fit into a story and has nothing to do with what I came up with.
In any case, I hope this photo inspired you.
(103 words)
Hiders of the Tin
Marla hid in her storage unit. Like a visit with a sick relative, she never stayed long. Others hid, too. She had heard whispers, had felt their tears on her face. Usually, she left before that happened.
Her familiar brick of boxes was her refuge. She reached for her folding chair in the corner, but not before kicking a beat-up music box.
She picked it and said, “But this isn’t mine.” Quickly, she left to throw it away in a dumpster.
Returning home, she found the music box open on the table. A tiny dancer whirled to a creak of a song.
**********************
Thanks for reading. Please join in if you’d like or you can read more stories here from the Fictioneers.
How very interesting, the hiding in the unit. Felt their tears on her cheeks. Storage units make me think of Silence of the Lambs. That was an amazing book. And I love your floor POV of your picture. Cool that it was chosen and when you write the full story, whichever one you want to discover within you, make sure I get to read it.
Love,
Shalagh
LikeLike
I never read Silence of the Lambs. Now I want to read it! I don’t remember the storage unit from the movie, which was also really good of course. Do you like the POV? I took a few other ones. I think this one is my favorite, too. I do want to write something….just as soon as I pin it down. Thanks so much for reading, Shalagh
Love,
Amy
LikeLiked by 1 person
Storage units make me think of a tv show called Storage Wars. I’ve never actually been in a storage unit, but they look a little scary. Love your story xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dianne, count yourself lucky that you’ve never been in one. I actually was creeped out in this one, but it could have been just mice or something. You start to hear voices, but no one is there. Luckily, I wasn’t there alone. Thank you. xoxo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooooooo creepy! I love reappearing things… But I have a bad feeling about this one
LikeLike
Oh my! That does give me the creeps. So many times our belongings have been in temporary storage while we were on the move. Some of those times it was necessary to toss items that had “housed” unwelcome guests. The photo prompt reminded me of a sanitarium. I almost went that route, but stayed in the society gone wrong vain. Thanks for the inspiration!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh no! Unwelcome guests. Were they furry? The truth is I have stuff in storage now and I don’t miss any of it! There is the intention of getting it out, but…space is nice, too. You’re welcome. Oh, I want to see what you did. I might have gone that route. Thanks, Honie.
LikeLike
Furry,yes, and destructive.
LikeLike
I could so see somebody using a storage unit to hide. And as with any good super short story so many questions. So many questions.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think people hide out in them all the time. Who knows. It’s still a lot cheaper than renting an apartment,right? Thank you, Mark.
LikeLike
Hi Amy! I barely visited any blogs over the summer, and I don’t usually read fiction posts on blogs, but as I was scrolling through my Reader I noticed you saying they had used your photo, so I decided to stop by! I find storage units to be a strange thing too, I know a few people who have lost stuff from storage units, and then there are those people who pay for them for years and forget what’s even in there any more, and just keep paying!
LikeLike
Hi, Vanessa! Thanks for stopping by. It’s so good to see you. I can see how someone might pay for their storage unit forever. I can see how that would happen. Otherwise you gotta deal with all that stuff! Especially with autopay, then you never have to even think about it.
LikeLike
Creepy!
LikeLike
Thanks, Clare.
LikeLike
Storage units strike me as a bit creepy too! Though I can understand people wanting to hide away, surrounded by their almost-forgotten stuff. It’s cool when I sometimes go up in my parents’ loft to see things from my childhood.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right. It is kind of like your attic away from home. People might have a whole secret life stashed away in their storage unit. Maybe even dead bodies. Let’s hope not! Thanks, Ali.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I too imagine storage units as creepy and probably musty. They would be ideal for ne’er do wells and other things to hide out in as well, loads of scope to expand this. Nicely done
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Michael. I could see a whole subculture of hiders in the storage units. Perhaps I will expand. I already started writing something.
LikeLike
Oooo…haunting! 😉
LikeLike
Great write. Thanks for the prompt pic.
LikeLike
Thanks a lot. And you’re welcome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the photo, Amy. Love your story and thoughts on storage units. Made me think of a friend who can’t transition and throw out. Makes me sad but it made me think which is good.
Lily
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Lily. I don’t know why I find them so strange, but I do. Everyone has their own little world locked up in there. I hope the photo was meaningful for you. I’m sad to hear about your friend. Maybe your friend just needs a little time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hiding is a great theme, but an object you can’t successfully throw away is wonderful
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Neil. Glad you thought so! I think this idea has potential. We’ll see.
LikeLike
I find storage units really disturbing too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Louise. I’m glad I’m not alone in this!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great juxtaposition finding solace in such a cold place. I loved adding the music box, such a soft benevolent item, and the spooking element of it appearing and reappearing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great observations. Thanks so much, Life Lessons. I’m glad the story worked. I wasn’t sure I wanted to add a music box. I thought of letters, tax documents, clothing. It had to be something she wouldn’t recognize as her own rather quickly. Not sure if it was the best choice or not, so I’m glad you liked it.
LikeLike
This made me sure i don’t want to visit any storage place… ever.. I think I would hear whispers all the time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Whenever I’m there, I always hear people talking. But there are multiple hallways so you think you’re ok. One night, it was kind of late, and my sister and I were there and we didn’t see anyone else and heard voices. It freaked us out!
LikeLike
I’d never thought about it before but I can actually visualize people hiding out in their storage units with their stuff. Separated for whatever reason life has decided to dump on them, there would be great comfort spending time with things that are just yours.
Congratulations on your picture being chosen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By the way, I got little creepy things up my neck about her finding the music box in her home.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, great success then! Thanks. And, sorry…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sure, Michelle. It could be their home away from home. Set up a little chair, some books and it could be peaceful unless you got spooked! Which I’m sure would happen. Thank you. Every now and then, I send a few over.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Amy,
When we were in the process of unloading (literally) our last house we put a bunch of our things in a storage unit. I can’t say I missed them. At any rate, I love your story. The appearance of the music box does send shivers and gives me pause. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Dear Rochelle,
Like you, I have things in a storage unit I don’t miss, partly because I forgot what’s there. It’s pretty remarkable when that happens. It turns out we really don’t need that much stuff after all. Thanks so much. I’m glad you enjoyed my story. Thanks again for choosing my photo for this week’s round.
LikeLike
Thank you for the interesting picture, Amy. What a great story, things we forget we have, people who hide, and things that come our of hiding and don’t want to be forgotten.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Gah. I’m glad you liked my story. Thanks for your thoughts. I like the way you phrased it – that it doesn’t want to be forgotten.
LikeLike
Thinks I”m going to stay out of storage units from now on. Maybe not buy any music boxes either. Cool story!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You and me both, Perry. I really don’t like either one of them, except for the music box I owned once. I would take that back. Thanks!
LikeLike
A great picture and a great story. So many possibilities
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Michael. Glad you think so.
LikeLike
Thanks for the great picture, Amy. Your story was a bit creepy. I’ve never stored stuff except in a basement or small shed in the back yard. I wonder if there are ghosts in storage units following the stuff from old houses. If I ever heard voices and there was no one there that would be the last time I’d visit one. Good writing. 🙂 — Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
When I was in the storage unit, I was there for a while reading letters, and I heard lots of weird things! I don’t know. Could be ghosts attached to their items and not wanting to let go. I was freaked out a bit. Thank you, Suzanne.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just so I don’t buy some second-hand item and the previous owner follows it to my home. 😀 — Suzanne
LikeLike
Storage units seem such sad places to me after watching those TV programmes during a spell of illness. Your story puts a more sinister slant on them
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was definitely going for the sinister, but I agree with you about storage units being sad. I think they’re that, too. Thanks, Liz.
LikeLike
Thanks for the inspirational picture! I agree, very creepy. This story is fascinating in terms of what is real and what isn’t. Very creepy and very well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the thoughtful comments, Anne! Glad you were inspired by the picture. I really enjoyed your story.
LikeLike
Although a bit creepy, I thought the returning box was way cool. Especially since she/he didn’t know where it came from in the first place. Kudos
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like the idea of a returning item or items. That would probably really mess with someone’s mind, wouldn’t it? It could be called “The Storage Unit.” The evil, storage takes over her life! Thanks a lot.
LikeLiked by 1 person
s-p-o-o-k-y Amy
LikeLiked by 1 person
T-h-a-n-k-s, Ted!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great stuff as usual – PHEW I’ve just caught up with ALL your posts I haven’t read for the last several months. I DO love them Amy so keep ’em coming! x
LikeLike
Thank SO much for taking the time to read them all, Ken! I do appreciate it. Thanks so much for reading my stories! I will do my best to keep going. xoxo
LikeLiked by 1 person