The Hiders of the Tin – Friday Fictioneers

Amy Reese,

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.

Copyright Amy Reese
Copyright Amy Reese

(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.

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56 Comments

  1. 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

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    1. 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

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    1. 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

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  4. 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!

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    1. 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.

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  6. 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!

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    1. 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.

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  8. 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.

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  12. 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

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    1. 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.

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  15. 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.

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    1. 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.

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    1. 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!

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  17. 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.

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    2. 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.

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  18. 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

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    1. 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.

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  22. 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

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    1. 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.

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    1. 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.

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