Liesel followed one step behind Rudy. He was nine and kind, and she needed to lose the aloneness she felt. She imitated his graceful lanky steps, stopped when he stopped and resumed on the same foot when he did.
He didn’t seem to mind, but then she dropped her book, and he turned and gave her a nefarious glare.
“And bring no book, for this one day we’ll give to idleness,” he said. “Pretend. Best not to show them you favor books.”
Nodding, Liesel let the book lay and shoveled leaves with her foot to hide it. As she took off running after Rudy, she heard, “Saumensch du dreckigs!” She froze.
Rudy backtracked.
“Why’s he calling me a filthy pig?” Liesel asked, gazing over her shoulder.
“Don’t mind him. He’s the filthy one. Hurry.” Rudy dragged her behind the outhouse and under the fence.
© 2022 selmamartin.com
144 words written for the prosery prompt at dVerse, the virtual pub for poets around the globe. Today Ingrid hosts and asks we include the line “And bring no book for this one day we’ll give to idleness” within our work of 144 words or less, less title.
The line is from Wordsworth’s Lines Written at a small distance from my house which is included in the collection Lyrical Ballads.
Photo by Maksim Goncharenok on Pexels.com
Thanks for reading.
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An intriguing flash of a story with vivid details, need more! ❣️
Aww. Sweet for asking for more. There’s always more…
Thanks for reading. xoxo
💓
A lovely wrote, Selma! What’s going on?! I’m so intrigued! I need to read part 2 😀
😀 Minds will go in the direction they want. Minds are like that.
The only one with a filthy mind in this story was the rude one who called out to the little girl.
So glad you were intrigued, Sunra. Thanks for reading, dear one. Stay sweet. Keep that beautiful mind of yours as lovely as always. Blessings.
I wonder what they were up to 🤔
I like that you’re wondering, Deb. A little boy teaching the new kid on the block a few good tricks.
Stay in the light, lovely girl. I bless you. 😘
Lush, lucid and alluring writing, Selma! I’m duly teased…
Love the encouragement, my friend. Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading. I bless you. xo
<3
I love the flash fiction you’ve crafted here, Selma: there is certainly an atmosphere of threat, and I would like to know what happens next…
Your prompt is inspirational. Made me pull away from my desk— hmm huh a little then inspect desk from above. That’s when My sight fell on the book I’m reading — which just happens to be called The Book Thief.
Vague flash, I know, but it’s all I had.
Thanks for the visit. You rock.
So glad you enjoyed it Selma 😊
Best words to hear spoken out loud. Thanks, Ingrid. Glad for this comment. Blessings.
This really pulls the reader in.
Though I have a feeling something bad is hoing yo happen next, I am very intrigued to know nonetheless.
Selma, you really implied so much in 144 words!
Aww. 144 was hard. But I’m so glad you saw some of the foreshadowing that wasn’t on the page. Lovely comment. Thanks so very much, Punam, dear. Stay sweet. xoxoxo
You are so welcome, Selma. ❤️
This was a lovely read Selma, I wish there was a second part to it. 😁🙃
We could each write a sequel..
I would love reading that sequel.
I had to google a bit, and even if I haven’t read the bookthief I can still get a bit more about the time and the hard times it’s all about.
You’re the best. Thanks for doing all that. I appreciate you, Björn. You rock. xoxo
what an intriguing write with so few words … you took me there!
Such great words you bless me with tonight. I’m so glad that happened.
Thanks for reading, Kate. xoxo
my pleasure Selma, trying to return some of the kind comments left over the past week or so that I’ve I’ve been absent 🙂
What a lovely write few words . So good i feeling something. Interested words found and use of write up .,💘🌷
Wow! Amazing story dear Selma.💕
It’s a tiny slice of fiction I created from a book I’m reading. Glad you liked it. XO
From different books and surroundings we collect knowledge otherwise by birth we didn’t get any knowledge.❤️