{This is a response to a prompt from Friday Fictioneers. It is a 100-word challenge, to write something inspired by the picture. This picture looked to me like a monastery. And having watched every episode I could get, of Cadfael , the gardening monk, not too long ago, I had to drag gardening into my story. I’m so excited that Derek Jacobi (Cadfael) is playing a man of the cloth again, as Bishop Myriel on BBC’s Les Miserables, soon coming to PBS.
Thank you for the prompt and for reading! Hope you enjoy!}
Young Misdemeanus hated matins. He played hooky, today, preferring to weed his beloved garden. After a slurp of gruel, off to the drying barn, to fuss with herbs and medicinals.
Abbot Felonius soon came, gathering supplies. Contemplating the sinful pilgrims’ pestilence made the Abbot cringe, in disgust.
Indulgences were preferable. Pocketing those pennies, he smiled.
But gardens hold both salves and secrets.
The elder tree, fragrant, against the thick and dreary abbey wall, hid a peephole.
Misdemeanus, in keeping with time-honored tradition, pressed his eye against the stone. He marveled, at the six sisters’ shimmering gowns. And whatever lay underneath.
A time honored tradition. Yikes (lol)
Heehee. Not pulling any punches. ?
I love your name choices as well as your peek a boo story! Excellently done!
Thank you Violet!
Misdemeanus is not very religious is he? He does not attend morning prayer then he watchers sisters through peep hole! No wonder Abbot Felonius is unhappy.
True Abhijit. He may not be destined for this kind of work. I imagine a kid who was forced through poverty or being orphaned to join the abbey early, before he knew any better. The job of an Abbot can’t be easy with hormone-riddled young men under your roof! Its hard enough, being a mother to them!
But gardens hold both salves and secrets Great line!
Thanks Alicia!
Clever names and storytelling… now you’ve got me hoping to see Les Mis again!
It starts Sunday here!
I’ll have to check the guide.
A very creative take on the prompt! I thought of a monastery too but in the end didn’t go that route. I’ll have to check out the shows you mentioned. =)
Yup, I, too love the name Misdemeanus, it fits so well. I wonder how he got to be in the monastery, maybe not entirely by choice.
I think he was left there very young, before he knew he had choices. But I think it’s dawning on him now. ?
The perfect name for the perfect little pervert…
Thanks Dale!
I love the names you gave your characters. I had to read through this twice to be sure I didn’t miss anything. So much is packed into 100 words 🙂
Thank you granonine. The lawyer-on-a-lengthy- sabbatical part of me could not resist weighing in on their respective sins. ?
Dear Andrea,
A peeping Misdamaenus indulging in a bit of Monk-ee business. Who knew? I enjoyed this one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Haha. Good one. Thanks Rochelle. I like your spelling better! Especially with the connotation of daemon!
my former boss says a clean desk is a sign of a sick mind. a little clutter hwlps keep one’s sanity. 🙂
A man after my own heart!
Assuming your boss was a man…?
i think he’s in between. 🙂
Well, everyone has their little sins. Great use of the prompt, Andrea.
Thanks Russell. So true. My daughter pointed out to me, that these are likely venial, not mortal sins. And Im quite sure I dont have all seven…
Nothing like a good old fashion peephole!
Great story.
A very apt name for your protagonist!
Nice catch. It can sound quite Latin if you pronounce the vowels separately!
I liked that, such a lot crammed in, good stuff
Thank you. If you saw my house you’d understand. I have quite a penchant for clutter. ?
All the best people do, I don’t trust people with no stuff, what have they been doing with themselves?
Definitely. A little mess means you have a life. See my poem about it!
https://frlcnews.com/2019/04/10/to-my-critics/
We have already had Lee Miserables over here on the BBC. It is magnificent, not to be missed.
I’m ready!