PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot
While antiquing with friends, Susan found a small pine box with the words “Wait for the final riddle” scrawled across the top.
Susan pressed the black button beneath the words. A small slip of paper, the size and texture of tickets at a carnival ride, popped out.
“Why are ghosts such bad liars?” the ticket read. Written upside down on the same paper, the answer was: “Because, you can see right through us.”
Susan laughed. “Adorable.”
Beside her, Steve said, “Creepy.”
“I love it, how much?”
The shopkeeper, near the back of the store, said nothing.
…
This submission for Friday Fictioneers is heavily inspired by the prompt and by our weekly library riddle at the library where I work. For October, we’ve been hosting a special spooky edition with the help of a couple nearby libraries that have been sending us spooky Halloween riddles. Because the prompt this week made me wonder about the Popsicle sign, so random, it made me think of the riddles. Posted the latest riddle at the bottom of the post, with permission. (Last week’s riddle was what kind of boat does a vampire use? My first draft of this story included actual responses patrons gave including The Demeter, Dracula’s ship from the movie. This week’s riddle was too much fun not to use instead.)
For more stories, click the frog:
The shopkeeper knows something. I don’t think this will end comfortably
Well dang… something that seemed harmless is not!
Define harmless. 👻😉
Haha… Right!
Oh no – I have a bad feeling about this!!
Mwahaha. It could still be friendly ghosts. 👻
Oh yes …..maybe 😀
i suppose it wasn’t for sale.
Or the price could be more than she would want to pay…. 👻
I think the shopkeeper is waiting to see if their “Dad Joke” worked.
I love this take on the story! Maybe…. 🙃
That sounds like it’s not for sale, and the salesman was waiting to see if the riddle worked. Great story 👍
Good Halloween story, Anne. The last line gave me chills. I don’t think I’d want to bring that artifact home.
Was that the last riddle – as in last? dun dun dun. Fun story, until the end! Thanks for sharing the riddles with us and some of the patrons answers as well. Sounds like a fun spooky season at your library!
Dear Anne,
Oh I think there’s a whole ‘nuther story in the box. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle