3TC / Flash Fiction / SSS / Unicorn Challenge / writing prompt

At the lobby

Chris Hall59 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

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The red-head woman had her great big bag again, as she trudged around as usual; she had been walking around the streets of Paris, while her head was swirling still; where had she been? – she paused: she just saw a rather nice café, and the menu outside looked tempting; she sat down while deciding what to pick, and then she ordered.

On the other side of the street, she craned her head, looking at the rather magnificent and old hotel, and next door was a book shop, and she would have to go in.

After eating and paying, the red-head woman felt fortified, as she entered the book shop where there were so many books, from the floor to the ceiling; it was rather dark and dusty, but it smelled interesting.

The man appeared: ‘I will help you, I know exactly what you need – please sit down – I will track them down, very soon,’ and a moment later, the man had taken three books from the shelves, ‘I think that you want these, they are very old, and useful.’

‘I will also help you over to the Hotel Moderne, (now it’s known as Hotel St Germain, by the way), you’ll find out something else later there – trust me; but meanwhile go past the lobby and go into the lounge.’

And so the red-head woman had a great time, playing table-football and listening to the jukebox, while a young man mixed a cocktail for her – what could be nicer?

next episode

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Posted for The Unicorn Challenge, a magical challenge hosted by Jenne Gray and C E Ayr, where they provide a photo and we, in turn, provide up to 250 words.

Di of Pensitivity 101 – Thursday’s Three Things Challenge: PICK, MIX, TAKEN

Denise Farley of GirlieOnTheEdge
Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt: SWIRL

59 thoughts on “At the lobby”

  15. indeed!*

    A nice, more reflective installment, enjoyable to read as wandering the aisles of a used-book store. (Been a while (a very long while) I should try and find one in the ‘real’ world.

    good serial Six!

    *things that are nicer

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    • Proper (real) books, indeed. I am particularly sad because a wonderful bookstore is closing next month – and forever. I know him really well – just around the corner here. You know, I think this is why I wrote this, this time.

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  16. Enticing story this week. Chris. If the red head woman has her great big bag, something’s going to happen or…she’s going to instigate something! Or not, lol.

    How cool is that to go into a bookstore and have a man tell you he knows what you need. Not what you would enjoy or are looking for but “need”.
    The mystery unfurls slowly.

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    • I’m thinking this might be rather interesting, and I’m often looking at an old and second book shop. Now something just popped into my head: ‘Needful Things’ by Stephen King… maybe something like that🤔

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  18. I love the book store you’ve described, Chris – I want to go there!
    There is in fact a fabulous book shop in Paris called ‘Shakespeare and Co’. If you’ve not heard of it, I think you might enjoy reading about it. I lived close by for a couple of years in what Clark calls the ‘Before Time’ – but I was too intimidated to go in.

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    • I went to the ‘Shakespeare and Co’ many years ago. Wonderful place! I have to make sure what I write is a bit different though!

      I am so impressed that you lived in Paris – wow!!

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