I could not believe it was finally here. My 21-inches TV that I bought ten years ago with my own pocket money I got from cleaning up dad’s car every week. It had been sitting on top of the fridge ever since. The picture was still clear, even though it took five minutes to start. The remote control no longer had numbers on it, just some smudged white lines that used to be numbers. There was a five centimeters scratch on the upper left screen caused by my brother’s clumsiness with his hockey stick. I always hated that stick.
Now, the TV has gone. Fifty bucks, take it or leave it.
Sadly, it was not the only one. The wardrobe must go too. I remembered when my mother had the wardrobe put into my room for the first time, saying that it was my father’s first wardrobe he bought when he was still a young bachelor. It was made from real wood, an oak. Two doors, one with a tall mirror that I had been looking at my own reflection every time I got dressed for as long as I remember. Not a scratch on the mirror, only a sticker of “Kings Of Metal” on the upper right that had been there for seven years. Been trying to peel it, finally realizing how awful it was, but to no avail. They were using a top-notch adhesive for stickers those days.
Fifty bucks. Oh, come on! This is an oak. Yeah, with an ugly sticker on it.
Moving on to the bed. A simple single bed with a rotting wood on each leg my dad bought me when I was seven. Never been broken, even though some part of it had become a feast for the termites years ago. Fortunately, I caught it just in time in the middle of the night, leaving a coin-sized hole on the headboard. Nevertheless, it was amazing how it could still support me over the years, considering how much I gained weight.
Ten dollars? Hey, you should be paying me to get rid of this junk.
And last, but not least, the fridge. My beloved, dear fridge. One door with freezer on top. It took me three years to pay for it. I insisted on buying one with my dad’s credit card because there was no way in hell I shared my food with everybody in my family. There was a perfectly good reason. My first girlfriend in junior high made me a strawberry cheesecake and I put it on the family’s fridge for half-an-hour. It was 4.30 in the afternoon, my brother just got back from the hockey training and I should have known better. There was nothing left of it. The plate was so clean you could see your own reflection. My damn brother!
Seventy-five bucks? Fine!
I could not believe I finally moved out of this house. And I could not stop wondering what to do with the money I got from selling all my beloved stuff. Then, as I walked away from my house, I noticed a fine reclining chair on the lawn of my neighbor who apparently was having a garage sale. It costed only a hundred eighty five dollars. Ha! It was fate!
Though, I probably must put it somewhere first until after the wedding.
You obviously put some effort into creating the little stories around the man’s possessions and that care shows through. You really get into his head with his reminiscences. I especially liked the comment about the sticker.
Amusing tale with a delightful twist in perception at the end. i didn’t think the character changed, however, so much as the reader’s view of his world: he was still putting his attention on possessions in the end.
I liked this story, charming. I could relate to the character.
Thanks, guys, really appreciate it. Actually, I wanted to put an impression that it was his fiancee who told him to get rid of his stuff. I had it in mind when beginning writing this, but somehow, forgot to put it. Silly! This things always happen to me. Hahaha
I really enjoyed the detail around each item. It shows his frustration with something and by stringing them together you have built tension until the end. Nice work.
http://blackedge.wordpress.com/2009/07/02/mirrors-never-lie/
Nice. Good math example too for kids.
Mine:
http://uncleteebooks.blogspot.com/2009/07/fiction-friday-july-3-2009.html
I enjoyed this tale – men – despite thier protestations are such hoarders – you should have seen the stuff my husband still has squirreled away – fearing I will chuck it – after nearly 20 years of marriage.
each little story was a gem – and it transported the reader back to perhaps thier own stories on itmes – which for other people may have no significance at all – but to them – golden moments.
thanks for sharing this wonderful story.
My FF for visitors can be found here:
http://annieevett.blogspot.com/2009/06/your-essence.html