Eccentric

/ Liz H-H

Many thanks to Jenne Gray and C.E. Ayr for their photo prompt, The Unicorn Challenge (05/10/2024). No more than 250 words in length.

Hildie was at her wit’s end. Franz had always been forgetful, more interested in the mechanics of lock-work, how to build a better mousetrap, and getting just the right measurements to repair the town’s old clock tower. His work was much admired, his prices more than reasonable, so his peculiarities were forgiven by the townsfolk and accepted as the oddities of a brilliant mind.             

What matter if his smart black trousers had faded to charcoal, his shirt to patchy ivory, and the leather patches on his elbows shone with repeated rubbings on stone floor and late-night tinkering? His gratitude was immense, dark brown eyes shining stars when she’d disentangle his glasses from around his large ears, the better to clean the smudged lenses. It was a simple enough task for Hildie to bury her fingers in the multi-sculptured tangle of his hair and draw him away from his bench and to a trencher of goat-meat stew and a cup of ale. Though not blessed with children to learn the craft and lighten the load, the two had been happy.

But recovery from the Devil’s Marsh Fever had been slow for Franz. Remnants like brain fog, coughing, and heavy lungs frustrated him. His glowing smile flattened to flat twilight. His work lay scattered and unattended at his work table. Refusing to eat, he began to wander. Often finding him pre-dawn at the Marsh’s edge, Hildie wondered. Should she let him go into the faery lights alone, or join him?         

© Liz Husebye Hartmann (2024)

19 thoughts on “Eccentric”

  1. Great piece of writing, Liz, drawing the reader into your strange world with relatable characters.

    Class.

    But, if I’m allowed a wee gripe, where’s our prompt photo?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Oh! I felt like I just nipped up a small bit of the photo’s content (though the link to the original prompt page is right up top), that it might actually distract the reader from the resulting story world.
      Story needs must trump all! Glad you liked my microflash!

      Like

      Reply

  6. engaging story, endearing characters… and tragedy (I suppose that there’s a reason why so much literature has that element… something we all can identify with if not directly experience.

    the price of love

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. You led me to drop right into this world, Liz.
    You have the faery-tale touch.
    The Devil’s Marsh Fever drawing him to the marsh’s edge… Hm.
    You’ve left me hanging on the cusp of good and evil.
    Fine story.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  8. Sounds like a precursor to Covid. Loved this sentence. ‘His gratitude was immense, dark brown eyes shining stars when she’d disentangle his glasses from around his large ears, the better to clean the smudged lenses. ‘

    Liked by 1 person

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