Sunday, July 30, 2017

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Post 1575. Sunday July 30

Sunday Photo Fiction




“Such a good ventriloquist was he, that many suspected the dummy to be, in reality, an actual person of diminutive stature,” said the frock-coated guide as he shepherded his enthralled followers through the Variety Theatre Museum. They stopped beside an exhibit. ‘Victor Ventura’ said the sign on the wall.

“Some believe the dummy had a life of its own; that it would sneak out of its case at night, leave the house and startle drunken revellers as they staggered from the Red Lion public house at closing time” said the guide. “He originally worked the dummy with his right hand, but he suffered an unexplained accident in which his right hand was crushed severely, but rather than cease ventriloquising, he thereafter operated the figurine with his left”

“The dummy probably crushed it from inside its chest” giggled an onlooker. The others murmured in amusement.

“You may speak in jest sir,” said the host, “but many believe that to be close to the truth”

‘It was an ugly dummy" said one visitor peering at the head from this way and that.

“That is not the dummy’s head madam” uttered the guide.



Word count 190


28 comments:

  1. The lady must be recovering from a shock, I suppose.

    http://ideasolsi65.blogspot.in/2017/07/revenge.html

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  2. OK. I think dummies are creepy in general, but that ending is really creepy. I shiver when I think of Mortimer Snerd, and now I'll be seeing Edgar Bergen's head too.

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  3. Whoa! That was one heck of a twist at the end, Keith. Superbly done. Cheers, Varad

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  4. Every "dummy" after Charlie McCarthy has made me a bit spooked.

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  5. Hi Keith - I am now spooked by dummies ... and forever will be ... like Basil - Keat's Basil - Isabella ... or pot of basil ... great story telling ... cheers Hilary

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  6. The dummy laughs from behind their backs :)

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  7. Ooh! That's spooky. Fabulous line at the end. It gave me chills.

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  8. Try Googling "Slappy and Goosebumps". Children's horror writer R.L. Stine created one of the creepiest dummies of them all.

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  9. (Sorry if this is a repeat comment. I sent it once, but don't see it)
    Good twist on the end, it gave kind of a gasp. Nice writing as always, Keith!

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    Replies
    1. Strange things happen in this museum - like disappeaing comments! Thanks for your generous words Sascha

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  10. The end was grisly as befitting a grisly dummy story. Superb Keith.

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  11. How unnerving and spooky. Great end A fantastic story Keith

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  12. Good story Keith. Loved the twist at the end.

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  13. Nice! Very chilling, my favorite sort of tale.

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