Sunday Photo Fiction — The Homecoming

Fandango

“It really looks pretty much the same as it did when I was last here thirty years ago,” Chester told his wife. “Blakes, the restaurant and B’nB is still here, I see. But I don’t recall the place next to it being a bridal shop.”

“It’s kinda bleak looking,” Charlotte said to her husband.

“Well, it’s cloudy, it’s late on a Sunday afternoon, and it’s the middle of winter,” Chester said, somewhat defensively. “It’s more alive during the week and during the warmer months.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” Charlotte said.

“I thought you’d enjoy seeing the town where I spent my formative years,” Chester said.

“I do, actually,” Charlotte admitted. “It’s quaint and almost storybook-like, perhaps like something out of Dickens.”

“That’s great,” Chester beamed. “I’m so glad you like it. I loved growing up here.”

“Yes,” Charlotte said. “It also explains a lot to me about who you are.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re so, well, Dickensian, like you should have lived in the 19th century,” Charlotte said.

“Dickensian as in Charles Dickens?”

“Exactly.”

“Well,” said Chester, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

(192 words)

Written for today’s Sunday Photo Fiction prompt. Photo credit: A Mixed Bag.

19 thoughts on “Sunday Photo Fiction — The Homecoming”

  5. Sight11 January 7, 2018 / 10:29 pm

    Even for a Baby Boomer, early (or late) 19th century was a place you don’t want to be be born in.. Too much ruckus, too much greed.

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    • Fandango January 7, 2018 / 10:36 pm

      Oh, you mean like the ruckus and greed of the first two decades of the 21st century?

      Liked by 1 person

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  6. anuragbakhshi January 7, 2018 / 10:48 pm

    Ha ha ha, lovely ending! And yes, the picture looked Dickensian to me too, bleak and atmospheric.

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. JS Brand January 8, 2018 / 12:29 pm

    This was a nice peek into a relationship. If I were Chester, I think I would have travelled alone and sent Charlotte a postcard.

    Liked by 2 people

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  9. Iain Kelly January 9, 2018 / 3:15 am

    I like his attachment to where he was born, and his defence of it. Always good to remember where you came from.

    Liked by 1 person

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  10. ceayr January 9, 2018 / 5:56 am

    Clever ending.

    But please correct the ‘Dicksonian’ as mentioned above.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Fandango January 9, 2018 / 6:08 am

      Thanks. I did correct the first one, but missed the second one.

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