Welcome to Friday Fictioneers! We are a community of writers from around the world who post 100-word stories every week, based on a photo prompt from Rochelle Wisoff-Fields’ blog.
Photo Copyright: Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Lost and Found
by Jan Brown
Bella was a hoarder of monumental proportions. It started with her son’s suicide, which she blamed on her husband, Bill. The boy couldn’t take his constant abuse. He hanged himself in the shower.
Bella was profoundly affected by the loss. She was terrified of losing anything else; nothing could be thrown out. Every object, no matter how insignificant, took on enormous value. Except her husband.
She lost Bill when her hoard finally reached the ceiling. She barely acknowledged the loss until years later when, to her horror and delight, she uncovered his mummified remains under a mound of decade-old newspapers.
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mezzojan 
That’s such a sad tale! Nicely written.
Thank you, Louise!
Not so much a loss of a husband as a misplacement, I guess. Nice take on the prompt Jan.
Thank you, Sandra!
Dear Jan,
Now there’s hoarding with a ‘pleasant’ outcome. Clever, well written take on the prompt.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you, Rochelle!
The hoarding OCD is all too common; the husband’s end less so.
Good piece.
Thanks, Mick!
Gruesome! What a discovery – I like that you describe it as “horror and delight”, showing just how far down the hoarding road she has descended.
Thank you, Alistair!
Such a sad tale, so well written, with just a touch of humor.
Thank you, Melanie!
LOL It’s a pity.
Thanks, Patti!
Jan, I know it’s terrible, but I ended laughing. Well done with both the sadness and the touch of lightness.
janet
Thank you, Janet. I’m glad I could tickle the evil end of your funny bone 😆
Darkly humorous. I’m glad I wasn’t the only one laughing?
I’m afraid Bill elicited more smiles in death than he had in life! Glad you liked the story.
Oh dear. That’s a sad story. I wonder what she’ll do with Bill.
Maybe Bill’s ashes will be placed in an urn, soon to be lost among the clutter….
There’s an unintended consequence of her hoarding. And seems like just desserts to me.
I agree–unintended but just desserts! Thank you for reading and commenting.
I’m not even sure his accidental displacement was accidental. Great story, and I chuckled, too.
Thanks, I’m glad you liked it!
I found this incredibly sad with the emotional abuse and the mental conditions suffered by seemingly the whole household but I am almost embarrassed to admit i snickered a little too at your last line.
I’m glad the story resonated with you, including the bit of dark humor 😆
Oh, dear! That’s a pretty gruesome picture, Jan. That hoarding sickness can get pretty out of control. I can see it happening. Nicely written.
Thank you, Amy!
Unfortunately this is totally believable. Years ago an elderly neighbour died and her house was full to the cailing with newspapers. She also had three stoves but never cooked, and five coal bunkers in a house with gas central heating.
I found this hilarious.
The power of the Press!
Well done, Jan.
Thanks, C.E.!
Nice, dark humor. I chuckled too.
Thanks, Russ!
I guess you get used to the smell. Fun story!
Yes, and there are probably lots of competing noxious odors in a hoarder’s apartment 😁
Thank you for reading and commenting, Perry!
Oh my! Didn’t see that coming. Loved it.
Thank you, Chioma!
🙂