
Ivory Tower
Nobody in the little town knew why Sofie, the old spinster, always had a mysterious smile on her lips. As long as people remembered, they had seen her walking between her apartment and the grocery store, constantly alone, wearing the same coat and the same smile. The reason for her satisfaction was kept in darkness since she never spoke to anyone.
The truth was that Sofie had a secret love. But not a man: as she had turned older, her apartment had become her passion. In her mind, it was her beloved friend, someone who made her intensely happy.
The old lady left home only when it was necessary, always to return immediately. Once back, she would share her thoughts with her house. The walls and the furniture would listen patiently and attentively. Sometimes, like lovers do for their sweet-hearts, she would bring gifts. Sofie´s presents had included a luxurious knife set for her kitchen, a mahogany chest for the hall, and art work for the living-room.
Her eccentricity wouldn’t have caused any trouble if a neighbor woman, Mrs Taylor, hadn’t discovered that she was out of eggs one Sunday morning. It was her husband’s birthday, and she knocked on her closest neighbor’s door.
When she came inside and saw Sofie’s exquisite apartment, Mrs Taylor’s enthusiasm was overwhelming. Repeatedly, she exclaimed, “Oh, how beautiful!” and “I love it!” Sofie first smiled approvingly, then became suspicious and finally fearful. She panicked, and started to see a rival in her neighbor; somebody who was flirting with her beloved partner.
Suspecting nothing, Mrs Taylor continued her tour into the kitchen. When she cried, “I could die for this apartment!” something snapped in Sofie’s mind. She was overcome by sheer terror.
Mrs Taylor’s husband didn’t get his birthday cake that day. In fact, he never saw his wife again. Nobody did.
After some time’s pandemonium, everything returned to normal in the little town. Two things changed, however. Sofie would never again allow anybody to step over her threshold. And the stray dogs in her neighborhood were fatter than before.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThis story is one of a kind, Christer! What a unique concept of her “secret love” being her apartment. I think many of us can identify with that aspect of Sofie, especially in these days of spending most of our time at home. That concept alone made for a good story, but then we have part two – the jealous lover. Delightful! One thing that makes it doubly delightful is the accompanying… Read more »
Thank you very much for your kind comment, Fuji, the first comment to my first story here. I am honored since it comes from a great, very poetic writer. In fact, I questioned the way my story turned out. It was a surprise even to myself. Afterwards, I decided that it must have been some reading of Agatha Christie many, many years ago that had been lying latent in the back of… Read more »
We all would love to channel our inner Agatha Christie – and you did it! Your story also reminds me of some of the great Alfred Hitchcock Presents short stories. Can’t wait to read your next one!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleWhat a difference it makes to be able to hear the story being read by the author. I found it rather strange hearing my own voice. What did you think on hearing your own voice Christer?
I suddenly laughed in horrified amusement when I came to the end, where it said the stray dogs were fatter than before. I honestly didn’t see that coming. Well Written Christer.
Thank you for your nice comments, Eric. I’m glad I managed to surprise you.
Concerning hearing my own voice, I would feel ashamed to tell you how many times I recorded my story. There was always something I didn’t like, so I did it again and again until I finally gave up and let it be.
As you know from my previous comments, Christer, I totally enjoyed reading your story. Now that I hear it in your own voice, it comes to life even more. It must take a lot of work and many tries to get a good recording. I’m glad you persevered – the end result is certainly worth it! Thank you for writing, and now for reading.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleI am flattered to read your kind words, Fuji. Yes, it was a challenge to do the recording. It’s not as with writing a story, where you also put in a lot of work, but where you don’t have to do the whole thing from the beginning each time you want to improve a detail. Which ones of your stories have you recorded? I would enjoy very much listening to them.
I have just been reading through your profile Christer, and I liked the comment – ”Adopt the pace of nature” and thought how apt in todays climate. And yet many people still can not wind down. Perhaps the fast pace of living is the result of not understanding Nature?
I think you are right, Eric. We can’t hurry nature. I once had a neighbor who tried to help a duck mother with an egg in which a little duckling was getting ready for a life outside. He peeled back part of the shell to help the little one emerge easier. The result was that the duckling died inside the shell. Nature knows better without human “help,” and I have a feeling… Read more »
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleHilarious in a macabre sort of way
Thanks for your comment, Susan. Yes, the story certainly turned out to be macabre. I was kind of surprised. I’m glad you found it entertaining.
Often stories gain a life of their own. They usually live in my head for many days until they have swum round it into their own plot.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleYou are so right. It’s so grim and morbid that it can almost make you laugh.
This story is very amusing and unique. The concept stuck on my mind. I like what Fuji said about the part two – the jealous lover. Hoping to read the part two. Nice one.
Thank you for your comment, Lotchie. Maybe Voice.club comes up with the theme of jealousy one day, but I can’t really see how it could be used as a sequel to this story. Old Miss Sofie isn’t going to let her apartment out of sight again, and the only rival she had is now gone. You think the old spinster would fall in love with another place and have a secret affair?
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleOf course, Christer. Age doesn’t matter. I know a spinster (an old unmarried woman) who falls in love with a 28-year-old man, but their relationship only lasts for 2 years because the Spinster is very jealous and insecure of the young woman. And that insecurity leads to quarrels and misunderstanding.