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Does this short story [The Portal] want you to see the next installment, if there was one?
Introduction
I. The Reading
The same attorney that had served the family
so faithfully over the last 50 years, sat and
spoke with a calm but firm, distinguished voice
the past hour nigh, verily trusting each young
man justly as he read the document.
He stopped, looked down
the long oak table with its durable but latent
clear laminate of polyurethane, evincing the
rich character of wood grain that juxtaposed
the same with his current clients. They were
like family ! He would not let these boys down.
The aging professional concluded the
Last Will and Testament
to the six boys....well, now men, of their beloved
Mother.
This tall, admired attorney, a noble himself,
an hours past ensconced in his soft, leather cushioned
seat and arm rest chair, stood up gingerly;
the old joints crunching and snapping as he declared,
“Gentlemen,
we have
concluded your
Mothers wishes.”
II. The Satchel
Mattias, one of two middle sons, sat directly
opposite their family representative of the present
instruction. Mattias whispered “He's
not finished.” Overheard by the counselor, his
rejoinder;
“Yes I am son.”
Dragging the last word like a fish
nibbling on its bait, the elderly statesman, who never retired
and puts in 70 hour work weeks for his law firm, added,
“With your Mother.”
As the man stood stoically Mattias saw the left hand
gripping what looked like a leather satchel. Pulled up
now in full view, peaking out of the satchel was the corner
of a manila envelope with a plastic sheathing.
See the rest of the story under my answer section below. Thank you. Thomas
6 Answers
- 5 years ago
III. The Envelope
Embracing a large manila envelope with a tight adhesive
plastic covering to protect the age of the several decades
old envelope were it's mysterious contents; the law man cut
away some of the acrylic covering, tore it off and exposed the
living piece of history as the old man emphasized,
“This document is labeled as 'Addendum A' in the Last Will
of your Father almost 40 years ago. It was to be given to
you boys, or how many were still living, at the time of your
Mother's passing; if indeed it worked out that way. Well,
it has."
"That time for discovery is now, but for you six only.”
“Other than the
words written on the face of the envelope, I know nothing
about the artifacts or whatever this package holds,
nor did your Father ever make
them privy to me. It also was not my business to ask.
That request has been honored, and my
charge has been completed.”
“Gentlemen (as he shook the hand of each brother) I
now leave you to your own recognizance.”
Their attorney walked out of the private room. It would
be the last time they saw the man.
IV. Pre-Discovery
Mattias made a pell mell for the envelope and snatched
it. Though the middle child, he was the outspoken leader
of the brothers, at least vocally.
He withdrew his swiss army knife from the left
pocket of his britches, and rived through the remainder
of the clear covering to the dossier.
Two large words covered the facing to the
encapsulate and whatever lies inside. Mattias
held the envelope up for the other five to
absorb, in all their glory and wonderment it read:
THE PORTAL
- Anonymous5 years ago
Once you said "was one" instead of "were one," I decided I didn't even want to read this installment—never mind the next. In order for me to want to read someone's prose, that someone has to demonstrate a capability in English that soars to some level higher than mediocre. In one short sentence, you proved yours does not. You can't even turn a verb, much less a phrase, so why would I ever suffer through your trying to twist a yarn?
- ?Lv 75 years ago
Not really I thought it said Port-A-Potty at first.
I am imagining the Portal is a toilet bowl.
If that's the case write 10 more.
- Anonymous5 years ago
Too wordy for me, I'm afraid.
And I don't see why you felt this piece should be presented in lines and stanzas. It's a narrative which belongs in prose.
Some good ideas, though - I liked "durable but latent laminate" - a clever symbol in the context.
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