By Nan Claire Falkner
The celebration and Festival of Our Lady of the Beach was here. The colorful banners had all been attached to the wires with a pole attached to the trees. The portrait of ‘Our Lady’ had been hoisted to the top in her honor. Five years ago, it was Myrna, Zoe’s sister.
As a child, Zoe had envied her older sister because she went to all the parties, staying up all night after being chosen the Saint, but Myrna’s happiness soon turned tragic. On the third night of the festival, Myrna didn’t come home. She vanished.
Zoe was chosen this year.
nanclairefalkner 
I don’t think I want to go to this party. Take me home, Nan! We are getting out of here while we can. This is the last time I’m letting YOU pick the party we go to. . . . . By the way, great story. It got my attention.
Thanks big guy! I’ve had better luck picking out movies – for sure!
A bit unfair, two from the same family. I think they should have shared the honour around all th families. Great story!
Thank you Sandra for reading my story! Maybe the ghost of “Our Lady of the Beach” doesn’t like that family. I don’t know!
Oh dear, poor Zoe! Very enjoyable take on the prompt 🙂
Thank you for stopping by and reading my story! Nan 🙂
Oh oh! Looks like Zoe got unlucky too. Sometimes life is a beach.
I think you are right – “Our Lady has it in for those sisters but, I wonder why? Nan 🙂
Eish, I wouldn’t want to be in Zoe’s position for anything…hope she gets away, and fast!
I agree Hala, this is one award i would let pass me by. Thanks for reading! Nan
Sad when girls vanish… God is watching, but why is He silent?
Good question Anita. I don’t think he is silent, he is watching from afar, but every year, people (also children) vanish never to be seen again. This is so sad, I agree. Thanks for reading! Nan 🙂
Great note to end the story on… an honour or a curse?!
I’d say it was a curse – and I don’t like the thought of poor Zoe being next. Thanks for stopping by. Nan 🙂
Oh, how cruel… good writing! Saints and martyrs… interesting perspective.
Thank you for stopping by. Life is cruel sometimes. I hope Zoe doesn’t disappear. Nan 🙂
*chills* love that this was so subtle but the effect was powerful once the realization sank in
Thank you K.Z. I always wonder where are the parents? When you are young and carefree, you don’t want them around and yet – this is the Exact time you need someone to keep tabs on you. Or have a GPS locator on your person.
zoe should be wise not to go all the parties. better to be missed than ended up missing.
You are exactly right. In this day and age, you can’t trust people and who knows what sinister thoughts the man always hiding in the dark corner can or will do.
I smell a conspiracy! We will need to determine where Zoe was that night… 🙂
So Chris, You think there was a conspiracy? Well, Zoe was 5 years younger when her sister disappeared, so maybe she was in bed? Good question Chris – made you think! Zoe really could have been the one who envied her sister so much that she did her in – or maybe there was a volcano on the island that needs to be fed every time it wakes up? Welcome to FFF come back anytime – I like your gravitar! Love ya Mom
Hmmm. Did Zoe… nah. Great story. I enjoyed it.
Thanks for stopping by! Nan 🙂
Creepy festival – I hope Zoe realises and does a runner, or maybe Myrna’s disappearance was unrelated to the festival (I think not)?
You are probably right drailman. I’d yell Run Zoe, Run. The festival is the stage. Thanks for reading! Nan 🙂
Two from the same family that close together? Tsk.
😉
Great story. Nice chill at the end.
Thank you Alice Audrey! I think Zoe will remain safe and I don’t know what happened to Myrna yet. Maybe some guy swept her off her feet and she left the town for the Caribbean. I hope they have a good life too! Thanks so much for reading me! Nan 🙂
Subtly done, understated but with just the right amount of chill to get our imaginations working. Poor Zoe!
Poor Zoe indeed, maybe she will survive – who knows maybe they are dropping the maidens into a volcano nearby (remember there was a movie about that once). Anyway, Sarah Ann, Thank you for reading my story! Nan 🙂
Nan, I like the subtly of this. I don’t think this is going to end well. You leave us with so many unanswered questions, which adds to the mystery and chill.
janet
Thanks Janet, Yes, it probably won’t end well for Myrna. And, if I were the parents of both girls, I would lock them up until the creep is caught (or the entity). Nan 🙂
I think Zoe is zany and she just might survive – but what do I know? Anyway, thank you for reading my story! Nan
Such festivals.. yes there have always been those.. creepy… but still written from a child’s view….
I think it is so neat that villages or cities have festivals – It makes the village special and the Saint special too. Maybe Zoe ran away with one of the vendors. Who knows. Thanks for reading my story – I really like the tales you spin! Thanks Bjorn. Nan 🙂
Shades of Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery — sinister and subtle.
You are more well read than I am. Thank you so very much for reading my story! Nan 🙂
Dear Nan,
That’s not a place to be Our Lady of anything. Run Zoe!!!! Good take on the prompt.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Very true Rochelle. The picture you chose this week reminds me of movies I’ve seen in the past that look so beautiful. Too bad I ruined it with a (for those of you in the U.S,) an “Amber Alert.” Too many of those. You had a really good story! Thanks for stopping by. Nan 🙂
Nan,
I also thought of “The Lottery” upon reading your story this week. Good take on the prompt. One little nit–consider beginning the story in active voice. Perhaps, “The festival . . . arrived.” Using an action verb instead of a being verb will draw your readers in more quickly and effectively.
Just a tiny nit, of course, and you do write a nice story.
All my best,
Marie Gail
Good suggestion Marie Gail! I am a really late starter and old. Oh well – your story was great! Thanks, Nan 🙂
Thanks, Nan.
And what is age but a number after all, right?
Cheers!
MG
Poor Zoe, I got the feeling she felt very alone in not feeling honoured at being chosen, I hope she survives the experience!
Zoe is zany and probably will survive – perhaps she is more cunning than I gave her credit for! Thank you for reading! Nan 🙂
I hope Zoe doesn’t have any more sisters. You have written this so well Nan, I now have the shivers.
Dee
Thank you Dee, I really like your writing too. Thanks for visiting my site too! Nan 🙂
This is one of those little snapshots I think would make a great seed for something larger one day. Great story, I enjoyed the tension in it.
Thank you Madison – It probably could make a bigger story. Thanks for visiting! Nan 🙂
Eery tale! Be careful what you wish for, Zoe.
Nice job, Nan.
Thank you Dawn. You are always there supporting me and I’ll never forget that! Your story is excellent! Have a good week! When my husband was still in school at University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Dr. Lee, one of the Registrar’s used to tell me “Now Nan, stop wishing your life away – it’ll come soon enough, and of course he was right! Thanks again! Nan 🙂
Seems to me that your life has a lot more in store for you, Nan! Stop imagining the end is nigh; you have a lot of wonderful stories left to write. 😉 Ditto to you, for all the kind support you give to me and Tales From the Motherland. I so appreciate it!
Run Zoe Run! Good story…..
I like your picture on your website. Thanks for reading my story and I appreciate it. Have a good run – Run Zoe, Run! Nan:)
your one character revealing her envious thoughts about her sister leaves my imagination in suspense. i like that!
Thanks Sun, I love everything you write. Zoe is envious, and I hope Myrna shows up some day with 6 kids and a hunky husband – but, that would be another story. Thank you again. Nan 🙂
Poor Zoe… I can’t even imagine Zoe’s feelings 😦
Thanks for stopping by earlier.
~S(t)ri
Smile, it makes (y)our day!
Thank you for visiting! I feel sorry for Zoe too. I hope she makes it through this festival! Nan 🙂
Uh oh! Sad life for the saints. I hope Zoe makes a run for it and lives an unsaintly life thereafter. Good one Nan!
That would be really nice! I hope that happens. Thanks for reading! Nan 🙂
Thank you very much! Nan 🙂
Don’t do it, Zoe. Run. Great little story.
I agree Patrick! Run Zoe, run! I hope she is cunning and clever and survives whatever happened – surely it was a sinister event! Thanks for reading! Nan 🙂
looks like it’s an honor or something bad for Zoe. either way i hope she doesn’t find out
I agree! Thanks for stopping by Nan 🙂
Nan- Shouldn’t they skip a generation. Oddly i had a reoccurring nightmare as a child. On of us was taken every year. So in this case my parents had lots of children.
CREEPY – I think they should skip a generation too. Oh well. Thanks, Nan 🙂
Yikes!What a situation to be in -poor Zoe and so sad for the family!Wonder what happens to these vanishing girls?Loved the suspense and dark undertones to this story Nan:-)
Maybe they are sacrifices for the local rumbling volcano. That could happen! Thanks for reading my story – I really appreciate it! Nan 🙂
Oh no-worse fate!It was a fascinating and intriguing tale Nan:-)
Methinks me smells a demon on the prowl for young, unsuspecting girls. Call in Scotland Yard! Great story…
Methinks you could be right! I think Scotland Yard will be the best entity that can figure this mystery out! Thanks, Nan 🙂
I’m with you…
I think the older sister let the honor go to her head.Surely not every girl chosen has disappeared. Let’s hope Zoe is wiser. Good story and well written.
You are right – the police would have gotten involved had all the girls disappeared after the festival. Thanks Patriciaruthsusan! Nan 🙂
Ooooh, good story, Nan. There’s a clever balance here between not telling everything but telling enough to make the story powerful.
Thank you Karen, I certainly enjoyed your story too! Have a good week! Nan 🙂
Have they ever found her. ? I like the suspense
Hi Larry! No and an APB was put out for them. I think the police are taking too much time. They also hired a Raya, the local medium who is supposed to be helping her. The bartender told me that the beauty shop lady told Myrna not to go to that festival! Don’t listen any more to the voices in her head. Oh well, we will see, we will see!
Be careful what you wish for? Good story…
Hi Alicia! That is so true! I used to wish for lottery tickets or cars or trips. Now I wish for healthy and happy grandchildren. Have a good week and thanks for stopping by! Nan 🙂
Sounds foreboding for Zoe
Dear Weltchy, Thanks for stopping by and I’m scared for Zoe! Nan 🙂
There’s a deep sense of mystery behind this, and the way you thickened the plot just flowed so smoothly. Personally, this reminded me somewhat of The Hunger Games- the way that youth was chosen against their will and many never returned. Perhaps Zoe might be able to find and rescue her sister? Chilling tale!
Thank you Adelie – I appreciate your comments. I haven’t seen any of the Hunger Games franchise yet, but would love to see it – maybe when it comes out on video. Thanks, Nan 🙂