Image: TJ Paris
Great Uncle Mortimer had a reading room in his house. As kids we were forbidden to go in there as Great Uncle considered us uncultured and sullied children incapable of appreciating such a room.
What Great Uncle really wanted was the shield us from the imps who inhabited the tops shelves of his vast bookcases.
These were very small folk who took unkindly to any one coming too close. It wasn’t unusual, so it was said, to find yourself sitting quietly and suddenly be hit from behind by a book flung from a high shelf. If they didn’t like you it could be a Shakespeare Complete Works that took you out.
Great Uncle said he had an agreement with them that no children would ever be allowed into the room. Great Uncle’s son Lyle had gone in and was never seen again.
It did explain why Great Uncle would often come out of the reading room wearing his pith helmet.
Written for: https://flashfictionforaspiringwriters.wordpress.com/2016/06/20/fffaw-challenge-week-of-june-21-2016/
Morpethroad 
Hahaha! The imps that live on the top shelf throw books at the little children. LOL! No wonder Mortimer wears a helmet when he goes into the library! Cute story! I had to laugh when I saw your title because that is the same name I used in my story. I didn’t think anyone would be using it. Hahaha!
Ahh..great minds Joy…..look forward to reading your tale….
Thanks Michael. I have it written but haven’t linked it up yet. I enjoyed your story!
Thanks Joy hope you are keeping well…
I am, Michael. It’s really hot here right now but I’m doing well. I hope you are doing well too. 🙂
Its pretty cold here today….wind blowing from Antarctica it feels like….
Ooouu that sounds pretty cold! I hope you keep warm!
Yep Joy all good…
Michael, do ya’ll have severe winters since you are so close to the South Pole?
No Joy I live a long way from the South Pole. Despite what I say winters here are very mild…..no snow, if we are unlucky we might get the odd frost.
Where might that be ?
In Australia on the east coast.
Ah, I though it must be here ! I’m in Adelaide.
Hey another Aussie, lovely know you.
Yeah, nice to meet you too! Hey, I posted a response to the Let’s Fiddle prompt thinking it was yours until I went to check the link thingy. In case you’re interested, here’s the link
https://soulgifts.com.au/2016/06/20/lets-fiddle/
No that prompt was my prompt co-host..I’ll go have a read though as I like to read all the responses to our Fairy Tale / Tale Weaver prompts. My next one comes up tomorrow. Are you ok if I call you Raili?
I’ve been to Adelaide a few times, lovely place, my son exhibits at the Hugo Michel gallery. I live at Maitland in the Hunter Valley.
Oh, my mistake. Didn’t read it properly !! I enjoyed writing it. Will have to keep my eye out for your promtps ! Of course you can call me Raili 🙂 Hunter Valley is a beautiful area. Only driven through. We hope to travel more now that we’re both retired. Will have to check out the gallery.
I don’t think his work is there at present but in March he exhibited there….retirement is a great thing, hope you enjoy every moment….
Oh, LOL! I looked it up on the map and it looked like Australia was right next to the South Pole but I had always heard that Australia was somewhat tropical. I was confused. Haha!
It’s a big place Joy, it’s very mild where I live.
That’s really nice Michael! I’m glad your not in the part that is close to the pole.
So am I….
Hahah – pith helmet! Enjoyed the read thank you
Thank you for stopping by.
Great story! Pesky imps. A Complete Works of Shakespeare could be fatal!
Most definitely. Thanks do much for your comment.
Love your humor–makes my evening smile 🙂
I’m so pleased….hope you are staying cool….
So far, so good–I’m enjoying a season of optimism 🙂 🙂
Good I hope it’s a long long season.
I do too, Michael–feel like I’m due 🙂 And I wish for all of my blog “peeps” to be doing just as well…I pray for you all every night, never fail 🙂
Great news. So what do I call you now? Shads? deau?
Stella seems to work well for everyone, so that’s fine with me 🙂
Stella it shall be.
And even if I change blogs again (hopefully not), we’ll try to keep Stella going–I know I’m a pain when it comes to personas… 🙂
The mystery of the real ‘Stella” remains…lol
Yeah, it all remains pretty much a mystery to me too…lol!
Great story, Michael, and what a magnificent library. The kids probably thought great Uncle Mortimer was an old grouch, but he was actually being loving and kind. He’ll need to be careful though. Wearing a pith helmet might make them angry because they can’t hit him and have them asking, “are you trying to take the pith out of us?” 😉
Lol…..yes good point, you funny girl you….
Haha! Very good Michael – great fun. KL ❤
Thanks KL, have a great day.
Those naughty imps !! Great story 🙂
Thank you so much…
Ha! Great take of the photo prompt. I love how the kids think of him as “Mr. Meanie,” but he’s really trying to protect them from pesky imps. And oh how I wonder about the fate of Lyle!! O.O
Hello Izzy haven’t seen you in a while. Thanks so much for stopping by.
Yes! Sorry about that. I’m happy to be back to read your stories (and other stories, too).
I think I would gladly wear a helmet in exchange for a childfree library! Love the take on the prompt.
Thanks Angie it would be a luxury wouldn’t it.
I really loved your story! 🙂
Thanks SW hope you are having a good day.
I enjoyed this take very much. I love the idea of these wee folks living up top the library shelves. Magic such as the books. I wonder why they don’t like children? Poor uncle to have lost his son to them. Very imaginative tale Michael.
Thanks Mandi yes I think your questions are another tale.
That would be wonderful to read sometime 🙂
That’s the trouble with these short Fiction pieces they often raise a whole bunch of other tales..
I very much enjoyed the humour woven into this. It had me wondering too why they do not like children that much. Very good take on the photo.
Thank you for stopping by and commenting..
Very funny take!!
Thank you so much.
Dang those imps! I myself have a foot imp that likes to pull my book right out of my hands and drop it on my toes.
Good story!
Thanks Loretta, you do have to watch them I can tell you, that Complete Works behind the ear can really bring you down……hopefully your imps are not so cruel to you…
I guess the little imps aren’t as well behaved as they would like the children to be….double standard here for some reason. Rings a bell to real life! The Uncle was wise to keep the children out of that room. Sadly his son was an example from the emps of what would happen if children entered the room. Great story.
Thanks Jessi appreciate you stopping by and yes the Uncle was smart to keep the gkids out…or make them wear helmets??
Good that kids werent allowed in the room but bad that they werent allowed.. would have been more fun isnt it?? Nice story…. 🙂
Thank you Su, have a great day.
I love it, Michael! Those imps definitely sound pesky. A ‘Complete Works of Shakespeare’ hitting your head doesn’t sound fun. Great Uncle Mortimer’s helmet sounds like the right idea. 🙂 I wonder what happened to Lyle…?
The question so many have asked Louise. I think he met something greater than a complete works.
What a great story! Funny.
Thank you so much. Have a good day.
What an amusing story. Poor uncle Mortimer, saddled with the imps.