PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Judy and Uncle Bill opened the door to Aunt Reenie’s storage closet. They both stood speechless, taking in the years of accumulated miscellany.
“It’s Fibber McGee’s closet!” said Uncle Bill.
“Who? What?” asked Judy.
“It’s an old radio program. Look it up. Well, let’s get it done.”
Aunt Reenie was Uncle Bill’s aunt, nearly 100 years old when she decided to die.
“What useless junk!” Judy declared.
“Maybe. But Aunt Reenie was thankful for everything she had. There are some good stories in this closet.”
“Really? Like what?” The time flew as they cleared it out.
Just Writing! 
Dear Linda,
I wondered if Fibber McGee’s Closet might come up. My parents used to talk about it and likened my closet to it. 😉 I’m sure there was plenty of reminiscing along with the closet organizing. Nicely written.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s the first thing that came to mind, so I went with it. I have tapes of that great old show. Innocent fun.
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I love this short-short!!! Don’t we just yearn to be let in on those stories? This closet, however, is sparse and organized compared to Fibber McGee’s. Remember? Everything used to fall out of it when the door was opened.
Very skillfully done, granonine.
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Thanks so much. Yes, I remember–the sound effects were terrific 🙂 And you’re right, this closet doesn’t reach that standard. But it was the first thing that came to mind, so I went with it. Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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Well, they didn’t fall out of what we called our Fibber McGee and Molly closet either, so I was nit-picking. Great story. Loved it.
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That’s exactly what I thought – the idea of all those stories are very inviting. I really enjoyed this, thank you.
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Thanks, Anna.
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I love that all the stuff told so many stories. That is the only reason why we should hold on to something material.
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Yes. My mom had tons of “stuff” but it all meant something to her, and to part with it was to leave her life in the dust bin. We need to understand that about our older relatives.
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I’m sure anyone opening the door of my cupboard would wonder why on earth I kept all that junk! Perhaps I should leave an explanation in the envelope alongside my will!
Click to read my FriFic!
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Ha! Good point, Keith 🙂
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Great title, I liked the positive side to this, the joy in remembering the aunt. Nicely done.
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Thanks, Lain.
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My Dad was the world’s ultimate pack rat. He kept everything he ever owned, even stuff my Mom thought he’d gotten rid of a long time ago. After he died, my brother and I had to go through it all. There were lots of “treasures,” but we also made a lot of trips to the dump.
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My mom kept stuff that just had to be tossed after she died. I think the Depression generation tended to do that, because many of them went without so much.
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This is true. My Father-in-Law was the same way.
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I shall have to look up ‘Fibber McGee’s Closet’ too. Nice little tale.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Classic 1940’s radio. You can buy the CD’s at Cracker Barrel stores.
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Great story – so encouraging! Lovely that stories are so important to us that we can forget grief and overlook inconvenience if we have plenty of narrative to keep us going. Well done, Linda!
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Thanks, Penny 🙂
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A nice, warm tale here, Linda. Loved the last line of time flying as they clear the closet. It tells more than whats there verbatim.
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Thanks so much 🙂
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Could take them hours to work through it all and a tale with every item! Lovely warm story 🙂
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Thank you, Lynn 🙂
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My pleasure 🙂
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If I were closer to my mother-in-law, I probably would spend hours wondering what it all means… as it stands, I’ll be chucking most of it.
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Sadly, that’s really what has to be done. There is very little monetary value to most “stuff”–the value is in the memories.
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Truth
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Love it when a story teaches me, Fibber McGee, sounds great
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I’m sure you can find episodes online. You can find them at Cracker Barrel restaurants, too. Classic radio.
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Googled it and laughed out loud.
Such a great, wonderfully wonderful story.
i loved how each item one owns, is a memory encapsulated forever. Clearing her closet must have enlightened Judy about aunt Reenie’s times and her own family .
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So glad you enjoyed the McGees 🙂 Thanks so much, Moon.
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Delightful take on this one.
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THanks 🙂
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I didn’t need to understand the reference (which I didn’t) to be able to identify with this story. Lovely!
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Thanks, Sandra. Fibber McGee and Molly was a very popular radio program back in the 30’s and 40’s–funny, innocent, family entertainment.
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It is fun to clean up closets and find unexpected treasures and memories 🙂
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Yes. As long as you don’t also find icky spiders 🙂
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Fibber McGee must be American, because I didn’t get the reference till I read the comments! that didn’t detract from your story in the slightest.
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I’m glad. Yes, a very popular American radio program from the 1940’s. Funny and innocent.
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There is a humorous and innocent feel to this story, Linda, which makes for relaxing reading.
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Exactly what I hoped for. Thanks, Kelvin.
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Would love to hear some of the stories that made the time fly so quickly. The memories objects bring to the fore are memories worth hearing.
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I always enjoyed the stories my folks told about pictures and other mementos. It’s one of the ways we keep family history alive.
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Absolutely
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Nice choice for the story line. I bet there are some great tales in a 100 year-old woman’s closet.
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I can only imagine 🙂
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I love the thought of the stories each item could tell… had not heard about the closet of Fibber McGee, but I do not think it matters.
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Not really, I agree–the point is made. Thanks, Bjorn.
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Time flew and took forever I imagine as all those objects reminded Bill of tales to tell 🙂
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Really like this, particularly how the different ages of the characters maps with the different times evoked by all the things in the closet. Good story!
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Nice take on the prompt. I had to look up Fibber McGee and found it fascinating. I love those old radio shows and will hunt down recordings for this one.
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If there’s a Cracker Barrel restaurant near you, they sell them. I’ll bet you could find them online, too.
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Do I infer the promise of another story?
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Oh, I am so glad Bill had held on to all the stories. Yes, I feel there is more “story” to come.
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I can just imagine the stories.
What fun!
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I’m one who remembers Fibber McGee and his closet. It was hilarious. I loved the sound of everything falling out. Every show there was a reason he had to open it. My dad must have enjoyed it as we always listened to it. I was young but it was memorable. Your story was about something that probably often happens to people. I enjoyed it. Good writing, Linda. 😀 — Suzanne
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Thanks. Yes, the noise of everything falling out got a big laugh every single time! Good memories, glad you enjoyed it.
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