Brotherly Love – York Dungeon 1990s
(c) Sherri Matthews
Symptoms of Unrest
Muriel waddled into the doctor’s office.
“What can I do for you,” asked the doctor while staring at his computer screen.
Muriel sniffed. “Well, my nose feels blocked and according to my husband, I snore.”
“Have you tried nose strips?”
“Err…no. I think I might have a sinus infection actually.”
“Get some nose strips and see me in two weeks,” said the doctor, still tapping away.
“Oh, just one more thing,” said Muriel as she headed for the door. “I think my husband is trying to murder me.”
The room fell silent as the doctor, at last, faced his patient.
*******
When I wrote Water Rat a couple of weeks ago, I didn’t plan to add to it. But then Charli gave us this week’s Flash Fiction prompt to write a story revealing a character’s symptoms and I couldn’t resist having some fun. ‘Symptoms of Unrest’ is part two, in 99 words, no more, no less.
A View From My Summerhouse 
That basket gave me the heebie jeebies, even while I was smiling, Sherri 🙂
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Oh what fun!! I think the smile on big brother’s face looks rather too gleeful don’t you think? Ha! Thanks Jo, glad it gave you a smile too 😀
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Worrying for Muriel though 🙂
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Don’t worry Jo, I had to give her a fighting chance to ‘wake up’ to Ken’s murderous plot against her. She isn’t as oblivious as she first seemed 😉
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Haha, you do these so well Sherri 🙂
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Haha…thanks Jude! I had fun with this 😀
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…and I love your container full of daffodils and the lovely coloured pansies.
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Thanks Jude! You inspired me after reminding me about my header 🙂 It looks even fuller now so should take another photo. Hopefully they’ll last a while. Even my rose (remember we had to cut it right back) is coming back into bloom. Let’s hope we can secure it properly this time 🙂
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Your rose will probably come back better than ever. Sometimes they need a good cut back.
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Yes, it was definitely for the best. Hope I get lots of blooms this spring/summer 🙂
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well done – what a wonderful story to read and enjoy!
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So glad you enjoyed it, many thanks Mihran 🙂
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Like Wise Sherri – Thank you!
https://kmihran.wordpress.com/2015/03/24/mihran-kalaydjian-playing-one-akriti-image/
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Poor old Muriel. She can’t win with a murderous husband and a disinterested doctor. At least she got his attention. You are going to have to continue this one Sherri. 🙂
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Haha…thanks Irene! Yes, I know the feeling with poor Muriel (except for the murderous husband that is!) 😀
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Well, that’s certainly a symptom of unrest if ever there was one, Sherri!
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Talk about a bad night’s sleep! Thanks Tom 😀
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OOh spooky photo, reminds me of Warwick Castle dungeons which scared me so much I had to be let out of the fire exit while my grandchildren continued the tour unperturbed by all the gore! I love the story ~ I think her doctor works at our practice!!
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Oh I remember Warwick Castle dungeon and I don’t blame you, it is really scary in there! I have a similar story: I took my daughter to a walk-through set of the film The Mummy at Universal Studios in California when we lived there. She was 10 years old but I had no idea it was so scary. When one of the skeletons jumped out in front of us I don’t know who screamed the loudest and I was so grateful when a nice lady appeared out of nowhere and led us out by a side entrance!
Haha, yes, I think you can tell I have experience of such a doctor too, more’s the pity 😉
Glad you enjoyed the story, thanks Brenda 😀
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Good thing Muriel is persistent and aware of what her husband is up to. That doctor isn’t much of a people person is he? 😀 😀 This is terrific, Sherri. You have my attention.
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Hi Tess, great to see you back again, hope you enjoyed your break 🙂
Haha…think Muriel needs to change doctors that’s for sure 😀 Glad you enjoyed it, thanks so much 🙂 😉 😀
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You are welcome, Sherri.
Yes, I’m back and already overwhelmed again. Did some serious reading accomplished. Yay! Forgot to turn comments back on. Sheesh. How quickly I forget. 😛
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So glad you got some good reading time in Tess, but sorry you’re overwhelmed again… It’s non-stop isn’t it? Yes, I was going to ask you about that, I read your fantastic flash…love it and how you used the prompt for the ending…but couldn’t comment 😦 So now you can read it here 😀 ❤ 😛 😉
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Both hubby and I really laughed out loud at your flash fiction. The Photo is a bit scary. Just imagine, that this actually used to be a regular occurrence! 😯 xx
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Haha…thanks so much Sylvia, I love that thought of you and hubby laughing out loud 😀 I love the look on my eldest son’s face in this photo…enjoying it a bit too much I fear! And yes, this was just run of the mill stuff back in the day! xx
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Well, that’s one way to get a doctor to spend more the five minutes with you. 🙂 Great job, Sherri! I love that photo too! I hope you’re doing well. xoxo
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Haha…think I need to try that 😀 Thanks so much Jill, so glad you enjoyed it! 3,500 words yesterday… 😉 Hope you’re having a good week 🙂 xoxo
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I love that you have humor and murder in the same post! Way to go Sherri!
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Haha…thanks so much Renee 😀 I do love a bit of dark humour I admit 😉
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Oh, what a twist and to go back before the water rat was relieved is chilling! The doctor is put on the spot to do something yet he either ignored the woman he faced or did too little. Great flash! And what a fun photo!
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Haha…thanks so much Charli! Doctors are on my mind these day 😉 Your prompt this week had me dreaming of Muriel and her story…I can see her now! It’s great when an idea pops like this isn’t it? Great solution to a bad night’s sleep 😛
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Is she like one of those old ladies who ends up being the murderer? I wonder.
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Ahh..well, let’s see what happens Kath!!!
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I was still laughing at the picture–talk about a perfect example of “unrest”–then your flash fiction’s final lines snapped me to attention very quickly. Well done, Sherri!
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Haha…yes, definitely some ‘unrest’ going on there! Thanks so much Marylin, glad it ‘caught’ you 😀
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Haha, I think Muriel must be a patient at our surgery. That’s the way to get them to notice you. I’ll try it next time😄
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Haha…yes, at mine too Jenny, sad to say 😉 Would love to be a fly on the wall if you did try it though … 😀
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I was hoping for the follow up line… ‘So how do you think that affects your sinuses?’ Great Flash Sherri
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Haha! 😀
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😀
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Haha, love it 😀 If the word limit was longer it would have been fun to play it out a little longer…I was beginning to get more than a little annoyed with this doctor! Thanks Geoff!!
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Oh, LOVE it! (Such a believable doctor, too.)
I’ve met too many of those.
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Thanks so much Sarah 😀 And yes…me too, sadly 😮
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Such a cliffhanger Sherri! One of these days you’ll have to make all these flash fiction posts into a collection of short stories 🙂
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I love that you read along with my flash fiction stories Heather, thank you so much, I’m thrilled you enjoy them so much 🙂 I certainly enjoy writing them, so let’s see what happens… 😉
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Interesting twist and I wonder if it’s true.
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Well, I can certainly relate to poor Muriel (except for the murderous husband bit, that is!). Always such a pleasant surprise when a doctor actually listens isn’t it? Thanks TB, glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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Great story. Loved how she finally got the doctors attention. That seems to be the case these days. Your boys looked like they had fun posing for the camera in their murderous posture.The younger one seems so compliant to his older brother. Are they still that way. 🙂
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Thanks so much Marlene, so glad you enjoyed it 🙂 It’s great to be able to bring some dark humour in, despite some truth behind it (with the doctors I mean, sadly…) Haha….interesting what you say about my boys! Younger one definitely posing here letting big brother ‘take the reins’. And I would say that yes, big brother definitely is still the boss 😉
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That was just brilliant, Sherri! I love surprise endings. And the photo! I don’t know whether to laugh or scream. 😀
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Haha…yes, it is a spooky sight! Needless to say, my boys loved the dungeon 😉 Thanks so much Nadine, thrilled you enjoyed it 😀
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That’s such a cool photo and wow, the story is terrific. But I want more? How does she know he’s trying to kill her? Is he poisoning her?
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Haha…thanks Rachel! I do believe you know all about York Dungeon 😀 Love that you enjoyed the story…and let’s see what happens and hopefully answer your questions too 🙂
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All I can say is, there had better be a part three to this story, because I need to hear what happens next! Oh, I’ll also say I’ve taken an immediate and intense dislike to that doctor. A patient should not be under threat of murder in order for her physician to actually look at her! Amazing how you’ve managed to elicit such a response from me in only 99 words. Goes to show you’re a master of your craft 😊
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Oh I love your comment Marlene! Wow, that’s music to my ears knowing that these few lines did indeed elicit such a strong response from you! Let’s see where this goes next! I hadn’t planned to carry on with ‘Water Rat’ but strangely, it took hold me. Thanks so much, I’m greatly bouyed by your encouragment 🙂
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Ha ha! Lovely addition to Water Rat.
Isn’t Muriel a fascinating character!
She may be as cruel (and crooked) as her husband, if not more. What else explains that she’s sharing her fear with a doctor, rather than with police. I get it that she wants doctor’s attention, but
revelation of this nature gives Muriel a different shade — a shade that tells us (a must in fiction) that no character is sacrosanct.
Told you, you do good jobs with these. Continue this, my friend.
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Haha! Well, as usual my friend, you bring wonderful feedback and insight, thank you so much 🙂 Yes, you’ve got it…why indeed is Muriel revealing her fears to her uncaring, disinterested doctor and not the police? Hmmm…perhaps she is indeed up to her own malevolent tricks. I love that you caught this dodgy side of her character. Let’s see where this goes… 😉
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I think you’ve told it just how it is these days, Sherri. It seems to be of one of life’s unfortunates that everybody is far too busy to listen properly. How many times have I said to my partner “Right, I’m going to streak up the street and back” and his reply has been “OK, have fun”, while he’s busy dealing with work emails on a Sunday morning!
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Haha…now if your partner happened to catch a glimpse of you streaking past the living room window, he would be in for an almighty shock, that’s for sure, and I’m sure he would listen to you then 😀
We are all too busy, you are right, and it worries me how little we are listening to one another these days. Plus, doctors are not in my good books these days…but that’s a whole other story. It’s great to be able to express this in fiction isn’t it? Thanks again Hugh for reading along with these FFs 🙂
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Yes he would, and so would all the neighbours ,and I’d probably end up in the Tower of London for the rest of my life. Mind you, there is a naked bike ride taking place in Brighton in June so maybe that would be the best time to do it 🙂
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Hahah….the mind boggles! Just as well Henry VIII isn’t still on the throne 😉 As for the naked bike ride, my boys have told me about that, not seen it myself though. Not something I fancy I must say…far too cold 🙂 You make me laugh Hugh, love it 😀
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The lengths one must go to to get their doctor’s attention. I thought he may have been the husband at first and she couldn’t get attention from him anywhere! It’s delightful! What is she going to tell him now that she has his attention?
And the two gorgeous brothers. I’m sure they had great delight in posing for that photo. I assume no one was hurt in the making?
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Haha…I can assure you that no one was hurt Norah, but I do think Eldest Son is enjoying having the opportunity to be the axe-wielder a little too much, don’t you think? 😀
As for Muriel, she is definitely up to her own tricks, you’re on the right track Norah! I wonder too what she is going to say next. I like your thinking that the doctor might have been her husband…clever that 😉 So glad you’re enjoying the story, thanks so much for reading along!
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Indeed. Eldest son looked as if he was enjoying contemplating the possibilities! 🙂
And as for Muriel, I’m looking forward to reading more of her story. 🙂
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Haha…thanks Norah! Hope you’re having a lovely weekend 🙂
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Well done to Muriel. I’m sure she just made that up to get the doctor’s attention. I love stories with ends that can be interpreted different ways.
And now I have a challenge for you, dear Sherri. Check out this xxxx
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Thanks Sarah! Yes, although she does snore…but you are right, Muriel is up to her own tricks 😉 I’ll be over to check out the challenge!!! xxx
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Elder son looks so gleeful as he gets ready to lower the boom! I wonder if Muriel’s husband is going around with that same look in his eyes as he fiendishly plots her demise! Knowing some Doctor’s as I do I am surprised that she finally got his attention. And I must mention poor younger son, poor little lamb….shudder. He looks already done in!! This latest story is great fun and once again I have a smile on my face about poor Muriel’s plight. Now what in Heaven’s name does that say about moi? 🙂 xoxoxo ❤ Love the photos you find-priceless!
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Haha…yes, and you know that I am not exactly enamoured with doctor’s at the moment either 😉 Methinks Ken and Muriel are as bad as each other and we share the same dark humour dear friend 😀 Ahh…yes, I know, his little face…he should have been an actor 😉 Eldest son of course doing the axe-wielding and looking a little too happy about it 😉 Thanks so much dear Diane…always thrilled you enjoy these little stories ❤ xoxoxo
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How could I not mention the perfect title-well done Sherri!! 🙂
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Haha…nothing like a bit of unrest to go with a gory photo…thanks so much my friend 🙂 xoxo
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Ohhhh maybe sleep with one eye open?!! Unexpected ending for your great flash fiction here, Sherri!
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Haha…yes, definitely! Thanks so much Christy 😀
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Absolutely 😀 Happy Friday, sweet Sherri!!
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Happy Friday and Happy Weekend to you too Christy…and I’ve just posted my ‘Love Ten Sentences’ poem, hope you like 😀 xo
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Hihi! I will try this next time a doc is choosing his computer screen over me 😉
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Haha, yes me too Ilka, it just might work 😀
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I wonder what the doctor will prescribe for her thinking her husband is trying to murder her?
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Haha…well, that is another mystery altogether 😀
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That was really well done. You have me searching for the next “page” to click on. 🙂
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Thanks so much Lilka, thrilled you enjoyed it. I’ll have to see what happens next myself 😀
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I’ve had. Few doctors like that. What a good way of making him sit up and take notice 🙂
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Yes, me too Maria, more’s the pity. Maybe we should do what Muriel did 😀
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Oh, we can all relate to this! It so happens that today I went to an infections disease control specialist (regarding my infections and sepsis) and this wonderful man spent 45 whole minutes with me!! The nurses kept paging him that his other patients were waiting but he kept ignoring them. Now, either he thinks I am going to die sometime soon or he was just being a good ‘ol fashion doctor who takes his time, listens and lets you ask all the questions you have without rushing you. I am going to believe the second scenario. 🙂
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Well that’s a turn up for the books Maria! How wonderful that you found such a specialist…and definitely going with the second scenario, for sure 🙂 xo
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I enjoyed the brotherly love photo and the hysterical way the patient finally got the doctor’s attention, Sherri.
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Haha…thrilled you enjoyed it Robin, thank you so much 🙂
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Had to go back and read water rat to see how it began and now I see…it’s fun to see your dark side Sherri! But yes, you’ll have to carry on now!
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Haha… yes, that’s the fun with writing fiction isn’t it? And with flash, of course, you never know what might happen! Thank you Andrea for revisiting Water Rat 😉
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It is terrible !!!
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Haha…hope that means you enjoyed the read 😉
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