Brugge, Belgium (Photo: Libby Penner on Unsplash)
Some call this city “Venice of the North,” but they don’t know the other direction this town goes, and it is not one of the winds.
I know, because I’ve seen it.
Seen what lies beneath the streets, glazed over by blind eyes of tourists snapping photos, dismissed by those who should know better yet still refuse to view.
For the ones beneath need acknowledgement to manifest. Not trust, recognition.
I know, because I don’t trust them. Not one bit. And yet they are there, plain as anything: The Upenders.
They’ve been here before people, and they expect you pay respects. Their mirage is reflected in the still waters of the canals, and when you let yourself go below the floor, beyond the basement, they’ll reveal themselves. If you won’t visit, beware. For when you least expect, they’ll rise to flip yours over, resentful of a willful ignorance of Upending.
Na'ama Yehuda 
If I’m reading you right, we have Upenders in Norwich, but not here in Yarmouth. Indeed, parts of Norwich where the Upenders are might be mistaken for Bruges. But why none in Yarmouth? The bombs destroyed them.
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You still have Borrowers in Yarmouth, I’m told. … 😉
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I have heard that, but as you might imagine, they’re seldome seen
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Yep. They’s gots no need to be seen, them don’t! 😉
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🙂
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Ohhh, that is a very good story. I can imagine it being told at night around a blazing fire and entirely meant to scare children spitless! Loved it!
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🙂 Yay! To scare them …? Perhaps a tiny bit … but also to give them a perfectly valid excuse for unexpected messes and things that go boom in the night … “Upenders did that, Mom…” 😉
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heheh! I love it! hehe!
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🙂 Every coin has two sides … 😉
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A very atmospheric and creepy take on such a picturesque place!
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Thanks, Iain … (I think … ;))
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Such a spooky tale, and what a great take on that photo. I want to know what happens next, now!
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You’d have to ask the Upenders… 😉
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Spooky! What is below always brings a little fear whether its ghosts, Upenders or sinkholes! Nice take on the prompt, Na’ama.
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Thanks, Penny! It was an bit of a different take, as Pegman goes, in that I didn’t look into the history of the place … or then again, perhaps I had … 😉
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Ooh, just my kind of story. Creepy, mysterious, with a race of creatures living beside/below us. Shivery stuff and I loved it 🙂
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oooh, so glad! 😉 And, yeah, who’s to say they ain’t there? I think they may well be! … 😉
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Spooky and sinister. I loved the voice! I’m still not sure though, upender a thing–or a thing of your invention?
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Who’s to say … 😉
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Sorry to differ. I know Bruges inside and out and its history. This is nonsens. Our city has a great spiritual history and there is a very positive power in the whole area, around our waters. Visit again, and look for this to see the real power of this city 😉
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No offense meant … 😉 I have a good friend who was born in Bruges. As for the positive power … well, power is power and can be taken in any direction … so who knows … 😉 But, yeah, I am looking forward to visiting! Thanks for this fun comment!
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