The house was unassuming. Outdated decor and mild neglect, but nothing to write home about. That is, till they took the stairs to the basement, passed through what appeared to be a closet and headed down another and much longer flight into a stone walled damp. The steps ended with a heavy door: creaky metal hinges, old timbers, and the smell of aged oak.
Gabe’s heart threatened to sink.
Excitement was fine. Dungeons? Not so much.
How well did he know this man? College reunion be damned.
“Ta-da!” Bart flicked a switch.
A shrine.
To wine.
Just like old times.
For Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers
Photo promot © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Shoulda trusted Bart more
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ha! 🙂 We hope, eh? 😉
LikeLike
Well…a long night ahead….
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you are right, Ain! 🙂
Thank you for reading and commenting! Cheers!
LikeLike
A good take on hte prompt.
Ronda
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Ronda! 🙂 I will be reading others’ takes as soon as I’m done with work this evening! 🙂
LikeLike
Glad it wasn’t something dark.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep! Me three! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
“All’s well that ends well,” and the end remains to be seen. Hoping they have a loud and boisterous evening recalling the old times and wake up without hangovers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah! Amen to that … 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks like a good time in prospect.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think so, too, eh? 🙂
LikeLike
You had my own dread creeping up, along with Gabe’s. My heart leapt as his must have upon finding such a shrine… Methinks theresh going to be shome shluring of words in no time..
LikeLiked by 2 people
me think sho youwaaarrryeete 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tee hee… hick!
LikeLiked by 2 people
😀 (as long as Bart don’t barf … 😉 )
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh! Eewwwww!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL! It’s a wine-shrine hazard … 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is an air of anticipation and a pleasant surprise, a cellar full of wine that comes with the house.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I have a feeling Bart’s been filling that one for a while … 😉 And, yeah, I think they’ll have some fun …
LikeLiked by 1 person
From fear to pure joy! Cheers!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Le’hayim! 😉
LikeLike
A great story well done. I like the wine shrine, just drink it slowly!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks! Yeah, slowly is best … 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Forgive my cliché, but all’s well that ends with wine. 🙂 Clever and well done, Na’ama.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Or … at least almost all’s well that ends with wine … Especially if it is GOOD wine! 🙂 Thanks, Bill!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My best friend (from Rye, NY) taught me phrase when I visited him, “drinkable wine.” I liked it. 🙂 Kind of sets a friendly standard.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, I used to work in Rye, NY! Lovely little town on the edge of NY and CT. Nice peeps. I’m sure good wine … 😉 And, yeah, “drinkable wine” is an excellent yardstick, especially as it is perfectly and practically subjective. You cannot go wrong drinking only drinkable wine. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Eeck, or should it be heck, o perhaps I have another pleeese.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hopefully the wine shrine lends good spirits to all … 😉
LikeLike
Had the air of Poe and his cask of Amontillado to it. Great story.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh, gotta check this one out, then! 🙂
Glad you liked!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I found this link. It’s a pdf file in English so you can read it. https://americanenglish.state.gov/files/ae/resource_files/the_cask_of_amontillado.pdf
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you! Will do!
LikeLiked by 1 person
OOOOOOOOOOOH, I recognize it now!!!! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
: ) hehe!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me forgot! Thank you for reminding me! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was such an enchanting find
LikeLiked by 2 people
I would hope so! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha, some things never change, though the college bar has been swapped for a more sophisticated venue!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ah, after all, they are college kids no more … 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
quite a twist at the end. i didn’t expect it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
🙂 Ah, the unexpected ….! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice descriptions to ramp up the tension. I like the way you release the tension with your rhyming statement, “A shrine. To wine.” Nice story, Na’ama.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Penny! 🙂 I am so glad you liked it. The last sentence made me smile, so it had to stay.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And suddenly he remembers good old Bart and what a good bloke he is, let’s raise the glasses. Fun story!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Exactly! 🙂 Cheers! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Na’ama Y’karah,
Slow getting around to FF this week. At any rate, I enjoyed Bart’s shrine to wine. Good times and reunion of hangovers to be had. ליחיים!
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oops. I think I put in a yud too many. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I took it to be said in a Brooklyn accent … 😉
LikeLike
To Life, to Life, Le’chayim! 🙂 (que Fiddler here).
LikeLike
Whew, alls well that ends well. Suspenseful piece. I was worried for a minute. Nicely done, Na’ama!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yeah, seems they’d gonna be just fine with all that wine … 😉
LikeLike
I have a feeling, trap or not, they’re going to have a hard time getting out of that cellar. Nice suspense building and payoff.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you are quite correct…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aha! Not all things hidden in the dark are bad. Sounds like the perfect getaway spot to catch up with a mate
LikeLiked by 2 people
One hopes … 😉
LikeLike
Time to get down on the knees – “Hail almighty wine”. These are my people… 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
LOL! And I’m not much of a drinker myself, but we have made our own wine while I was growing up and some me off my family does so today, so we have an appreciation for the process and the product. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I liked the tense moment in the middle and then the gently humorous ending. Good times ahead. A warm-hearted story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
thank you! Appreciate you reading and commenting!
LikeLike