A Meeting with Mr. Dickens
A Story Every Day in 2024 Dec 31st 366/366
It was, indeed, a strange prospect, finding Dickens on your doorstep.
"Well, woman? Are you to leave me standing here all night?"
She stepped back, astounded as Dickens entered her house.
"In here?" he gesticulated with his gloves to the lounge.
"Yes," she spluttered.
He pushed the door and immediately ensconced himself in the winged chair where her knitting lay abandoned.
"Sit," he instructed and she bristled but this man demanded deep respect. She sat.
"So," he started. "You are likely wondering why I am here?"
She nodded, not able to trust her voice, excitement, disbelief and nerves conspiring to make it weak or clumsy.
"I am led to believe that you fancy yourself a writer. Is this true?"
She nodded again.
He looked at her. Could this meek, hesitant, silent woman be the one who had audaciously tried to convey his character through her own writing?
"You know of me?"
"Yes," she managed to say, pleased she did not squeak nor burp.
"Good." He turned to look at the fire.
She waited. It was a minute before he spoke again.
"It is not easy being a writer." He paused. "Indeed, it is exceptionally hard work."
He continued.
"I, of course, am good at it."
Modest, she thought sarcastically, but uttered it not.
"And you could be too."
He looked at her directly again.
"I know of your writing marathon. I commend you for your determination."
Their eyes locked. Charles Dickens' twinkled back at hers, filled with wit and wisdom.
"Jack Dawkins."
She felt a flutter.
"My character. You took him, did you not?"
"Yes," she blurted, "but it was..."
Dickens held up his hand.
"Please. Stop. It cannot be undone."
He smiled.
"But there is a way it can be compensated."
He waved his hand and tome upon heavy tome appeared.
"Writing takes practice. But I think you'll find that a lot can be gleaned from reading too. And, of course, from a new challenge."
He waved to the book pile.
"In exchange for my forgiveness?"
She looked from him, to his books, and gulped.
"Is a year enough?"
Dickens frowned but before he could chastise, she found herself saying,
"Of course, Mr. Dickens."
***
366 words
Yep, I'm going to challenge myself to read the full works of Dickens this year. It is something with which I have always toyed as I have done with reading the full works of Shakespeare and maybe that is something for 2026. I don't think I could take them both on this year, two literary heavyweights.
I was not forced into doing this by having a visitation from Dickens, can I just say? But I reckon he could teach me a thing or two.
And so, we have arrived at the end at what has been an amazing year. Thank you. Thank you if you are reading this now. Thank you if you have read anything written by me this year. Thank you for sharing comments with me. Thank you, as the Golden Girls quite rightly state, for being a friend. Your encouragement and support along this road have been invaluable and I appreciate you more than you can ever know.
Thanks to L.C., the O.G., for setting the challenge and writing some masterful micros this year, dark, funny and moving; thanks to Gerard for the shout-outs after every piece as well as the variety of micros that he has managed to spin - I could list what he provides in his fiction but it would be long - and thanks to D.J., poet extraordinaire who produced work that was thought-provoking and literary and classical and philosophical and just so magnificent at times that it blew me away. D.J., we will not perish!
And thanks, Vocal, for providing this platform where I can publish my work so easily for all to see. You have made this smooth and I would never have been able to do it if your platform did not exist. It is a warm space of comfort for me and it is a place that I have enjoyed inhabiting this year, probably spending more time here than most other places in my life.
Thank you all.
'
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More stories from Rachel Deeming and writers in Fiction and other communities.
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General Aldarius winds up accidentally saving the elkai prince who joined the army and ends up in the war with the volkin. The boy, age seventeen, is almost killed before General Aldarius comes to his rescue. Sensing that the boy didn't belong, he questions how the would be prince managed to get in the army in the first place. The prince explains that he joined the army because he wanted to prove to himself and his father that he was something more than just someone who sat in the background of life. He wanted to be more active. General Aldarius doesn't catch on that the boy is the King's son yet until the King himself issues a distress alert across the nation that his son has gone missing. Putting two and two together, this "random" boy who joined the elkai army happens to be the same boy that the King is looking for. He goes to question the boy once more about who he was and why he was in the army in the first place. The boy confesses that he is indeed the King's son and even though he lied about his identity, his reasons for joining the army remained true.
By Kelly Johnson2 days ago in Fiction
Comments (19)
Congratulations on the completion of such a massive challenge! I so loved you bringing Charles Dickens to life in this final piece. Great Expectations has always been a favorite of mine, though I must confess it is the only work of his I have read. I hope you find insight and inspiration this year as you delve into his classic work. I look forward to more of your inspiring stories in the future and hope to catch up on reading a some of your stories from this year.
It feels very appropriate to end your daily run with a continuation and resolution with Mr Dickens. Congratulations, Rachel. Your accomplishment of the ‘story a day challenge’ is a great example of dedication. Cheers to 2025 and your new goals. 🏅
Fabulous… right to the finish line!✅ What a treat it’s been, such a variety of tales to read!💖 Why aren’t we surprised that you’re launching into another challenge!🧐 Happy New Year 🥳.
Woohoo!!! Congratulations, Rachel!! You’ve made it to the finish line in spectacular fashion!! What a marathon you’ve run! You should be proud of both your perseverance and the wonderful stories you’ve created!!
I purchased a book of Dickens - 4 stories unabridged years ago. I loved each story. But to tackle everything he wrote whew, the man had tendency to pen lots of words....Enjoy. Rachael, it has been a pleasure to read your story a day ( I know I missed some, but will look for them) I felt as if we got to know you better , as a writer, becouse of this, and perhaps a liitle of who you are as well. Thank you for your dedication Read less
Congratulations, Rachel! I'm so happy that you've completed a series of everyday a story for a year ❤🤝
The entire cannon of the Dickensonian universe? Uriah Heap, Martin Chuzzlewit, the French Revolution, and all in one go?! The mind boggles!
You, you made it. Congrats!
Congratulations on such an epic journey. What an inspired feat. As Shirley said, you are welcome on my bookshelf anytime...Happy new year, can't wait to see what you have in store for 2025
Congratulations on meeting your challenge and finding another! May all that reading inspire something great!
Congratulations, wise and witty wordsmith and constant source of scribbler solidarity! We have come to the end and recognized it as a beginning. I will be delighted to discover what the study of Dickens will move you to create! Publish ever, perish never, ink stained friend!
Dear Rachel, you can be found on my bookshelf anyday!! So proud of you and the others for sticking with this challenge...we all loved the outcome...we got to read and enjoy. Happy Reading and Happy New Year :)
Congratulations! I can only hope that all that reading will leave some space for more writing. And I'll be leaving the old year behind with hope to learn what happened to Dave and Bethan one day...
I fancy you may be a writer of the best kind. Loved these fabulous "Dickens" of a story you've woven from the master himself. The very biggest of congratulations on all you've accomplished in 2024 and the greatest joy and happiness in all of your new endeavors in the new year.
The spirit of stories yet to come? Congratulations on completing the year, and on producing so much entertaining and thought-provoking writing. I hope you're not going to be too busy reading to share a few more words with us in 2025!
I did not read enough, i read some, kudos on your stick-to-itiveness. I am inspired to do a similar project with the authors. Brava to you for your fortitude.
What the Dickens?!? The old ghost of Poe once visited me upon a midnight dreary, and I was compelled to work through his entire canon, but I admit, I'm still eeking my way through his "Eureka" in little fits and starts, aven all these years later. Hermann Hesse, on the other hand, I devoured without issue from the moment I read his "Steppenwolf". Many other names there, the immortals, they stay with us, and each of us writers perhaps has our own literary guardian angel. What an accomplishment, Rachel! Not only did you knock out a story a day for a year, but there wasn't a bad one in the lot, and your Little Red Leaf series especially was a maspterpiece in minimalist character development. Well-wrought!
This year was a great writing ride for you, Rachel! I am in awe of your achievements. Let the new year bring you whatever your writing and reading soul desires.
Gosh, it truly feels like an end of an era. I wish you all the best with Dickens works! And thank you so much for entertaining me with all your stories! My favourite was the Laney series. Honourable Mention to The Bag. I'm sure I have many more favourites that I've forgotten and I hope you can forgive me for that 😅😅