Like most writers, I have a wicked imagination which began as a
child and blossomed as the years passed.
Here’s my Origins post of for me…where it all began.
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When I was four, I lived in an old house filled with antiques.
I was the youngest of five and luckily had my own room. I still
remember that room to this day. Aside from it's old furnishings, it had roses on the vine wallpaper and a gray Oriental rug clad with mystical etchings and a green
border. As the odd kid out, I spent much of my time trying to play with
my older siblings, which sadly wanted nothing to do with me. That left me
with significant time on my own.
With my turn of the century home constantly creaking with strange noises and the period furniture having
a presence rivaling the house, it didn't take long for my imagination to fester. When I wasn't outside, I spent countless hours
in my room, staring at that damn rug, especially at night. When I think about my origins, I'd
have to say it started with that thing. There was nothing
too exceptional about this piece, except for one thing. In one of the four corners,
near the border was a monster-like figure. It was a cross between a
stick-like dragon and a gangly beast. At night, I used to think the
creature would come alive and terrorize me.
It’s completely ridiculous, I know, but back then, good lord, I was
petrified of it. Unfortunately, for me
that rug followed me around for years in my room (*shivers*) until one day my Mother gave it a new home. Thank god! Years later, I had
to write a short story for school. The first
thought that came to mind was that monster in the rug. I wrote about it, of course, using the
monster as my muse.
Maybe one of these days I'll find that story and post it. What about you? Did you have any spooky beginnings as a kid?
Want to read the origins of others? Check out these list of participants!
Mina B.
Very unusual story.
ReplyDelete... "The Rug"... has quite a distinctive ring, doesn't it?
That's an awesome origin story! I love creaky old houses.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating story! It must be cool to be able to trace it all back to one thing.
ReplyDeleteThat would've freaked me out as a kid!
ReplyDeleteThanks for participating in the blogfest.
Unique origin story! Funny, the things that inspire stories within us. Nice to meet you.
ReplyDeleteI believe that a lot of stories written in childhood are ways for us to expunge troubling thoughts. Such a true ORIGIN!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing it today! :)
Ok, so you sufficiently creeped me out with the origins of your childhood nightmares, The Monster in the Rug.
ReplyDeleteIt is stories, such as yours, that prove a child's imagination is a wonderful thing!
More! More!
Mina,
ReplyDeleteI distinctly remember the wall paper in my room when I was a very small child -- blooming, loose-petaled roses that took on the images of mouths and monstrous faces in the dark, while I lay in my crib.
Many years later, I complained about this wall paper to my mother, and she was astonished I remembered it. I had been only two years old when my family moved out of the apartment that had wall paper.
Four decades later, I can still summon the images of those horrible roses.
That's great! Sometimes I think a writer's imagination is at once a gift and a curse. I still can't watch scary movies without imagining someone popping up in front of my windshield while driving or staring at me from behind the shower curtain. Over active imagination...:) Thanks for sharing your origins!
ReplyDeleteYes, I lived in an older home and thought all the closets were haunted. We had creaky stairs and closed off rooms too.
ReplyDeleteI had a vivid imagination, which occasionally kept me awake at night til I pulled the covers over my head.
Liked your story. Now following.
Great to meet you on this blogfest.I love how you got started because of your rug monster muse.
ReplyDeleteyour newest follower,
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
I was like that too. Shadows came to life in the dark. Yikes. Maybe that means my little one will be a writer too. :)
ReplyDeleteOooh scary monster rug! That's different. Isn't amazing how the most seemingly innocent objects can inspire us! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteThat is a really cool origin story. I am a new follower from the blogfest.
ReplyDeleteI admit, when I was a kid I used to make a run for my bed and leap into it - in case there was something underneath waiting to pull me down into...?
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, old houses do make noises, especially if there are rats int he walls! Okay. maybe they were mice. But they sounded like rats!
Amazing (or alarming) how something as simple as a rug ca influence our lives.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this piece.
Hehehe that sounds like one scary carpet. My beginnings were much more run of the mill. ;-)
ReplyDeleteCool! i like scary house!thanks you for sharing your story.
ReplyDelete