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for Ragtag Daily Prompt which today is hosted by gizzylaw and the given word is Homecoming.
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It was a sentimental journey. A journey back in time. She searched for the street. Was it here? No, perhaps it was around that corner over there. Yes, back home at last, back to the street in which she grew up. Back to the street filled with memories, happy memories because she was happy then.
But it wasn’t the street she remembered. Those apartments weren’t there back then, Auntie Julie was. And over there, what happened to Jamey’s house? It didn’t look like the one that stood there now. Jamey’s house was a friendly house that smiled. This was a cube which frowned. What happened to Jamey?
She’d played in this street. Marbles, hopscotch, chase … ‘you’re it’! She remembered the time they played ball and she kicked it through Mrs Mason’s window. The sound of breaking glass rang in her ears as the memories flooded back. But Mrs Mason’s house was no longer there. They’d run away and hid behind the massive oak tree on the corner, that corner over there. What happened to the oak tree, why was it gone?
As she turned the bend in the road a terrace came into view. Her heart leapt. It was the row of houses where she’d lived. Her little house was still there, right in the middle. She walked a little faster and then began to run. Her mind filled with images and her ears filled with sounds. Sounds of laughter, for she was happy there. Oh, how she longed to feel Tibbles the fat black cat brush against her legs. She so wanted to hear the chiming bells of the ice cream van as it sat across the street.
But why were there boards over the windows? Why wasn’t grumpy Mrs Brown next door peeping out from behind her net curtains? Why couldn’t she see the bright yellow door on the house she grew up in? Why did it say ‘Keep out, condemned’ where her door used to be?
Condemned. She’d returned to her street to relive her memories. It had been the only place she’d ever been happy. Since she left, her life was condemned. Tragedy, sadness and despair waited around every corner. Now it was as if her happy memories were condemned too.
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Keith's Ramblings 
Sad tale Keith. We can never go back, sadly things are not as they were.
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Sometimes for the better, too often not. Thanks, Di.
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Oh so poignant!
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I thought it would make a change! Cheers Sadje.
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It does. 👌
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Sad tale. Going back can sometimes be a let down, when we see the physical changes to the space, but the memories are that brought us there are still with us!
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Indeed it can. It doesn’t do to dwell on memories.
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Oh this flowed so nicely. I like it, I like it a lot 💙
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Much appreciated, thank you.
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You’re most welcome
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A nicely told tale we all (or most of us, anyway) can relate to. Recently visited my childhood residence which was much (MUCH!) more tiny than I remembered. Thanks for sharing.
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That’s often the ay Ron. Thank you.
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What a well told and sad little tale. We’ve all had a Mrs Brown too, lol. Well done, Keith.
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We certainly have! Thanks Mason.
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You’re welcome.
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Absolutely excellent, and relatable. Tough when you revisit old places and old friends, expecting one thing but finding another. Not necessarily bad, but not necessarily what you were seeking
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It is, especially for her as she was seeking a little happiness in her miserable life.
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