The Bell Tower
May 15, 2024 at 3:57 pm 35 comments
For Friday Fictioneers 100-Word Challenge: 17 May
2024
Note: I hear nature calling. I’ll be traveling to Iceland next week and will be gone for a while. I’ll be back in July. Until then, take care and keep on writing.
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| Photo Credit: Dale Rogerson |
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It was the tallest structure in our town before the big earthquake hit. As an altar boy, I climbed its spiraling staircase to ring the bell for weddings, funerals, and Sunday Mass.
But the tower also held another allure. It was a secret place where I stole moments with my childhood crush until the parish priest discovered our indiscretion. His disapproval was so palpable that the tower had lost its magic.
To their utter dismay, my parents knew at that point I wasn’t meant for the priesthood. After that, I didn’t feel any more pressure to enroll at the seminary.
Entry filed under: Blogroll, Daily Post, friday fictioneers. Tags: 100-word challenge, fiction.
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Musings of a Random Mind 
1.
neilmacdon | May 16, 2024 at 1:09 am
Your protagonist, too, hears the call of adventure
2.
R.M. Carlson | May 16, 2024 at 5:18 am
OOOooo, Iceland. Can I stowaway? Would love to go. Liked your story!
3.
plaridel | May 16, 2024 at 10:14 am
rosemary:
i’d never been there before. i’ll see if it’s worth it. 🙂
4.
plaridel | May 16, 2024 at 9:50 am
neil:
i hear ya! 🙂
5.
justjoyfulness | May 16, 2024 at 1:56 am
The call of love can be greater than that of religion. Safe travels.
6.
plaridel | May 16, 2024 at 9:10 am
joy:
true indeed.
7.
Dale | May 16, 2024 at 4:07 am
These things cannot be forced. Nature decided what was right for him.
Happy travel, Plaridel!
8.
plaridel | May 16, 2024 at 9:10 am
dale:
i totally agree.
9.
Keith's Ramblings | May 17, 2024 at 5:17 am
This took me back to my teens – I knew where the key to our church tower was kept and I used spend time at the top with my girlfriend! We were never found out though!
Enjoy your time away!
10.
plaridel | May 17, 2024 at 3:57 pm
keith:
you too? 🙂
11.
Inside the Mind of Isadora | May 17, 2024 at 10:48 am
Ahhhh … young love in unexpected places helped to clear any thoughts of the seminary.
Have a wonderful time in Iceland.
Isadora 😎
12.
plaridel | May 17, 2024 at 3:57 pm
isadora:
in this case, the priesthood was just not meant to be. 🙂
13.
GHLearner | May 17, 2024 at 10:59 am
Celibacy is among the stupidest inventions the catholic church ever came up with.
I hope you’re having a great trip, beware of volcanoes.
14.
plaridel | May 17, 2024 at 3:57 pm
as the church continues to evolve, i believe celibacy will be a thing of the past.
thanks for the warning. i’ll use caution when near volcanoes.
15.
michael1148humphris | May 17, 2024 at 2:59 pm
Hope that you enjoy Iceland,
16.
plaridel | May 17, 2024 at 3:56 pm
michael:
thank you. i sure will. 🙂
17.
msjadeli | May 17, 2024 at 6:11 pm
Humans and messiness walk hand in hand don’t they. Well-told tale, Plaridel.
When you say nature calls and you won’t be back until July, that’s quite an adventure. Please be safe and have fun. See you on the flip side!
18.
plaridel | May 19, 2024 at 1:07 pm
msjadeli:
i suppose it’s in our genes as humans. 😦
i’m getting ready for a lot of hiking in the cold in iceland. wish me luck. 🙂
19.
msjadeli | May 19, 2024 at 1:49 pm
Good luck and I hope you aren’t walking alone.
20.
plaridel | May 20, 2024 at 1:48 pm
msjadeli:
thank you. i make sure i’m not alone in the wilderness. 🙂
21.
thisobscurelife | May 18, 2024 at 3:06 pm
Nice tale. I’m glad he wasn’t pressured into becoming a priest. Enjoy Iceland, happy and safe travels.
22.
plaridel | May 19, 2024 at 1:07 pm
michelle:
kudos to the parents for being understanding.
i heard that iceland is beautiful but it’s cold. but, hopefully, not as bad in the springime/summer. 🙂
23.
thisobscurelife | May 20, 2024 at 7:12 am
Yes, I had Iceland on my bucket list because I want to see the Northern lights and it’s a quick flight from eastern USA. But everyone I know didn’t see the lights because it’s always overcast! They say it’s beautiful and worth it anyhow. Enjoy the trip and my the skies be clear and not too cold.
24.
plaridel | May 20, 2024 at 1:47 pm
michelle:
i don’t think i’d be seeing the northern lights either. i read that the best time is from late september through early april. maybe on my next visit. 🙂
25.
The Sicilian Storyteller | May 18, 2024 at 8:44 pm
Great story, Plaridel. What a shame to spend one’s life doing something they don’t enjoy. Happy ending for him!
Enjoy your get-away!
26.
plaridel | May 19, 2024 at 1:07 pm
nancy:
true that.
i can’t wait to see iceland. wish me luck. 🙂
27.
The Sicilian Storyteller | May 19, 2024 at 1:35 pm
You got it! 👍🏼 Send pix! 📷
28.
plaridel | May 20, 2024 at 1:48 pm
nancy:
i sure will… thanks. 🙂
29.
Sandra | May 19, 2024 at 3:32 am
Sounds like a self resolving issue.
30.
plaridel | May 19, 2024 at 1:07 pm
sandra:
i couldn’t agree more. 🙂
31.
rochellewisoff | May 20, 2024 at 12:06 pm
Dear Plaridel,
A good thing he and his family realized he wasn’t meant for the priesthood. Nicely done. Safe travels.
Shalom,
Rochelle
32.
plaridel | May 20, 2024 at 1:47 pm
rochelle:
he must have been pleased that his family realized how he really felt.
33.
Na'ama Yehuda | May 20, 2024 at 12:20 pm
Ah, taking the cloth isn’t for everyone. … 🙂
34.
plaridel | May 20, 2024 at 1:47 pm
na’ama:
It’s not really for everyone. One must have a true calling to enter the priesthood.
35.
Na'ama Yehuda | May 20, 2024 at 6:13 pm
Indeed. Or, as was the case for many over centuries, have little other prospects or face impossible realities and/or persecution outside the priesthood.