Vintage Vignettes: Lost Treasure

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day

CGI by Teagan via Playground
CGI by Teagan via Playground

Hi, everyone.  Yes, I’m a day early, so I’ll say happy St. Patrick’s Weekend.  I’m back with Vintage Vignettes.  This one really is a vignette, as opposed to a short story. 

Last summer I was preparing to write a novella for Halloween.  I wanted it to be about an archaeologist, and the setting was the 1950s.  However, the story simply wasn’t “Halloweeny” enough, and I put it aside.  Instead, I wrote A Peril in the Bayou.

1955 Swanson TV Dinner commercial

Today I decided to polish up the opening of that discarded idea and share.  It’s set in the 1950s at Halloween.  The story is about a treasure hunt. (I’ve left out the complex detail of the step-cousin type relationship of the two characters, because it would bog down the snippet.) I don’t mean this as a teaser, but it will probably feel like one. Sorry…

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Lost Treasures: Vignette

1950s couple on beach with chest CGI by Teagan via Imagine
CGI by Teagan via Imagine

The television screen rolled in stripes of black, gray, and white.  Gradually shapes of people were in the stripes.  Cliff twisted a knob to no effect.  Then he took the channel dial and flipped it back and forth.  Finally, the screen settled to the broadcast of “Lost Treasures.”

Enthusiastically, Josie began to sing along with the theme song of the show where a pair of treasure hunters visited archeological sites across the world, observing recent digs.

“I like that song,” Cliff remarked with a grin as Josie finished.

“You should,” she replied.  “It’s set in the place where our ancestors are from.”

“Josie, what are you talking about?  It’s the opening song for a TV show,” Cliff contradicted her.

“Yes, but they took it from a positively ancient folk song.  Honestly, Cliff.  Don’t you know any family history?  Uncle Harold’s grandfather lived up there on the coast.  The old guy made a fortune from smuggling.  He hid his loot somewhere, but nobody ever knew where.”

“Golly gee, Josie, I know genealogy’s your thing.  I might not share your fascination with our progenitors, but even I know the old wives’ tale about the treasure,” Cliff said dryly, eyes fixed on a commercial for Swanson’s TV Dinners.

“I focus on the here and now,” he went on.  “The challenges of the present and the unknowns in years to come are where it’s at.  Particularly the financial unknowns…”

Frowns flitted across their faces.  Money, or the lack of it, was a barrier to the future for which they both hoped.

“Although, I do like it when you sing those old songs.  That’s one thing from the past that I don’t mind at all,” Cliff remarked with a wink as Josie hummed along with the next commercial jingle.

Josie had a good voice, although she was better with old ballads than modern tunes.  Cliff particularly liked listening to her sing old songs.

Pixabay

Cliff and Josie were engaged — sometimes.  It all depended on how much money they had.  During times when the financial future looked bright, they were engaged.  However, when monetary tides turned…  Well, they’d break off the engagement.  Not long before that day, they realized that it would probably be 1960 before they could actually afford to get married.  It gave both of them had a bad case of the wiffle-woffles.

“Was there ever really any treasure?” Cliff muttered, uncheered.

“You can bet on it,” Josie replied.  “It’s just that nobody ever found it.”

Cliff leaned over the coffee table and tapped his finger against a copy of Science Monthly.  The featured article was about computers.

“I’ll bet they never used a computer to figure out where it is.  Assuming you’re right and there actually is a treasure,” Cliff remarked, and feeling imaginative, he held out the article to Josie.

“See, Josie, the Navy’s Atlas is a high-speed computer.  Did you know it can store a million bits on its magnetic drum?  That’s what stores the data.  The Remington-Rand company sells them commercially.”

Josie raised an eyebrow and gave a delicate snort.  She held back several acerbic comments she wanted to make about the terminology Cliff had used.

“You and your computers and technology,” she replied wryly.  “I’m sure you’d win that bet.  How and why would anyone before us have had a computer?  Although Uncle Harold gave it a darned good try.  He once told me that anybody with half a brain should be able to solve the riddle of the treasure.”

“Yeah, that sounds like something Uncle Harold would have said. The grouchy old fart.  He was more than a little bit eccentric too,” Cliff quipped about the uncle they had only met a few times.

“Cliff, he always seemed to like you.  It’s been ages since we went up there.  We should pay him a visit,” she commented.

“He doesn’t like me half as much as he likes you.  You always wrapped him around your little finger,” Cliff replied, thinking of what a natural charmer Josie was.

They were interrupted by the sound of the postman outside.  Josie answered the door, and signed for a small package.  Always polite, she engaged the letter carrier in some small talk.

“Do you think you’ll have many trick-or-treaters this Halloween, Miss Josie?  Or are you going out yourself?  Yes?” he inquired seeing her nod.  “What are you going as?”

“Maybe I’ll go as an archaeologist,” Josie said in a speculative tone, and discretely shut the door while the flabbergasted postman tried to take in such an absurd costume idea for a woman.

“Josie, you know the poor sap has a crush on you,” Cliff started.  “He was probably hoping to get a look at you dressed as a sexy Hollywood diva.”

“Don’t be silly,” she muttered and abruptly plopped down on the sofa to open the envelope.  “Well, speak of the devil!  This registered letter is from a law firm and it’s about Uncle Harold!  My God…  Cliff, it’s from his attorneys.  Poor old Uncle Harold is dead,” she exclaimed.

***

End of vignette.

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Thanks for visiting.  Friendly comments are encouraged.  Happy Saint Patrick’s Day.  May the luck of the Irish be yours all through the year.

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Obligatory Shameless Self-promotion

1920s psychic medium, Daphne Moultrie and protégé Clover Flanagan go to New Orleans to meet a spiritualist leader and the spirits of a haunted bayou. A rival sabotages that journey but the swamp spirits are vastly more dangerous.

Universal Purchase Links

Kindle:  relinks.me/B0CKGRJS8F

Paperback: relinks.me/B0CKHFYMLJ 

A Medium’s Peril the full series link: relinks.me/B0CG2SXX24

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This is a work of fiction.  Characters, names, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2024 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

All rights reserved.

63 thoughts on “Vintage Vignettes: Lost Treasure”

    1. Thanks Robbie. I have so many partially (or nearly) finished stories and books… I’m trying to choose which one to try and focus on and hopefully finish. CPTSD-overwhelm keeps getting in the way. When I started listing them in a reply to Kerfe, I was stunned to see such a long list.
      I appreciate your encouragement. Hugs.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

    1. I don’t know, Kerfe. But thank you.
      The waves of overwhelm keep slamming me against the rocks, leaving me immobilized.
      You’d be amazed at how many other unfinished stories I have. :/ And I mean things on which I’ve made a significant start, not just notes or ideas. “Heartbreakers,” “Rose of India,” “Wheel of Fortune,” “The Guitar Mancer,” “The Skull of the Alchemist,” “Tatterdemalion: the Electric Zucchini,” “Truths Unseen,” “Hullaba Christmas: Lulu and the Snatched Santa,” “Fiona Finch and the Pink Angel,” “Pride and Flowers,” “Peril at Windcrest,” and who knows how many that didn’t immediately come to mind.
      Plus, that doesn’t count a few that are actually finished and await editing/finalizing.
      If I could finish all of them, that would probably be my greatest dream. Wishing you good dreams. Hugs.

      Like

      Reply

      1. You know I have so many unfinished projects I couldn’t even list them. It’s a huge problem for me. Every year I resolve to complete at least one. But of course I begin many more at the same time. I actually have two I want to complete this year. We’ll see.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

  12. Fab snippet, Teagan. It does stand on its own. Who doesn’t like the idea of a treasure hunt?

    Happy St. Paddy’s

    Hmm, now that I grew out my grey hair, I could dye it green for the day! ☘️ 🟢

    Hugs!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Haha, oh yes, Kymber. The will is the foundation of the treasure hunt. I’m just not sure about finishing the story. You wouldn’t believe how many stories are waiting for me to finish them…
      The 50s felt like the right era because it’s not a murder mystery. Now, it seems like life is so cheap that there must not be just a murder, but multiples — or else, it couldn’t possibly be exciting to people. That’s another reason why I shelved it. Anyway thanks very much for reading and commenting. Hugs.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  14. That’s a great old commercial. Give them men a break! Wonderful CGI. I think the lovely woman is the treasure in the treasure photo. Wonderful post, Teagan.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. LOL, it was kind of cringe-worthy to remember those tin plates and the frozen peas.
      Having worked with CGIs, you can imagine all the weird rejects I generated in trying to get a 1950s couple with a treasure chest. Getting both the man and woman to look acceptable and appropriate to the era… But I liked that one (even though the palm trees weren’t what I had in mind), and I’m glad you liked it too. Hugs.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Weird Al has a good parody with TV Dinners in his movie “UHF.” I can imagine the weirdness you would get looking for man and woman with treasure chest.

        Liked by 1 person

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      1. You’re welcome. Hugs. You will not believe if I say that after reading this post and commenting. My sister called me wishing me for the day and also gave me a news that one of my acquaintances in her town is no more. That gave me quite an uncanny feeling.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

          1. He was a high priest of the fire temple in my sister’s town. Whenever, I visit her I always visit the temple as well. The last time I was there, we sat on the porch and he was venting out his frustration of not being able to find a match for his son.

            Liked by 1 person

            Reply

  17. I enjoyed this vignette. The characters were fascinating and then the bomb drop about uncle Harold being dead. We need to know what the letter said. Maybe it was the “reading of the will ” notice. If so we gotta go there and find out what Uncle Harold left us…er I mean them. Well done, Teagan.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. That actually is what the letter is about, John. This is one of the few stories I fully outlined before I started writing. I was doubtful about the overall concept being good enough. A few details were also in my way, but that’s where the devil is, isn’t it. Your encouragement helps very much though. Big hugs.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Thank you kindly, GP.
      Wow, that’s an interesting article. Haha, I can see how it would make a great writing prompt.
      It actually sounds like something that could show up in my weird nightmares. Those are pretty gruesome treasures. Although you do have the wheels in the writer-brain turning. :mrgreen:
      Thanks for reading and commenting. Hugs.

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

  19. I don’t know if it was Halloweeny enough, dear Teagan (and I love A Peril in the Bayou, so no complaints there), but I would love it if this became a full story at some point. And I love the CGI, especially the St Patrick’s themed car! Thanks, Teagan, for keeping our Saturdays ticking! Love to Velma and Daphne and big hugs to you!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks Fraggle. Sigh… It’s hard to say. I have so many unfinished stories. I get overwhelmed with real world things and can’t finish the fiction. Although, I never expected such good feedback on this vignette today. Ha! I guess this is my version of your “Maybe Project” — I have so many “maybe” stories. Hugs.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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