As a child, Judy collected all manner of things: fossils, petrified wood, bird wings, seeds. At twenty she began work at the Seattle Art Museum, donating her massive collection, collecting more through travels abroad – used her own money to purchase the most exotic pieces in the museum. Fifty years passed and there wasn’t a building in the world housing anything close to what Judy brought home. Today she opens a box from Africa with her rarest find, a Lintzer Spider mummified with its catch. Down the hall she can hear the governor saying, “To Mr.Evans and his fine collection!”
(Author’s note: To the best of my knowledge there’s no such thing as a Lintzer Spider)
Up From the Ashes 
It would take a lot of passion to be this woman.
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Wouldn’t it? I’ve never been that devoted to anything but the people I love. Cheers!
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I think once you get a passion of collecting it will bug you for the rest of your life.. 🙂
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Har Har, Bjorn! Thanks for taking time to read Rooked! Hope your holidays are grand.
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Mr Evans needs a good speaking to. Perhaps the Lintzer spider could be trained to attack.
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Excellent plan!!!! Thanks.
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If you gather interesting things, you are a collector. If you gather everyday things, you are a hoarder, and you get to go on TV and be shamed by your family.
My guess is there are just as many spiders for both. 😛
Nicely done.
KT
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I’m puzzled. I guess that someone is pulling the wool over other peoples’ eyes, and I thought it was her, but the introduction of Mr Evans at the end threw me. I’ll pop back later to see if other comments make it clear. Well written though.
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Rats! Sorry. This is the story of a woman who has an incredible passion to collect unusual objects – not for herself, but to enhance other’s lives. In the end she is “rooked” because Mr. Evans receives recognition for all the work Judy has done.
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Yes, like Sandra, I’m a little confused. It feels like the fact that the Lintzer isn’t real and the introduction of Mr Evans is revealing something, but I’m not sure what.
But, as she also says, nicely written!
Claire
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The little ditty about the Lintzer spider was my own footnote, just in case any FF participants wanted to look it up. Mr. Evans is getting recognition that Judy should have received. Sorry about the confusion…
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Dear Alicia,
In counting words I see that what I am gathering is a confession on the author’s part that she invented the spider’s name for her story has probably been place to closely to the body of the story itself and may be confusing people.
My impression is that your story is simply about the passion of a collector and how patience and persistence builds great things and to be that builder is enough for some people.
Not sure about the title, though, and how it relates to the tale. I’m intrigued and watching for more here.
Aloha,
Doug
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You’re correct, Doug. I should have put it in parenthesis. Judy was “rooked” because honors went to someone else.
Thanks for figuring out the disclaimer at the end. And for commenting. I have fixed it even as we speak.
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I admire her energy! It sounds like she’s been far and wide to expand her collection.
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Indeed she has. She is a woman who is interested in many things. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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Dear Alicia,
Pity Judy continually gets passed over for awards and recognition. However one has to envy her travels and admire her passion.
Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yes, I do, too! Thanks for reading and commenting Rochelle. Alicia
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I guess her passion of collecting and the collections she made makes up for the lost recognition.
Your piece also reminded me of a mummified scorpion I collected as a locket sometime back ! 🙂
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I hope so, too! Thanks for reading. (A mummified scorpion locket! Wherever did you find that?)
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It sounds like poor Judy’s become accustomed to being overlooked – fifty years is a long time. She must really be devoted to her collections for their own sake, and as you say, to benefit others. I like your approach to the prompt, and I hope Mr Evans gets exposed for the sham he is. Well written.
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Thank you , Margaret. I see Judy as a recluse who enjoys her collection and collecting much more than social contact. Perhaps being looked over is fine with her. Glad you could see her point of view. Cheers!
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I like the way Judy collects things and is determined to build a dream… but I found some of this confusing. I opted to read it again, and skip the comments (until I’m done here) to see if I get it, but still confused. I don’t get who Mr. Evans is, and the title throws me off. I liked the line about the Lintzer spider (so creative) but that had me expecting something other than the final line… the new character, left me confused. Great writing up until then, and I feel like there’s a bigger story here, Alicia!
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Judy has been “rooked” because the head of the museum, Mr. Evans, was honored for her years of collecting instead of her. #White flag #bad story.
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Dear Alicia, Great story and isn’t it always what happens when some pompous person takes credit for work they didn’t do! Well done! Nan 🙂 oh, and happy holidays! Nan 🙂
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Nan, I appreciate your reading and commenting on Rooked. Cheers! And Happy Holidays to you, too.
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I feel a new arachnid name coming on. Well done
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I think the name popped into my head because of the season – Lintzer Tortes and all that. Thanks so much for reading and commenting. Cheers.
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i’m glad she collects stuff but don’t keep themf. otherwise, they will end up owning her.
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I hadn’t thought about that. I could have created a hoarder! Happy Holidays.
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Lovely character sketch.
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Thank you.
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Alicia, I suppose she’ll have be keep quiet to keep her job, but that’s really nasty someone else taking the credit like that. Tough position for her to be in. — Suzanne
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Suzanne, thanks for taking time to read Rooked. I think Judy should be disappointed but she’s so involved with the work she loves – call her a geek – she doesn’t care. Happy Holdiays.
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