“Blimey, I’d say our Mary is a wee touched. Always rootin around in the sand. Not lady-like at all.”
“Claims she’s lookin for dino bones. Imagine! Dinos. Here in England!”
“Been told her father polishes the good ones. Sells them to tourists. Who’d want old bones hangin on their wall?”
Mary ignores the women’s chit-chat, for she’s on her way to collect Henry Alby, and show him what she’s found. He studies the fossil, laughs, “Nothing exciting, deary. Better luck next go ’round.”
Two months later Mary sees a notice:
Professor Alby Discovers Complete Ichthyosaur Skeleton!Receives £120.
I hope Mary is going to have a strong word with Henry Alby!
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Or maybe two!!! Thanks, Iain
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Fun read 🙂 but what a dishonest professor!
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A very bad man indeed! Thanks.
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Ooohhh… that rat bastard!
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I couldn’t have said it better! Thank you, Dale.
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😀
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Thanks for the picture! Crazy looking lamp shades for sure, but let a lot of light out.
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Most welcome!
Crazy for sure…
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Great use of the photo prompt! Totally get dino bones! 🙂
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Thanks so much. I’m glad you stopped by.
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Oh the nerve! Reminds me of a guy I used to work with. Great story, Lish!
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I like the operative words “used to.” Thanks, Karen.
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Is the moral don’t trust experts?
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I do believe it is.
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Damn! I’ve always fancied myself something of an expert
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Good one!
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Thanks! Did you ever read Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier? The ribs in the lights reminded me of dinosaurs hanging in a museum then I thought of Tracey …. Thanks for reading.
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That sly git!
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Oh, indeed. Love that word ~ git. Thanks.
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Dear Lish,
Professor Alby is a slimy little thief I believe. What an arse. Good story though.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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And a liar and a cad. (But especially that arse part.) Thanks, Lish
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oh no,she’s been had. 🙂
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By a real schmuck. Thanks plaridel.
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Only 120 pounds for such a monumental discovery? Sounds fishy to me 🙂
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That was a long time ago. Some things can be a bit dodgy in the reimbursement department. Thanks for reading!
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Henry Alby has no ethics.
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Zilch. Thanks, Irene
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Clever take on the picture and I love the way you make the learned professor into a cheating git.
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Thanks so much, Jilly. Learned men and more learned women don’t often mix.
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Oh, I say, the cad! I should hope Mary gives him a good talking to.
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You know? I think she will. She has as much spine as her dino does. And that’s quite a lot. Thanks, Ali
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Is this about Mary Anning by any chance? Quite right, she was totally conned and sidelined by all the male scientists she encountered, scraping a living selling fossils while they stole her discoveries. She was a bold and admirable woman though, smart as a whip. Lovely story, Lish. I just burn for the injustice of it though.
‘She sells sea shell on the sea shore … ‘
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Yes, it is about Mary Anning. I didn’t know a thing about her until I read Tracy Chevalier’s book. What a fascinating woman she was. And how cool it is or could be that the little ditty about seashells down by the seashore was fashioned after her! Thanks so much.
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Oh, I’ve not read the Tracy Chevalier book – is it good? Poor Mary, a woman born out of her time. My pleasure
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It was a very good read. I think Tracy puts a lot of effort into researching her books.
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Nice piece of historical fiction, Alicia. Mary Anning was a fascinating character. She was an expert palaeontologist, and contributed far more to the science than she was ever credited with in her lifetime. I’m glad you wrote about her.
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Thanks, Penny.
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Things like this happened a lot (and I wouldn’t rule it out that they still do sometimes). Women always just imagined to have made discoveries, these delicate little scatterbrains. Great story, Alicia.
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Thanks so much. I believe the same thing. Even today smart, strong women are often considered b+%$hes and men, with the same attributes, are thought of as movers and shakers. Again, I’m awfully glad your back in the FF mix, no matter how long you stay.
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😀
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I didn’t realize this was historical fiction until I read Lynn’s comment. Obviously, the men of her time were totally deviod of integrity or decency. Well written, Lish. Loved the dialect.
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Thanks, Russell. It came off a little more Irish than English but… Glad you stopped by.
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That’s not fair! And all too common, I suspect.
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I suspect it is too. Thanks, Alice
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Typical, I am sure Mary will get her own back. Nice twist at the end.
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Thanks so much, James
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Oops- poor Mary. An entertaining tale, true to life !
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Thank you!
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I hope she beans him with a huge dino femur 🙂
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That made me laugh! I agree.
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I think she is going to hit him on the head with a bone. Maybe a Titanosaur for maximum impact.
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Oh, and I hope it’s been petrified as hard as petrified wood! I like the way you think.
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Grrrrrrrr !
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Indeed!
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Shame on him!
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Yep!
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Really enjoyed your historical take this week. Another case of men taking advantage of women. At least we remember and acknowledge Mary and her ilk now.
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I hope “we” continue to learn that women are just as smart and often smarter than men. Thanks, Sarah Ann.
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