Stolen Discovery

Posted: April 4, 2018 in Friday Fictioneers
Tags: , , , , ,

Photo by Dale Rogerson

“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.

Comments
  1. Iain Kelly says:

    I hope Mary is going to have a strong word with Henry Alby!

    Liked by 1 person

  2. LucciaGray says:

    Fun read 🙂 but what a dishonest professor!

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Dale says:

    Ooohhh… that rat bastard!

    Liked by 2 people

  4. tintins says:

    Great use of the photo prompt! Totally get dino bones! 🙂

    Like

  5. k rawson says:

    Oh the nerve! Reminds me of a guy I used to work with. Great story, Lish!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. neilmacdon says:

    Is the moral don’t trust experts?

    Liked by 1 person

    • 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.

      Like

  7. Dear Lish,

    Professor Alby is a slimy little thief I believe. What an arse. Good story though.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

  8. plaridel says:

    oh no,she’s been had. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Only 120 pounds for such a monumental discovery? Sounds fishy to me 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  10. jillyfunnell says:

    Clever take on the picture and I love the way you make the learned professor into a cheating git.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. draliman says:

    Oh, I say, the cad! I should hope Mary gives him a good talking to.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Lynn Love says:

    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 … ‘

    Liked by 3 people

  13. pennygadd51 says:

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. gahlearner says:

    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.

    Liked by 2 people

  15. 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.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Alice Audrey says:

    That’s not fair! And all too common, I suspect.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. James McEwan says:

    Typical, I am sure Mary will get her own back. Nice twist at the end.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Oops- poor Mary. An entertaining tale, true to life !

    Liked by 1 person

  19. granonine says:

    I hope she beans him with a huge dino femur 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  20. subroto says:

    I think she is going to hit him on the head with a bone. Maybe a Titanosaur for maximum impact.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Sarah Ann says:

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

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