Susan looked up to the metal basket with fear, an old fear that now replayed in her brain, of old trips to the woodshed to fill the metal can with small pieces of wood. It was a scary errand. Grandmother knew how frightening it was for Susan, but still insistent on her doing the chore. In the woodshed hung huge hairy spiders, sitting on their ancient webs, hoping for a fly or bee for their next meal. Susan had an inordinate fear of spiders in general, even tiny ones inside the house. Seeing the container, she couldn’t help but shudder.
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3 April 2026
The Bag Lady 
The ambiguousness of grandma’s intent is what grabs me about the story. Was gramma trying to toughen her up, or was she trying to break her. I feel sorry for the MC and being triggered by the basket.
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She needed kindling with no other thought maybe, so busy in those days
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❤
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Me too with a fear of spiders, though I can tolerate the small ones now.
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Same here
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