(PHOTO PROMPT © Nathan Sowers)
‘Papa, there’s a mirror lying nearby. Can I take it?’
Papa huffed and puffed while moving his writing table inside the cabin. He wiped the sweat from his eyes and stepped outside.
I tried pulling his shirt’s sleeve, but my fist could only catch air.
Dragging the chair in, he shut the door. With his whole family gone in the fire, Papa wanted to escape from the city. So, he bought this cabin in the woods.
I sat crisscross applesauce on the grass, in front of the mirror. I could keep a watch on his cabin from here.
(WC: 98 Words)
Written as part of the Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).
To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
Ooh… Eerily beautiful… Poignant!
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Thanks so much, Kalpana! 🙂
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wow Kasturi.. somethings live on forever like her love for Papa
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So true, Akshata…some kind of love live on forever and ever… 🙂
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A lot of tragedy behind such a simple scene. Well done.
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Thanks so much for the lovely comment, Iain! 😊
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I read it this morning on FB and came back to visit your blog. Beautiful narration of a tragedy and its effect in so few words.
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Thank you so much, Sonia. Your words are really appreciated. 🙂
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Criss-cross applesauce–haven’t heard that one in years and years 🙂
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I was reading this book called Only Child by Rhiannon Navin. It is about this 6 year old child, Zach, who survives a school shooting where his 10 year old brother dies. The word is used quite frequently by Zach and I really liked the sound of it. So, when I had the opportunity to use it, I did so. 🙂
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I like it, too. I like the rhyme, and I like the mental image it creates.
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You’ve written a moving story, where a little girl’s father has been traumatised to the extent that he ignores his daughter’s attempts to catch his attention. (I love the way you told us this with “I tried pulling his shirt’s sleeve, but my fist could only catch air.” – lovely metaphor). The girl recognises her father’s need and settles herself to watch over him discreetly, without him realising. The whole story is a metaphor, really, for the way children occasionally have to support their parents through very difficult circumstances. Nice writing, Kasturi.
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Pennygad said it much better than I ever could, a sad and moving story.
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Just so sad. And the addition of that little phrase “crisscross applesauce” by the loving, patient and concerned child, heightened the poignancy for me. Really well told.
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So many emotions in this piece. Brilliantly told.
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