PHOTO PROMPT © Fatima Fakier Deria
Celebration
The delivery man stared at the patio set he’d put together as if daydreaming.
Lost in my own contemplations, I murmured, “Perfect.”
“Perfect for what?” he asked.
Embarrassed he’d heard my musings, I replied, “A tea party.”
He snickered. “A tea party, huh? Who you gonna invite?”
“My dad. To celebrate his 90th birthday.”
He nodded. “Yeah? That’s awesome.”
A warm breeze whispered through the leaves.
“When I was a little girl, he’d sit with me at make-believe tea parties and we’d talk and talk. What better way to celebrate than sitting here with him, even if it’s only make-believe.”
THE END
This story was prompted by a Facebook post I read yesterday:
Happiness is having your 84 year old Dad call and sing “Happy Birthday” to you.
I count my blessings my dad is still with me, that he calls me every birthday, and if I’m lucky, he’ll strum “Happy birthday” on his banjo, too. Click HERE to hear him play. 🙂
Friday Fictioneers is a compilation of writers from around the world who gather online weekly, guided by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. The challenge? To write a story in 100 words or less based on a new photo prompt. Thanks to Fatima Fakier Deria for your photo that inspired a variety of fantasies before I lighted on this one.
To read more stories in an online flash fiction anthology by Friday Fictioneer authors, click:
The last two lines made me happy and sad.
Lovely story, Jan.
Thank you, Moon. I saw felt both happy and sad when I first looked at Fatima’s beautiful photo.
Dear Jan,
It seems we both chose nostalgia this week. I love the banjo clip. Lovely piece all the way around.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you, Rochelle. How could we not feel nostalgic when we looked at Fatima’s photo? I loved getting to know a bit about your Uncle Harold. Amazing how 100 words can share so much about a man, and about his influence that I believe will live through the generations.
Aw.
Thank you, Randy. 🙂
Lovely story. You packed a lot into 100 words. Well done.
Thanks, Josh. The joy I find in telling a story in 100 words is like putting together a puzzle of life. 🙂 Great exercise for my creativity.
I do too. Helps with editing down to essentials in longer pieces, too.
Simply beautiful Jan.
Click to read my 99 words!
Thank you, Keith! I especially enjoyed the inspiration of Fatima’s photo!
A touching and sweet story Jan, nicely done.
Thank you, Iain!
Aw. Sweet.
Thank you, James!
Very sweet. One of my first thoughts was of a child’s imaginary tea party, but you took that idea to another level 🙂
Thank you, Trent. Something about the empty chairs under that beautiful tree made me want to recreate happy memories.
Such a touchingly beautiful tale, I think many of us would love to have our tea parties again…
Yes, that’s true, Dale. And as I read your comment, I thought, “Why not?” That’s something I think I’ll plan while the weather is still cool enough to enjoy the outdoors! BTW, I’m not able to find your story for the week. If you read this comment, could you post a link? 🙂
Strange… it’s right there in the link up! I’m between Audrey and Mike (grandma holding a baby😉)
That’s what I get for trying to read my iPhone without reading glasses. 🙂 Thanks for helping me out!
Ha ha! I didn’t help you this week 😉
I promise I will use my mug this week 😊
Lovely story – the make believe woven in so sweetly.
Thank you, Jilly. I’ve enjoyed reading the variety of stories the photo prompted! Yours was very unique and creative, though sad, too.
A beautiful father and daughter story. Love it.
Thank you, Lisa! 🙂
Sweet. I miss my dad 🙂
Linda, I’m lucky to still have my dad, but as I age and he ages, I know the day will come when I’ll miss him, too. It’s what makes me appreciate the time I get to spend with him. <3
What a delightful story you’ve written for us, Jan. Your twist is quite a big one, and yet you handle it with such delicacy and finesse. Lovely work!
Thank you for the wonderful compliment, Penny. Delicacy and finesse–it’s what this sometimes heavy-handed, lumbering writer strives for. 🙂 And it’s exactly why I love Friday Fictioneers–we don’t have enough words to be lumbering.
What a beautiful story. I love it, particularly the ending. By the way, you probably don’t need the comma in the first sentence.
Thank you, Connie. I’m glad you liked it, and thanks, too, for catching the comma. I took it out. 🙂
What a lovely story… my father would have hundred years old now… but I think he would come and rant about politics if he was still alive.
Thank you, Björn. I can imagine it’s impossible to believe your dad would be 100. I have to admit, if I came back, I’d probably rant about politics, too. 🙂
That’s such a lovely bittersweet tale Jan, tugs the heart at so many places.
Thank you, Anurag!
A banjo playing dad. How cool is that? Tender story Jan.
I think it’s pretty cool, too. Dan. I always look forward to hearing my dad and his wife play. Thank you!
I gasped with delight, this is lovely.
Thank you, James! You know how to make a writer smile. 🙂
A beautiful yet bittersweet story. Our loved ones live on in our memories of them. It’s important to celebrate them even when they are gone.
I agree, Brenda. I firmly believe the loved ones we’ve lost live on in our memories and how they affected our lives.
A beautiful piece.
Thank you, Dahlia!
Beautiful story. I liked the positive spin on this one. Refreshing take on the prompt.