“Mikey! Time to get up! No? Just lay there then. I’ve been ‘blessed’ with the laziest son in the world! Your house won’t finish itself, you know. If you think I’m building it all by myself, you’d better think again, Sunshine.
I’ve bought us a new metal ladder. That old wooden one that broke, I’ve chopped it up for firewood. You should have seen it burn!
Well, I’m going to get myself a nice cuppa. You want one? You can just nod, you know. Or blink. The doctor says you can hear me. Please Mikey, squeeze my hand! Just once.”
This is my contribution to Friday Fictioneers 100 word photo challenge, hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Please click the link for more details.
To read the other stories, please click the logo.
That was so good, such a swift kick from funny to heartbreak, well done 🙂
Thanks for the positive comment, Helen.
Really good – I think (?) that the son fell on the broken ladder and is in a coma maybe? Anyway – it’s good and thanks!
Yes, that’s right. I imagine Dad being constantly by his son’s bedside and the house just being left alone. Thanks for the comment.
Dear Steve,
You did a good job of getting the point across in few words. You can hear the desperation in the father’s voice. A heart-breaker.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you, Rochelle. We see the father’s brave face slipping a little, as the days go by. It must be a terrible situation to deal with.
Great dialogue (or should I say monologue) right up to the twist ending. Well done!
Thanks, Jan.
Oh my – you really controlled the mood and situation well on this one! From a light-hearted everyday incident to tragedy in only three paragraphs.
Thank you for your positive comment, Sharon. It’s much appreciated.
You broke my heart.
My heart goes out to people who face a situation like this.
So sad that twist from laziness to coma..
This is awesome writing-started on a normal note and sounded like a typical motherly monologue/nagging till you hit us in the gut with that last line-poignant!
Thanks. I thought how someone might put a brave face on their pain, but eventually it would show through.
Great writing:-)
You really changed direction and then wrung my heart out. Well done.
janet
Thanks. I think that the son’s condition mirrors the house. Stuck in limbo, and sadly incomplete.