Friday Fictioneers – Gramp’s and Me
Gramp’s and Me is my take on this weeks photo prompt for Friday Fictioneers, the weekly challenge to writers and bloggers set by the amazing Madison Woods on her blog which you can find at Madison-Woods.com.
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Gramp’s and me spent hours in his workshop.
I remember my neck would crick as I looked up at him sitting at his workbench on the old bar stool he’d found in a skip, from my place on the upturned bucket in the corner; watching in wonder as he wove brightly coloured threads round silky fine wires into shapes that defied description. His pudgy fingers danced around the vice with their tweezers like they were half their size, coaxing and shifting threads into place.
And then, an afternoon of companionable silence while we waited to bait the trout we’d have for supper.
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The idea behind Friday Fictioneers is that you submit a 100 word flash fiction story associated with the picture challenge added the previous Wednesday. You can read the other submisions this week on Madison’s Blog here: madison-woods.com/flash-fiction/damsel-fly/. There is also a Facebook Page too specially for Friday Fictioneers and you can find it here: facebook.com/FridayFictioneers.
If you’d like to know the rules then this is the page to visit: madison-woods.com/flash-fiction/friday-fictioneers/; and finally, if you’d like to read my previous attempts you can find them all listed here: womanontheedgeofreality.com/2012/06/17/fiction-central-and-friday-fictioneers/
Oh I’m so glad you felt that too – it was what I was trying to convey.
Now that’s the sort of story I miss these days because it would be frowned upon which is a pity JK
Reminded me of days with my grandfather, fishing, and also, yes, smoking a pipe at 7 years, but we were both fans of Huckleberry Finn…
http://thebradleychronicles.wordpress.com/2012/06/21/flash-fiction-friday-shearing-placid/
Sounds blissful! 🙂
What an astute observation Brian – thank you for sharing it with me 🙂
Very nice. Watching flies being made is actually pretty interesting, intricate work, and you captured it well! The idea of his fingers seeming too large for the task, and yet being perfectly adept at it, gives me a great sense of the Grandpa character and the young one’s reverence for him.
It is incredibly complex and I was amazed at how long it took just to finish one 🙂
Ah! I get the picture – using the phrase ‘defy description’ is a cop-out eh!
Thanks so much Jan that’s a lovely comment 🙂
Your lovely descriptions put me right into the story. Loved it!
A lovely gentle tale. I too thought he was a sculptor. But then to be honest he is. Lure-making is a complex art and I thought you captured it’s essence well.
anything you want – except nothing. so that’s fine.
Why thank you – I love a good Sunday Afternoon Read too 🙂
You know my grandpa never made his own lures so it was great to be shown how artful it is. I love the description of his pudgy fingers dancing. Perfect read on a Sunday afternoon!
I’m glad I found a fellow ‘word sound person’ – some words just sound amazing and others like nothing they are supposed to be at all ….. 🙂
Thanks Brandon – I’m a companionable silence sort of person too 🙂
Companionable silence is right I’m my alley. I’m not much of a talker. I have a feeling I would get along splendidly with Gramps. Nice story!
I was hoping he wouldn’t notice … but I was caught out. Have tried a different tack in a reply to his challenge. I shall be more careful next time …. 🙂
Bugger … I was hoping no one would notice and that I’d be allowed a little artistic licence because of the 100 word limit … 😉
How’s this then ‘into shapes that became the simple essence of the insect prey they represented’ ……. ?
You’re welcome Ted, it took me a while to get an idea but once I had it I found a voice 🙂
Now for me that is a great compliment because I too love stories that create pictures – without them I’m lost so thanks so much for telling me that 🙂
Thanks Lora, that’s exactly what I was hoping to achieve. 🙂
I’ve only ever seen it done once and it was absolutely entrancing 🙂
Thank you – I’m glad it gave you some happy memories too 🙂
You’re very welcome – I don’t know what it is about Grandparents but they could often be found tinkering …..!
Thank you Aitya, that was a lovely comment you made 🙂
Dear Linda,
You painted a nice picture with this story. have to admit I’m always looking for the ways that Rich will challenge writer’s. Hope you’ll think about it.
Aloha,
Doug
http://ironwoodwind.wordpress.com/2012/06/22/kaleidoscope/
no sir. ” shapes that defied description.” you’re the writer. you don’t get to gloss over it that easily. it’s your job to find the description.
Novel take to the photo… very descriptive.
Great story, I could actually see the scenes in my head.
What a sweet, tender story. No empty words necessary but a feeling of companionship, unspoken love and tenderness between a boy and his grandpa…working, then going fishing. The boy will remember these moments for eternity. Beautiful.
This picture made me think of tying flues. I like that you made that their connection.
My link is on the list!
Linda this is a wonderful and sweet story, I actually was left thinking of my granpa and things we would do together. I love the fun of it all, great post.
http://vsichalwe.wordpress.com/2012/06/22/friday-fictioneers-3/
really nice story.
here is mine at: http://karmicdiva.wordpress.com/2012/06/21/friday-fictioneers-622-via-madison-woods/
I like this sweet stroll down memory lane. It reminds me of my grandpa – not fishing, but in his garage tinkering with cars or gadgets. Thank you for taking me along!
That was sweet and very sentimental. You made Gramp’s hand look like magic. Cool. Here’s mine: http://remakingme-atiyatownes.blogspot.com/2012/06/friday-fictioneer-dragon-fly-and.html. Beware if Children’s logic.
Thanks so much – I thought so too, the sort of thing that stays with you till death. 🙂
This is a favourite-memory story. Something one can reminisce about.
Thanks for coming over to read my flash fiction: http://logo-ligi.com/2012/06/21/a-silent-moment/
Thanks so much Charles 🙂
Why thank you very kindly 🙂
I think I’m getting the hang of peace – at least in my writing 🙂
Thanks so much Craig, glad you liked it 🙂
I have to hold my hand up and say ‘non’ I’ve never fished but I have watched while someone made lures and I loved spending time my Nana 🙂
Absolutely – couldn’t agree more 🙂
Companionable silence is always good 🙂
I must admit, I love a good twist ( or a jive too) 🙂
Thanks so much – I seem to be erring towards the tender with my Friday Fictioneers entries 🙂
Thank you 🙂
Thanks so much – there is always so much in that gap that parents can’t fill for some reason.
I’ve only ever watched a true craftsman make fishing lures once and they are absolutely beautiful when they are finished – it always seemed sad to me that they were used to catch fish 🙁
I like the idea behind your post great work….
https://seewilliams.wordpress.com/2012/06/22/farmers-sons-fridayfictioneers/
good one Linda! Can’t help but smile, I like the direction you’ve taken the prompt. see mine: http://niftitalks.com/2012/06/22/fly/
I like this, very peaceful. Thanks for stopping by mine
Sweet, and I like “coaxing and shifting threads”. Why, Linda? Because I like the way that “coax” sounds….lol
http://www.lazuli-portals.com/flash-fiction/damselfly
Lovely little tale, I especially liked this line “from my place on the upturned bucket in the corner.” It says so much more than just the words.
Great job and a different take on the photo. You must been a fisherwoman to know about damselfly lures. And I feel sorry for someone who doesnt have a moment with their Gramps like this, be it fishing, or gardening or whatever. Nicely done.
MIne’s here: http://ajaroffireflies.blogspot.com/2012/06/friday-fictioneers-nymph.html#.T-RfFLVPv0c
Oh what a sweet little story! Nothing better for a gramps than taking a child fishing!
liked that moment they shared, and the companionable silence….was nice 🙂
So sweet a tale with a nice twist. Mine is here and linked as well: http://readinpleasure.wordpress.com/2012/06/21/fridayfictioneers-the-omen/
Aww, that was sweet. I wish I had a relationship like that with my grandfather. I also thought he was working on sculpting or perhaps woodwork. It was wonderful, thank you for sharing it.
Here’s mine
http://sarahthestoryteller.wordpress.com
What a lovely slice of life!
Wonderful sketch of a tender memory! I always enjoy stories that involve grandparents and grandchildren. Like to see how the generational gap plays out. You’ve read mine, but for anyone else:
http://moniqueshante.wordpress.com/2012/06/22/friday-fictioneers-non-believers-6-22-12story-4/
Ooh! Surprise ending! I thought that he was a sculptor or something like that. Very well done! You’ve read mine. For anyone else, it’s on the list.
Why thank you 🙂
Aw. A sweet tale. I like the gramps. 🙂