“Papa, you said we were going fly fishing today. I’ve been waiting hours! What’s taking you so long?”
Lorian stood at the entrance to her grandfather’s study, an adorable 8 year old tomboy in hip waders, boots, a plaid shirt and golden-brown hair in pigtails, tied with a bow the exact shade of red as in her shirt. Arms folded significantly across her chest, she stared at her grandfather’s typewriter as if wiling it to spontaneously combust.
Ernest turned to face his granddaughter. He spoke to her as though she was one of his cigar-smoking buddies, not like a child, and she loved him for that.
“I’ve got to keep one step ahead of that damn Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words? He says I don’t know the $10 words. I know them, alright. But there are older and simpler and better words and those are the ones I use.”
He paused but Lorian knew not to answer. She also knew not to tell Papa that her mother was reading Faulkner’s newest book.
“Besides, he’s an alcoholic. Good thing he’s Republican!”
“Papa, can we go fishing now? The fish ain’t gonna wait all day!” and Ernest laughed at that remark. Then he spotted his gun leaning against the wall.
“Forget fly fishing, Lorian! We’re going duck hunting!”
“But, Papa. Mommy says I’m too young to shoot a gun.”
“Well, she’ll only know if you tell. Grab my hat, kiddo. Duck’s ain’t gonna wait all day!”
NAR © 2023
250 Words
The Elephant's Trunk 
Not sure where my comment went, sis. Maybe Mr Jobs didn’t like that I said and edited it. I’ll try again. I adore that you’ve dressed her so precisely, special care in matching colours, and by golly “our’ little girl is fluid. Bless her heart, because it’ll be broken by someone with no regard for all the people who love him. Now, we’ll see if this one flips into the WP bin also…
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Steve Jobs. Pfft. Glad you snuck this one by him, sis!
I’ve said this before but I like it so I’ll say it again: “Our girl was ‘fluid’ before it became a pronoun.”
Damn straight about that broken heart. We can vouch for that.
❤︎
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Wonderful Nancy, I felt I was listening in!
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What a great comment, Keith, and I know exactly what you mean!
Glad you enjoyed my story.
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This was great. I had that ‘aha moment’ you mention in a previous comment, so well done. Really liked this. And the video.
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Reading about your ‘aha moment’ means everything to me;
thank you for sharing that thought with me today, Margaret.
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I can’t over-stress the importance of Ernest being kind to his grand-daughter, She was one of a privileged few. 😉 Great piece, Nancy.
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Thank you for a very lovely comment, Doug!
Much appreciated. ❤︎
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Loved this. I especially liked this description: “Arms folded significantly”. And the slow realization (for me) that Papa wasn’t just any grandfather, but that he was actually THE Papa! This was nice little tribute.
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Thank you so much for that acknowledgement, Michael!
I wanted so very much for people to have that “aha!” moment;
it’s gratifying to know you did and that my efforts paid off.
So glad you enjoyed this one.
Greatly appreciated!
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A most vivid scene, and quite believeable. Now, did they actually shoot any ducks?
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Aha! That’s for you to decide, D! 🦆
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I don’t know much about the two writers, but your post indicates a rivalry. Maybe they should have challenged each other to a duel. Faulkner could have chosen an ink pen to stab Ernest with, and Ernest could have tried to bludgeon Faulkner with his typewriter.
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That’s certainly a unique take, Tippy. 🤔
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Your posts always contain the $10 words that give us a $100 read. I don’t know how you find just the right video to enhance a post. Enjoyed it all. 🙂
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It’s 90% luck and 10% even more luck!
Just searching around, Sighs; chances are pretty good …
if there’s a subject then someone’s written a song about it.
Thanks for your kind words.
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I would search for hours. Searching is a talent too. 🙂
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I doubt the gun leaning in the corner would ever be used for hunting, but the story was delightful.
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Oh, I’ve no doubt about that, Allen!
Sometimes you just gotta work around things;
fortunately, I’ve got a fair imagination.
Glad you found the story delightful.
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You brought the great man to life, Nancy.
Love it.
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Mille grazie, caro.
We all see something different.
I saw him.
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Haha! Great take and I love the repo between the grandpa and granddaughter.
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Thanks so much, Sadje.
Nice to know you enjoyed my story.
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You’re welcome ☺️
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I like it, Nancy, bringing the big man to life in such a human story.
Every child should have a Papa like that.
Great descritions – for example, Lorian ‘arms folded significantly across her chest’ just sums up her determination.
And a wee dark future note with the gun leaning against the wall?
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Yes, just a glance at a dark future, Jenne.
It’s easy being predictable but where’s the challenge?
I chose to go with the man’s humanity, not his mortality which we all know.
Thank you for your very kind comments, Jenne.
I like this one, too.
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