Alone | But I Smile Anyway...

July 26– Flash Fiction – Stranded Suitcase

27 Jul 2018 86 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch, Fiction, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: #CarrotRanch, Alone, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Charli Mills, Family, Finland, Flash Fiction, Grandchild, Pops, Recovery, Stranded Suitcase

Charli’s prompt this week:

July 26, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about what happens next to a stranded suitcase. Go where the prompt leads you, but consider the different perspectives you can take to tell the tale.

Suitcase of Hope

Opening the bedroom door, the first thing I saw was the abandoned suitcase, open on the bed. Half packed, it had been left, bereft at not being full, zipped up, and off on another adventure.

I walked over, closed the lid, fastened it and placed it to one side. “Don’t worry, he’ll be better soon, then you can both go on your travels, with no worries at all.”

Pops appeared by my side, having taken a few moments longer to climb the stairs than me.

“It’s okay Pops, rest up. I’ll pack your case when the time is right.”

Today’s take is based upon true events. If you have been reading my blog recently, you’ll know that my Pops has been extremely unwell, needing emergency open surgery a few weeks back. On the day he was being operated on, my sister-in-law gave birth to my new nephew, and Pops’ fourth grandchild.

My mum is already in Finland with my brother and his family, and the plan was that Pops would be joining her there so he could enjoy the delights of his new grandchild too.

Unfortunately, that is not the (suit)case at the moment, he won’t be flying anywhere for a while. I arrived back home with my children today, to ease him back into his own home, after spending the last three weeks after being discharged from hospital convalescing at his niece’s house.

Though a case was not actually strewn across his bed, there are several scattered around the house, Mum’s part-packing jobs done before she left, so she could take more things when she does a return journey, with Pops!

He’s doing so well, considering the ordeal he went through, but still very weak. We went for a slow, short walk this evening and it was so wonderful to see my Pops almost back to normal, a little slower, a little thinner, but definitely my Pops. ❤

❤ my Pops

And here’s hoping that after his follow up appointment in September, he will be able to go and finally give that new addition a proper cuddle! ❤

https://carrotranch.com/2018/07/27/july-26-flash-fiction-challenge/

July 19– Flash Fiction – Fannie Hooe

22 Jul 2018 36 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch, Fiction, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: #CarrotRanch, Alone, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Charli Mills, Fanny Hooe, Flash Fiction, Unfortunate Names

Charli’s prompt this week:

July 19, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about Fannie Hooe. Although she is a legend in the Kewenaw, feel free to go where the prompt leads.

I know poor Fannie’s story was unfortunate, but just hearing the name made me think of all those jokes about bartenders having to shout out funny names like “I have a Hugh Jarse here!” and “Ben Dover, please.” etc.

Fanny-tastic Names

“I’m trying to find Fanny Hooe.”
“Fanny who?”
“Yes, Fanny Hooe.”
“Right… Fanny who?”
“Fanny Hooe!”
“Look, I need the surname for the announcement, mate. So, Fanny who?”
“Listen mate, it’s bad enough her grandma insisted on naming her Fanny. Stop taking the mick with it. Her name is Fanny Hooe. As in H – O – O – E.”
“Okay. Calling out for Fanny Hooe. That’s Fanny Hooe, as in H – O – O – E. Fanny Hooe please come to the service desk. Fanny Hooe!”
“You know they all call me Fran here, not Fanny… Now I’ll never live it down!”

https://carrotranch.com/2018/07/19/july-19-flash-fiction-challenge/

July 12– Flash Fiction – Broken Fence

13 Jul 2018 23 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch, Fiction, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: #CarrotRanch, Alone, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Broken Fence, Charli Mills, Childhood, Father, Flash Fiction, Step Dad

Charli’s prompt this week:

July 12, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about a broken fence. You can mend it, leave it, or explain its place in a story. Go where the prompt leads.

Broken Fences: Realised Dreams

Many an afternoon, I’d sit there, peering through the gap in our broken fence.
It was like a portal to another world.
I’d see them all laughing, playing together, running around freely.
Oh, to be able to laugh openly with friends.
Laughter was in short supply here since my Daddy died, and that new Father had arrived.
He didn’t want no brats running around the place. It was bad enough I existed.
To escape the prison that our home had become, I’d come and sit here.
For the first time in years my Mummy seemed happy.
I didn’t complain.

https://carrotranch.com/2018/07/12/july-12-flash-fiction-challenge/

Alone #writephoto

11 Aug 2017 55 Comments

by Ritu in #WritePhoto, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: #WritePhoto, Alone, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Photo Prompt, Stream of Consciousness, Sue Vincent

Sue’s prompt for this week’s #WritePhoto:

Today, no poems or prose. No stories or tales.

No stories or tales.

Just a sense of calm, peace and wellbeing.

Looking at the above photo brings me all that.

An idyllic location to lose yourself for a while, to sit and think about all, or nothing.

Viewing the world around you, the vast landscapes ahead, the endless sky above, you realise just how small you really are.

A tiny piece of this universe, a speck.

But how often do you take the time to just look, and reflect?

#writephoto

Moonlighting as a single mum…

05 Jan 2015 6 Comments

by Ritu in Children, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Alone, Missing you, Skype, Working Away

No, I am not really a single mum all of a sudden, but I guess the next couple of days, I’ll feel what it could be like.

Hubby Dearest has started a new job today, and his first few days require him to be away from us overnight. He’s never done that before, his previous job didn’t require it.

But today, it’s just me and the munchkins! It’s kind of weird to be honest! Usually its me and the kids who might go away for a few days, to visit my parents, and Daddy is left at home, and this time it’s the opposite!

Need to eat, get the bins ready for disposal tomorrow morning, do everything I usually do, for tomorrow, but when its bed time, there isn’t one more person to call upstairs to wish the children goodnight.

Again, thank you Skype, we’ll be utilising you most definitely!

Then comes my bed time… I’ll need Sonu Singh next to me so I don’t feel lonely…not that he’ll stay there! It’ll be a different feeling, knowing he’s not by my side…

Roll on the next few days please, I need my man back!