Copyright Claire Fuller
My father has made an art form out of inscrutability; emotions, his or mine, have represented an inconvenient ripple on the mirrored surface of our peaceful co-existence.
Over the years I’ve learned to sublimate my feelings, maintaining a cool interchange of political or literary opinion whilst engaging with him in detached observations on the human condition.
It’s worked for us both…perfectly.
But now, through the long nights, we sit together, he and I … and the elephant in the room.
“I’m afraid,” he mutters.
“Fear is only as deep as the mind allows,” I observe.
See how perfectly I’ve become him.
Perfectly inadequate…
Friday Fictioneers kicks off with a new prompt this week, and Rochelle is firmly back in control and probably already kicking ass. 🙂 My attempt at ‘humour’ last week seemed to fall largely on stony ground, and it’s too soon to go back to ‘dark’ … so now for something a bit… well, worrying.
castelsarrasin 
Dear Sandra,
I’m not sure you should refer to me as kicking anything. 😉
“He and I… and the elephant in the room.” A sad commentary on too many. I read this twice. I’d call it a tragedy. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I forgot about your toe… how cruel of me. 😉 Thanks for reading Rochelle, keep those feet up. And well clear of obstacles.
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A stone cold story! I feel sorry for the old man whose child refuses to allow him to express his fears, but it sounds like he brought it on himself. A very clever bit of writing.
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Thanks El. Cold indeed. 🙂
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A wonderfully written story! You had me hooked from the first paragraph!
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Thank you! 🙂
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Excellent story Sandra. It touched me. In 100 words you said it all.
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Thank you Indira.
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Just few days back I was discussing with my daughter that in old age every son becomes like his father and every daughter like her mother, mostly.
Thanks for this superb story.
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Sandra, Unfortunately she learned the lesson well. It’s a shame for both of them. Well written as always. 🙂 —Susan
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Thank you Susan. Yes, I suppose you reap what you sow.
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This might be my favorite of yours so far. Reminds me a bit of the Harry Chapin song “Cat’s in the Cradle.” (I’m gonna be like you, Dad.)
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Thanks for reading Barbara. Yes, it reminds me too of that song.
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So heartbreaking, even more for the fact that she is aware of her shortcomings.
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And sad that he never was. Thanks for reading. 🙂
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Powerful, heart-breaking, and so familiar to many. I hope this was fiction for you. Gave me a chill.
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There’s an element of reality in most of what I write (except for the murder of course). 🙂 The ‘elephant in the room’ was a difficult issue.
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I’m sorry to hear that, and yet, can relate entirely. We writers write what we know… alas. xo
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What a shame they couldn’t connect towards the end.
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I think they hadn’t really connected ever, but maybe only realised it at the end.
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Each person has something to learn, its what we do with what we have learned that is important.
Very good story.
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So very true. Thanks for reading.
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Some nice writing in here. Don’t totally get the ending, but it doesn’t really detract from the piece too much.
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I think she’s just realising that the way she’d been brought up wasn’t all that it should have been.
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Sorry, thanks for reading Paul, glad you liked it.
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Nice! So many ideas wrapped up in 100 words.
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Thanks! 🙂
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Such lovely writing Sandra. A wonderful cool tone of voice to go with the character.
Claire
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Thanks Claire, glad you liked it.
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We do pick up the more awkward traits of our near ones. Well illustrated.
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True. Thanks for reading Patrick.
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Good job, and really too eloquent for “The Cat’s in the Cradle” to be running through my head, but “the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon, Little Boy Blue and the man in the moon. When you comin’ home, son? I don’t know when…” ARGH! 🙂 Great story, Sandra.
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Thank you! 🙂
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What great writing. Reminds me of my dad. Well done. Lucy
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And mine, Lucy. 🙂
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Enormously insightful and sad. And so interesting given the photo prompt.
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There was plenty of scope with this prompt I thought. Thanks for reading.
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Clever, and subtle – and real, but down to the smallest detail: he ”mutters”, does not quiver, whine or say. Very very good. Rich style, quite unique.
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Thanks Hamish. 🙂
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Very clever. It must have been a joyless household, and now at the end she is unable to offer him comfort.
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Joyless indeed. Though I suspect neither knew it.
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Very interesting story. He taught her well, and I understand his fear. Great job.
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Thanks Perry! 🙂
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Dear Sandra, Great writing – and I see this playing out through your words. Excellent! I can’t identify with the estrangement with a father because I had a really good relationship with my daddy. He died the day before my 32 birthday and it was unexpected and so very sad. You did a great job with this subject Sandra. Nan 🙂
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I’m sorry for your loss Nan; it must be dreadful when you’re so close and it’s unexpected. Thanks for reading.
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I do believe there is some agony in being cold…and your story depicts that perfectly.
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I believe you are right. Thanks for dropping by.
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Sometimes people put up walls around their emotions thinking self-protection, but ultimately it becomes self-destruction. Bridges are much better than walls. Great writing, as always, Sandra.
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Thank you Roger, glad you liked it.
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Sandra,
This prompt seems to have brought a nice, varied collection to the Fictioneers table this week. I enjoyed your contemplation of family and the changing roles.
All my best,
MG
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Thanks Marie-Gail. Yes, there was a diverse reaction to the prompt this week.
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They are like strangers to each other. You made me sad for both of them. Well done, as usual, Sandra.
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Thanks for reading Lisa. 🙂
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sadly, i can relate. impeccably written as always Sandra!
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Not all family relationships form the ideal, I guess. Thanks for dropping by KZ.
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Powerful and sad. Unfortunately true for too many.
Well done.
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I think you’re right. Thanks for reading.
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I think we are more like our partents than we care to admit but not as much as we fear.
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That’s a very profound thought Dawn. I shall remember that.
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So much said in so few words…both in and out of the story. We all have those elephants in the room.
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Thanks for reading. 🙂
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Fear is only as deep as the mind allows – so true!! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this insight.
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My pleasure!
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This was one of the most beautiful pieces you have ever published here on the Fictioneers site. One of the only ones not told in dialogue, nor hooked with a clever twist at the end. Your prose was both perfect and perfectly evocative of a real relationship and the confrontation with the unspoken. Gorgeous.
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Thank you for that Lindaura! 🙂 I’ve not been too satisfied with a lot of the work I’ve done recently, but I came reasonably close with this piece so I appreciate your endorsement.
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Well written, Sandra 🙂
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Thank you!
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Really liked this. Well done.
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I recognize these people – too close to home. I really like it though.
Lily
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“Fear is only as deep as the mind allows,” I loved that!
Nice 🙂
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There’s power in the truth, even when fictionalised! 😉
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So very true. 🙂
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Sandra, this is a wonderful piece all the way through. I think it’s all too true in many cases, where people become one of their parents and both are trapped in what they are, unable to communicate even in the last a/o most difficult moments. Terribly sad, but beautifully written.
janet
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