“Nothing, Grandad!”
The customary defiant denial.
“Numbers don’t just fall off by accident,” he said, fingering the old clock.
“Did!”
“You must have done something.” Another tack, less accusatory, though God knows he was in so much pain it was hard to keep his tone neutral. How much longer must he suffer with this cancer gnawing away inside?
“I was just wishing…”
“Wishing what?”
“That it would never be time to go back to school again…” she said, her cheeks flaming.
A thought struck him.
“Have you been wishing anything about me, child…?”
She nodded. He sighed.
This was going to be difficult.
Thanks to Rochelle at Friday Fictioneers for all her hard work. Sorry I missed last week Rochelle; the dog ate the note from my mother. 🙂
Dear Sandra,
I’ve just read your story for the first time and I am left breathless by your subtlety and power. What a compelling and mysterious story. I’m going to go reread it for detail, but I wanted to tell you right away how it made me feel at first reading. Marvelous work.
Aloha,
Doug
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Thanks for reading Doug. Glad you liked it. Always good to hear from you.
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Dear Sandra,
So much said in such a small space. I think she and Grandpa know what she’s wishing. I sense he shares the same wish. Without saying it, i can feel the love between them. Beautifully done. This is why I miss you when you don’t post. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sorry about last week Rochelle; will try harder. 🙂 Thanks for dropping by.
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Sandra, Heartwarming though sad story. The two seem to share a special bond. Only a child would think of removing the numbers to stop time. Many no doubt wish they could do the same. Well written as always. 🙂 — Susan
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Thanks for reading Susan. 🙂
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Excellent story telling as always, Sandra.
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Thanks for reading Paul. (Sorry about the ‘flaming’) 😉
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It reminded me of my Grandpa, we had such a special bond. Such a sad, but lovely story. Beautifully written, Sandra.
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Thanks! Glad you liked it.
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poignant
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Thank you. 🙂
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This starts with a hint of humor – I suppose because the clock in the picture is a bit funny – then glides so easily into a painful situation. Well done.
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It is an amazing clock. Thanks for reading.
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Seldom do I want to read a 100-word story (or any story for that matter) over again just to absorb all the details and innuendo. But this is exactly what your story this week made me do. Great work, Sandra!
All my best,
Marie Gail
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Thank you Marie-Gail. 🙂
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Beautiful write, elegant…
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Thanks Sue. 🙂
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Great story line and tease! Well worth reading again and again. Thanks!
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Thanks Leona!
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You are masterful at this, Sandra. I so enjoy reading these each and every week and miss it when you don’t do one. A very touching story.
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Thanks Barbara, glad you could drop by.
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I agree with the others, this is a touching story. Plus a little mystery thrown in. Love it!
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Thank you Lisa.
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The story that leave me with so much detail .. yet with those gaps where only my fantasy goes haywire.. that’s what I love with a good story.. and mostly through dialogue too…
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Thanks Bjorn.
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I was with my father for much of the last 18 months of his battle with cancer. I feel for both of your characters.
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So sorry to hear that Dawn. Thanks for reading.
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Sad but beautiful, of course she wants to hold on to him for a little longer. The love and the heartbreak are perfectly balanced Sandra. Excellent story 🙂
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Thanks Siobhan!
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Really touching Sandra.
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Thank you!
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You capture so beautifully the desire of both to protect the other –
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Many thanks! 🙂
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I agree with Doug’s sentiments. Your stories continue to amaze me. So much depth in just a few words.
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Thanks David. 🙂
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Everyone can relate to this story — but few can write it like you did.
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Aww, that’s nice! 🙂
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Dear Sandra, Just wonderful and full of emotion. What a charming granddaughter and I can feel the love between the two. Excellent! Nan
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Thanks Nan. Hope all is well with you.
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Beautiful story, but so sad. I hope they cherish their time together.
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Thanks for reading.
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Poignant and very-well layered. Excellent!
Greetings from Greece!
Maria (MM Jaye)
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Thanks Maria. 🙂
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A brilliant idea, successfully executed. I love how you’ve built the relationship between these two.
Marg
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Thanks for reading Margaret.
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Beautiful story Sandra, she wants to stop the time and have her grandpa forever with her, if it was possible…..
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Thanks for reading Elizabeth.
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Touching story, Sandra. Excellent work as always.
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Thank you Amy. 🙂
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A substantive 100 words. Excellent subtlety…
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Thank you!
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A lot in this poignant story. Lovely take on time.
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Thanks Patrick!
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I used to like the clocks with the numbers lying at the bottom like this. Maybe not so much anymore. 😦 Well written piece.
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I’ve never seen this before. Thanks for reading Caerlynn.
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Beautiful story telling 🙂
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Thanks Helen.
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Oh! This is delightful. Read it twice. Such skill!
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Glad you liked it. 🙂
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So touching and subtly portrayed. I remember wishing for the same thing, when one of my relatives was suffering greatly and told me that every day she pleaded with God to allow her to die and every day he didn’t hear her. In the end, she went peacefully in her sleep.
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How very sad. Thank you for reading.
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Beautiful. And as always, expertly written.
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Thanks Perry! 🙂
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Beautifully done. So full of emotion and yet so subtle.
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Hi Subroto,
Glad to see you here! I could not really leave any comment on your blog — my wordpress identity does not seem to take there! Just wanted to let you know I’ve enjoyed your stories, and was frustrated when I couldn’t leave a comment on any of them! (I guess I’ll have to join Blogger or something!)
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Thank you.
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great compelling piece. Randy
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Thank you Randy.
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That was a heartbreaking, yet subtle story — so much said, and so much left unsaid. The love between the child and grandparent was shining, and the sorrow was potent. A lovely story!
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Thank you!
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Excellent story Sandra. I could feel the words!
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Thank you!
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Beautifully crafted story. Very touching! If only we could stop time by manipulating cock!!
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Indeed! 🙂
Thanks for reading, Vinitha.
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I’m wondering how old the grandchild is, but don’t really think that matters. She is wishing and trying to manipulate time for all the right reasons. I hope the following conversation is too difficult for both of them. Beautifully and tenderly done.
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What a clever, touching and beautiful story.
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