Copyright Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
There are a hundred and one reasons why his daughter constantly kicks over the traces.
And the woman sitting opposite him, fussily arranging and re-arranging the table setting, well… she’s probably the biggest one.
One thrives on order, the other on chaos, and together they’ve brought this fragile nucleus to the point of collapse.
Drained by drama, consumed by conflict, and wearied by warring, he’s calling it a day.
There’s a furrow out there with his name on it; he’s off to plough it.
“Call me when the battle’s over.”
He may or may not be inclined to pick up.
I might be missing in action myself for a couple of weeks as the annual advent of the grandkids looms. Two teens and a seven year old… the possibilities are endless. 😉 I’ll look in on Friday Fictioneers when I can, and thanks to Rochelle as ever.
castelsarrasin 
Elegant, clever, and evocative as always, Sandra
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Thank you, Neil. Much appreciated.
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Yep, sometimes calling it a day and leaving others to it is the best solution.
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I think so. 🙂
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My advice, best to stay well out the way and leave them to it! Enjoy the grandkids celebrations!
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You’re so right. And thanks, this week feels like the calm before the storm.
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Dear Sandra,
First I had to look up “kicks over the traces.” Not one of those phrases you often hear here. So my brain has wrinkled with another piece of knowledge. 😉 And I can see why she would. Mixed signals and ensuing chaos between her parents would do it. Well done as always.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yes, I was a bit heavy on the idioms this week, for a 100 word piece. 🙂 Not to mention the alliteration. Thanks for reading.
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Tensions and fights in the family are always a point of concern.
It’s a great idea to return when they are done!
Hope he’ll get to return soon!
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Yes, keep your head well down, I say. Thanks for reading.
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Brilliant take on the photo prompt – loved it, Sandra!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Many thanks, Susan.
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Some families seem to thrive on chaos, constantly creating it. I know I would grow weary of it and look for a furrow to plough!
Well done, Madam!
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I’m a peace-lover myself, Dale. Most of the time, anyway. 😉
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I’ve missed your lovely, although not always enjoyable or happy, stories, Sandra. Another good one per usual.
janet
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Good to hear from you Janet. Hope all is well with you. Would be nice to see you back on FF someday. 🙂
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All is well. As for FF, perhaps after we move. 🙂
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Excellent vignette. I love the atmosphere
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Thanks, Josh.
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Perfect. In my work as a counselor, I meet a lot of couples whose names are Order and Chaos. The trick is in helping them to tolerate and learn from each other.
And now I have to go talk to my Chaos about the mess on my dining room table 🙂
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I know what you mean. I live in a house where the last drawer, cupboard, packet, box to be opened remains open, where the location of any item depends on the last place it was needed, and …. need I continue?
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I understand. Totally.
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That’s interesting, Linda. Opposites seem to attract but it can be a struggle to co-exist if you don’t understand how the dynamic works.I personally don’t believe it’s good to have someone agree with us all the time and not challenge our opinions. Let us do what we want. Times we need someone to say “enough is enough”. For me, Michael Jackson is a good example of what can happen when you surround yourself with yes people. You can become a caricature of yourself or worse. Not healthy. I’m quite extroverted and my husband is an introvert but we understand our different needs. Well, that is most of the time.
BTW your work must be very interesting and also challenging.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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Thanks for your encouraging comment, Rowena. Yes, my work is interesting and challenging–and almost finished. I’m retiring at the end of this month.
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Another masterclass in how to create a world in 100 words.
I think most of us can identify with at least one of these chatacters.
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I think we all assume these characteristics in the span of a lifetime too. I’m in the husband/father’s face now, but I distinctly remember the other two. Thanks for reading.
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I love how you come up with such wonderful evocative pieces from the prompts. I certainly don’t see what you see, until I read your stories. Brilliantly done. Hope you have a lovely time with your grandkids!
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Thanks for your comment Brenda. If I don’t get the inspiration within a few minutes of seeing the photo, it’s unlikely I’ll get it at all. 🙂 I’m gearing myself up for next week, but the prospect of serving up three different choices at every meal… 😦
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I’ll be thinking of you with the meal preparation, Sandra,. It can be a nightmare in our place but we’re getting to a point where we have meals which can be adapted to individual preferences. Good luck!
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Elegantly written, Sandra!
Boundaries are a good thing … glad he’d drawn them …
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Enjoy the Grandkids!!!
Na’ama
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Thank you! I’ll do my best with the grandies. 🙂
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Have fun with the grandies!!!! 🙂
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What a mixed up lot they are – I bet life’s never dull!
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I expect not. Thanks for reading.
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You’ve concocted a beautifully poignant tale, as always. As an organization freak, I can relate. They say, “Opposites attract.” I seem to always live with messy people.
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I’m pretty organised too. And it becomes more important as you get older. My husband’s motto – ‘it’s wherever I last used it’ doesn’t work when you can’t remember when or where you last used it. 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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Oh… yes there are sometimes when you have to leave it to others to clear up the mess.
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Indeed. Thanks for reading.
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Caught in the crossfire. I like that last line, as he is taking back some control of himself. Have a good time with your grandkids!
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Thanks, I’m looking forward to it and winding up to ‘granny’ mode. 🙂
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You’re welcome, Sandra 🙂
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Let them eat cake…and whatever else they want, as long as they leave him alone!
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I don’t blame him for leaving. As for the daughter, how will this affect her when she’s an adult?
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Who knows? Thanks for reading.
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🙂 Thanks for reading.
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I was sad reading this, sad things don’t seem to be working out, I guess it’ll sort itself out somehow.
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No doubt in due course.
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Sometimes continuous conflict becomes difficult to manage. May be it is better to let parties sort the problem out and arrive at a balance.
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So true.
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Two teens and a sevenyearold? Hope you survive.
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Channelling ‘endless patience’ as I speak. Haven’t needed it since last summer.
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Sounds like he’s had enough. I liked the alliteration!
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Thanks for reading.
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good action on his part. it was good for him not to take sides. 🙂
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It would have been futile. Thanks for reading.
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People! They can wear you out!
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Indeed they can. Thanks for reading Dawn.
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A nuclear family, indeed. Perhaps he’s an electron, or an ion always threatening to bounce away. But now i am getting well out of my league. This did have a physics or chemistry feel to it, order and entropy. You gotta feel for the guy!
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I think he’s reached an accommodation in his mind, as they say. Thanks for reading.
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Sometimes it is better to just walk away from bickering or else you become the piggy in the middle and are blamed for everything.
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Non-involvement – best policy. Thanks for reading.
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Yikes, not a family w would want to be around for long periods of time either. Nicely done.
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I’ve known families like this. In fact, I was brought up in one, now I think about it.
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🙂👍
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Chaos is always present and in reality, I like some of it! It keeps me on my toes. Some people can’t handle it. To each their own but this is the things of life!
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Everyone is different, fortunately. Thanks for reading, Nan.
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Sandra, this was well written as usual. However, what I really liked about it was the conversation it’s generated in the comments and how you created this scenario and characters in so few words which so many of your readers feel passionate about. It’s been very interesting. I think it’s a real pity that so many people don’t understand why opposites come together in a relationship and the importance of that dynamic as a source of growth, balance and perspective. We need to be challenged. However, we also need to be respected, understood and feel wanted. Very interesting.
Hope you have a great time with your grandchildren and they stay off their devices.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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I like how use used the prompt to deal with family rows, a great subject. You have given me food for thought.
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A good story with great description, Sandra. What he’s thinking of doing could lead to worse problems. Their daughter is disturbed but what is dad doing to help her? It sounds like she may be screaming inside for attention. —- Suzanne
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Great atmosphere. Enjoy the celebrations with the grandkids. 🙂
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You capture the conflict between family members so well. How different people can be within the same family – just fantastic, Sandra. Have a brilliant couple of weeks with the grandchildren
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