Copyright – Douglas M. MacIlroy
The Odd Heirloom
It wasn’t until after Dad died that we found that old contraption again. The “monster mask” seemed so benign covered in dust in the attic. There wasn’t much of a fight between my two sisters and me over who would get it, and it amounted to nothing more aggressive than
“I want that.”
…..“Me too.”
“You should have it.”
…..“No, you should.”
…until I finally took it for my kids. I’ve gotten a lot stuff watching my sisters try to out-guilt the other into taking whatever is up for grabs. I think Dad would be proud to know the tradition continues.
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100 words. Feedback appreciated. This one gave me such a fit. I’m not sure I got it all together, but it was fun working and trying.
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What story comes to mind when you see that picture? Join in! Friday Fictioneers is a weekly blog link-up based on a photo prompt. The Challenge – write a one hundred word story that has a beginning, middle, and end. (No one will be ostracized for going a few words over the count.) The Key – make every word count.
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*Featured and Post Image Copyright – Douglas M. MacIlroy
**The ads (which may appear) below are not mine, but they keep this free for me. Do with them as you choose.
This Is My Corn 
A whole lot about relationships comes through in those 100 words. Great job.
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Thank you Meg. Honestly, I was worried nothing happened.
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Yeah, no thanks! You can have it! It calls to mind sister relations and how these kind of things stay with you forever. Great take!
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Thanks Amy! Sisterhood cultivates a special kind of predictability, and you’re right, those are the moments that stick.
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I love it and I would raise my hand and say “Hey I’ll take it!” Great job! Thanks, Nan 🙂
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Thank you Nan! That’s just the kind of thing I would take too. It would fit well with the rest of the odd that I own. 🙂
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I’m sure he would be … Tay.
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Thanks Tay!
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Too many families come to blows, sometimes literally, over who gets what when the parents are gone and the “what” isn’t even necessarily valuable. I like your sentence about the “monster mask.:
This could use just a bit of sprucing up: “There wasn’t much of fight between my two sisters and I for who would get it.” You need an “a” between “of” and “fight” and then “me” instead of “I”. I’d also suggest “over who would get it.” So to make it less confusing…”There wasn’t much of a fight between my sisters and me over who would get it.” Leaving out the “two” while adding “a” keeps your word count the same.
Cheers!
janet
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Thank you for the suggestion Janet. That sentence tripped me up, but the more I worked on it, the worse it got. I appreciate your feedback. 🙂
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Melanie, I’ve had lots of trouble that way – the more you work it the “worser” it gets.
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It’s just so frustrating isn’t it?! I’m glad I”m not the only one. 🙂
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I did make that change. I kept “two” in the sentence so the “fight” would still fit, and took “Oh!” out of the second sentence of the conversation to keep the word count at 100. Thanks again!!
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Happy to help.
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See, if it were brothers they’d probably just start whacking each other – winner gets the helmet. Much less sneaky though possibly a lot messier.
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Ha! I bet you’re right. I can just see it, grown men rolling around on the attic floor, throwing dust everywhere.
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Dear Melanie,
A friend of mine and her siblings stopped speaking years ago, all because I fight over a piano. Fortunately, when my parents passed away, my brother and I didn’t fight over any of it.
Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you Rochelle! I’m glad to hear you and your brother didn’t fight. It seems these things go to one extreme or another: relationship ending or bond sealing.
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It’s really very sad when family members split over something so ridiculous as ‘stuff’! Makes my heart hurt. I love how you captured the love and other quirks between the siblings. Great job! -C
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Thankfully our family has made it through the division of possessions. There were some moments of hurt feelings, but nothing bond-splitting.
Thank you for the compliment Judah!
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Melanie, a good story about guilt and reward.
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Thank you Alicia! I’m happy you enjoyed it!
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Good story about dividing up family property. It was nice to see a happy ending. My brother helped us sell some of my dad’s things. My mother needed the money and neither of us wanted them so it worked out well. When my mother died she had very little left and my brother didn’t ask for anything so there was no problem. Well done. 🙂
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Hello!
I have a quick question for you, could you email me when you have a chance?
Thanks! –Heather
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Lots of family dynamics going on – well told
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Thanks! I appreciate it!
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