Gefjun brought the feast to the table. Her husband, Skjöldr, son of Odin, sat silently in his anger.
‘Thank you for this offering, mother,’ said Fridleif as the plate was laid before him.
‘Eat well, Fridleif.’ Gefjun took her place beside her son and looked at Skjöldr.
‘Can I eat now?’ spoke the Norse king.
‘Not yet, father. First we must all drink from the Cup of Óðrerir to receive the blessings of our God forefathers.’ Fridleif took the grotesque looking vessel featuring a menacing skull and decorative silver plating.
Skjöldr rolled his eyes. ‘Seriously, do we have to?’
‘Daaaad,’ whined Fridleif (James).
‘Martin, please just do what he wants. I mean, Skjöldr.’ Gefjun (Helen) smiled at her son and gave Skjöldr a pleading look.
‘Okay,’ conceded the king. ‘Give it here.’
Order restored, the Cup of Óðrerir was passed round the feast table and all sipped of the diluted juice of the orange. Fridleif placed the vessel in the centre the table.
‘Now, we may eat,’ Fridleif pronounced.
‘Thank you,’ grumbled Skjöldr.
Gefjun smiled at her son. If this what it took to get him to eat his vegetables, then so be it.
Written as part of Sunday Photo Fiction. Write a story of around 200 words based on the photo prompt given (above). For more details visit HERE.
To read more stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
Wonderful take on the picture…
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Many thanks
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Very funny, Iain.
Personally I’d let the brat get scurvy.
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It’s a constant battle to get my toddlers to eat any ‘good’ food – but I don’t think I’d resort to this either.
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Haha I love that. I wish I had thought of something like that when mine were younger 🙂
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Many thanks – sometimes you have to do what you have to do 🙂
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So very true. Did you do that with your kids? Mine was “Eat it or wear it” same as my parents said to me lol
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Mine are a bit young yet, but they have plenty of demands of their own, last night I was running round being he aeroplane with the fork…
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Haha yep. Been there, done that. And the train. Mine are 18 and 20 now. I don’t think they would like me being a train or plane now
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You never know, for old time’s sake! Mine are only 2 1/2, so still a few years of this sort of thing to be going on with 🙂
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They’ll probably end up doing it to me first when I get old and dribbly and sit in the corner not wanting to eat lol.
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Hee hee… Brilliant
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Thanks 🙂
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Love it! A story for parents everywhere — no matter the culture and no matter the century!
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Thanks John – a few parents seem to be able to relate to this!
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Haha, that gave me a chuckle
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Thanks Neel, glad I provided some light relief..
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Ha ha, what a fun take on the prompt! A family that (role) plays together, stays together, right? Or at least, eats their vegetables together. I would totally have done this in Mom’s position (or Dad’s). But then, who am I kidding, I was probably the one who *wanted* to pretend we were all gods and ritualistically drink from the sacred vessel.
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I thought you might like this prompt! So long as it’s role playing and only involves eating vegetables, I’m game
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Well, that’s how it starts, innit? First eating the vegetables, and next thing you know, drinking the blood of your enemies. It’s a slippery slope. 😉
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this was so precious, I am recalling all the silly things mum and I used to do to get my eldest to eat. None worked though! she led us on a merry dance each time but it was her rules all the way. Lovely take on this prompt.
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Many thanks, glad it brought back happy memories 🙂
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That’s really cute! You think it’s Norse mythology but it’s really a Mom playing games so her sun eats his veggies. I loved how you used the cup and how the Dad pretty much thought it was BS, Funny as usual.
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Thanks Mandi, glad you enjoyed 🙂
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this story made me smile – great fun
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Thanks Sally
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That’s a lot of effort to get a kid to eat his veggies. I don’t think my own parents were nearly that inventive. Well done, Iain.
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Thanks James, looking back I don’t think my parents put much effort into it either!
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Really love this story. So funny. I could totally picture it!
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Thank you so much 🙂
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“the diluted juice of the orange” hahaha
I love this! Very funny
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Thanks Sydney 😉
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I loved this story Iain – the things we do to get the kids to eat 🙂
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Thanks Dahlia, all parents have been there 🙂
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I seem to have had it easy. We sat down to dinner, ate what was there and no remarks were made. My kids took it for granted I guess that it was all good. The only thing they didn’t eat was the green pepper of the stuffed peppers. Maybe they inherited Indian taste buds. My husband’s family were vegetarians. Cute and funny story. Big imaginations were at work there. Good writing. 😀 — Suzanne
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Sometimes we have dinners where we all eat with no fuss, and then the next night it all falls apart! Thanks Suzanne.
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