Maisie propped her handmade sign on the dusty old chair.
‘I finished it,’ she announced. Her father looked at the pink and blue flowers and bright childish writing.
‘For sale,’ he read aloud, then looked at his daughter. ‘That’s great, Maisie. What are we selling?’
Maisie gestured to all the junk that filled the garage.
‘All this stuff.’
‘Why’s that now?’
‘Cos Mama said either it went or she went, and I don’t want Mama to go.’
He smiled at her.
‘Sometimes your Mama says things she don’t mean, especially when she’s mad like that.’
‘So she ain’t leaving?’
‘Oh, she might leave, but clearing out this garage won’t make a bit of difference either way.’
Maisie looked crestfallen. ‘Is it the demons in them bottles again?’
Her father nodded.
‘Maisie girl, you want to help me clear up this place’
‘I guess.’
‘Come on then.’
They worked all afternoon filling boxes and loading them into the car to go to the dump. Mama sure will be delighted when she wakes up, Maisie thought.
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.
Another compelling piece with a great twist at the end.
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Thanks Shehanne. Not sure where this one came from, just started writing and that’s where it ended up.
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It was nicely done (Lol that is how I write. I just start and then–then the mess is unbelievable. )
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Ha, in among that mess is your next great novel though! 😉
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Lol….. AS I sit untangling the mess…… I only wish x
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A subtle piece of writing.
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Thanks Steve
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Brilliant writing 🙂
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Thanks Angie 🙂
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If it were only that easy to clean up the real mess, eh? Nicely written as always.
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Many thanks
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Alcoholism really is the demon. Well written Iain (as if you could write any other way)
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Many thanks (some are better than others!)
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A very sad situation for the child, indeed. This is such a realistic portrayal.
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Thanks Pamela, glad it came across as real people in a real situation.
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Penned so beautifully… Poor child… And looks like a patient father… I hope things get better for them.
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Many thanks, much appreciated. Hopefully better times ahead for them.
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Nicely done. I get a clear picture of the problems caused by the demons in those bottles, and the relationship between these three, with just a few well-placed hints.
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Thanks Joy. Good that you managed to get such a lot from my few words.
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In a few words, you develop strong character sketches. Well done as usual.
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Thanks Lorraine, always appreciate your comments.
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Any time.
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….and the children suffer the most. written with such depth! she believes she can help her mother and I hope the mother wakes up feeling better not seeing all the bottles there. The girl will do well later on – she has a kind father.
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Many thanks
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some of the best stuff comes with just writing doesn’t it? Great piece
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Thanks, I agree, don’t think too much, just write and see what comes out.
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sometimes it’s best not to ask how one’s mind works – that way lies the funny farm…
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I love the shot of hope at the end, especially from Maisie’s innocent viewpoint. Nice touch.
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Thanks John, pleased you saw some hope in there.
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Brevity when it comes to penning character sketches that leap out of the page is your forte. Greatly enjoyed this, Lain.
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Thanks Neel, very kind.
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very well done. It was nice to have the innocence of the child, who presumes everything will be fine once the bottles are removed.
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Very kind Sascha, thank you 🙂
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Nicely done. The child’s voice is spot-on.
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Thank you 🙂
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