Genre: Literary Fiction Word Count: 100 Brought to us by FRIDAY FICTIONEERS
The photo prompt this week comes courtesy of Jennifer Pendegast.
His head shook slightly, his trembling hands reaching out to hold mine.
They stilled.
“I know I don’t have that long, my body grows weaker by the day, you have seen me struggle even to walk”.
“I remember running in the snow, or up flights of stairs, a young boy then, when I could hold a knife and fork without shaking when I ate, now ..I’m too embarrassed to eat in public”.
“You are my only daughter, my ginger, when I go, you will look after mum…promise me?”
I cry.
“Pop…with all the love in my heart…I promise you”.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For Friday Fictioneers and for my father who calls me ‘Ginger’ though I am not a red-head – the most amazing man in this world.
Excuse the completely different way I looked at the ‘Stairs’. I immediately thought of how my father is battling to walk right now and the staircase was a reminder to me of his struggles.
Ramblings From A Mum 
Nicely done nostalgia.
Thank you Sandra, a slightly different take, I am only now catching up on reading the other entries. Appreciate your visit.
this was very sweet and moving
Appreciate that you have stopped by and commented – thank you.
Beautiful.
🙂
You did well in the way you interpreted the picture. I saw the connection without having to read the explanation. A very sweet story and you set a great scene.
DM I am also humbled by your comments on what I wrote – I thank you.
Very tender.
Thank you Claireful, for popping over, reading and commenting, appreciated.
Sweet.
Hello and thank you.
Thanks for sharing a little slice of your life with us. I understand how this would bring to mind your dad and his efforts to walk. Hope he’s around a long time yet to share love with you.
janet
Thank you Janet I feel it should have been Friday – Non-Fictioneers, for this is my life and his at the moment. Thank you so much for your kind words – honestly 🙂 x
awww mumsy. *hugs tight*
Thank you my darling girl, I hug you back xx
Very heavy story, very sad but mustn’t be…the ‘Ginger’ nickname really works, that’s what brings the lump to the throat. Am a father y’see, with 3 daughters…
Thank you so much pirate, he has called me Ginger for ever and he doesn’t even know why. A true tale that I live with at the moment. Hug your girls, you seem a caring dad, I appreciate your words.
Touching and very emotional.
I thank you. x
A very touching piece 🙂
Thank you RG xx
What a beautiful piece of writing. Very touching indeed…
Thank you Di, I write so often now of my parents and feel that it would be so boring for others to read, yet when I feel the need to do so I will.xx
Touching.
Thank you JK – appreciated.
Dear One, never apologize! This was good – no GREAT! Having had to learn how to walk again, I totally identify with this story on sooo many levels. That you love your Father is also very evident. This story made me want to cry… good tears, sad tears, loving tears! Job well Done, Dear!
Comments like yours make writing even more worthwhile. Thank you so much for visiting my site and saying what you did, I appreciate it greatly.
Quite touching and well-done. Best of luck to your dad.
Perry thank you very much for visiting and for both your replies. It is not an easy road he travels now.
*Erases the term “Fictioneers” from the title … and replaces it with “Truths”*
You are a grand daughter … but then, you already know that.
I continue to love you my Irish ‘Colleen’ – thank you and yes I think so and I know that they do too. xxx
A beautiful interpretation.
I thank you for coming over and having a read and commenting. 🙂
This is very touching, bittersweet.
Thank you for your comment and visit 🙂
sweet and sad – I said ‘aaah’ at the end 🙂
ela – bless you for your kind thoughts and thanks also for the ‘aaah’ 🙂
Dear Rambly,
Very touching but the trues ones always are. My heart goes out to you at this time.
shalom
Rochelle
Thank you Rochelle, I appreciate your kindness.
A touching story for sure..I did notice a couple of space issues where your space bar must have stuck on you “Pop with” is one word and there is another in that line…But overall I enjoyed your non-fictioneer story…I did the same thing this week, nothing made up about my story.
Tom
Hi Tom and thanks for your comment. I actually did the …. on purpose…a pregnant pause as it were – you think it doesn’t fit/gel?
Well you have me beat because I noticed a space-bar issue in my comment….It sort of came out of nowhere so I didn’t read it as something being done on purpose..Knowing your intent, sure it works but the reader normally would not have that luxury.
Tom
this was very touching.. sad yes but also sweet… i love the nickname and their closeness 🙂
Thank you kz, yes I shall always be his ‘ginger’. I am waiting for your entry to Stone btw 😉
thanks for sharing such a touching story. It’s funny how nicknames arise and stick out affection. Though I am active ( cycling ) since a hip replacement I cannot run – and sometimes I dream I am running. These lovely words took me to that memory.
Best of luck to you and your dad.
How lovely for you to say what you did, connection between writers and readers and fellow writers brings me joy, comfort. You can run in your dreams and that too is just as important. 🙂 Thank you so much.
Dear Rambly,
You captured the heartache of growing old in your story. The only thing the young can do besides watch and give what comfort they are able to is to promise, when asked.
I was moved by your words.
Aloha,
Doug
Oh Doug, your words brought me sadness and joy, I love my father so much and would promise him the world if I could, thank you so very much for your lovely thoughts.
Aloha to you
Rambly
So sad and beautiful. I’m glad I can comment in writing, because my voice would not make it… Very good.
Giving you a virtual hug Brudberg – in a non stalking way 🙂 Thank you so much for your kindness.
Tom, yes I did notice your …. in your comments, hopefully the readers understand why they are placed. If not …life is too short to fret about misplaced ‘dots’ don’t you think? 🙂
Heavy on the nostalgia and a lovely tribute to your father. I’m sure he’ll enjoy reading this.
Thank you Elmo for visiting and your lovely thoughts – for a man that spent most of his life working and being on the computer and also reading books, sadly now he doesn’t read as he use to. 😦
Such a touching moment between a father and a daughter. We all will see that day.
I thank you Joe for your kindness. Yes, sadly the day comes for us all.
Hi, that was touching. Made me think about how my own dad is growing frailer and how I don’t spend enough time with him. Nice, but sad story.
All I can say JW is too please try and spend more time with him. It is heartbreaking watching them like this, their lives not the same. Support and love is all we can offer. I know they relish the visits that I do, thankfully they are only a short distance from me, so I can visit often. Appreciated your thoughtfulness and visit to my site.
You are most welcome 🙂