Yes siree, it’s time for Friday Fictioneers. A time where writers of all sorts get together and tell a story inspired by a photo. This week our hostess, with the mostest, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, author and illustrator extraordinaire, has chosen one from Al Forbes. Where does this image take you? Care to let us know? Do please click on the blue frog and give us your version! No? Well, you can still read other fabulous stories anyway!
Genre: Fiction
Word count: 100
18 Again
Ethel’s rheumy eyes watched the old Model-T tied up on a trailer and was 18 again.
When George pulled up with his “newfangled” car, Daddy near as had a fit.
“Who does he think he is, showing off in that god-awful machine? Too high and mighty to go ’round in a horse and buggy like regular folk?”
But George had such a charm, he won Daddy over near as quick as he had me! Next thing you knew, George was teaching Daddy how to drive!
Too bad Daddy wasn’t near as good a driver as George. Tree came out of nowhere…
A wonderfully charming story which made me smile.
Thank you, Cara!
Reminds me of my grandfather. ”
Tree jumped out from the side of the road!”
Ha ha! My grandmother managed to hit two deer in her driving lifetime… which only started at 65…
Great voice here Dale. Those pesky trees.
Thank you, Louise! Yes.. they have this habit of just jumping out of nowhere…
Full of character Dale.
Thank you, Andrea!
Very funny Dale and true to life. I remember a policeman congratulating a friend of mine when he came off the road, for managing to hit the only tree for miles around.
Ha ha ha!!! Too funny,Mick!
Ah,. those trees tend to make life hard for you… no horse would ever be stupid enough to run into a tree… Pa better keep to horse and buggy.
I think you are most correct, my friend!
Your story has as much charm as George.
Love it.
Don’t whether or not you’re pulling my leg…😉
Ohhh how sweet and lovely! Poor Daddy, though. Trees have a habit of doing that lol
They do seem to cause a lot of trouble for the inexperienced…
Dear Dale,
Thank you sharing Ethel’s memory. Sweet, poignant and funny at the same time. One has to be careful of those irresponsible trees. 😉 Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you, kind lady!
Sweet story. Well done.
Thanks, Ansumani!!
Such a good story. Did her dad survive?
You are the first to question that!!! And I leave it for interpretation…😉
Ouch … the tree not only came out of nowhere for Daddy, but also for me in the story! 🙂
Many thanks for your help today. i wasn’t around much and you saved several.
Hah! Darn trees can’t be trusted…
Just trying to live up to my Maître D title… 😀
That George sure was a charmer.
Oh, indeed…
Loved the voice in this. And you made me smile at the end. Well done.
So happy you did. Thanks.
This really made me smile. I don’t understand those trees, coming out of nowhere….Nicely done, Dale!
So happy it did. Those trees cause so much trouble!
Great story, Dale. My father was born in 1909. He had a great story about running through a fence on his first driving lesson. Those old cars had no gas pedal, just a throttle to set the speed. Thanks for bringing back that memory.
Oh fun stuff. So happy I brought you down memory lane!
The advantage of horses is that they know how to avoid trees… 🙂
One would definitely hope!!
This is lovely and charming, but I also worried about Dad and George. These days, when a tree jumps at you full frontal, you’re dead. Back then they weren’t that fast… but they didn’t have airbags either. Or seatbelts.
I choose to believe that their speed was not of the fatal sort…
Very charming, the story as well as George. I liked seeing through Ethel’s eyes and how you immediately make her age and position clear.
If I can offer a little suggestion, I felt there was a bit of switching about in terms of tenses and pov, that could have been tidied.
But the story itself is first class. I’m so much enjoying getting to read more stories today. It feels like a while since I’ve read all my favourite authors!
Glad you enjoyed..
I allowed myself to change the tense as Ethel’s memory would jump back and forth while in the moment…
Really? You are counting me in your favourite authors? I’m chuffed!
A wonderful story, Dale, told with a delightful voice. Seems trees were just as reckless then as they are now! 😀
Ha ha! Thank you, Carolyn!
Wonderfully complete story in your 100 words! You’ve got a real knack for this.
Thank you so much, kind Vivi!!
i figured dad survived. he could have jumped off easily just like riding on a horse. 🙂
Definitely a possibility!!
awwwwwwww!! This is just so endearing and touching, Dale! 🙂 Thank you for making me smile. ❤
Awww!! So happy I did make you smile, Rosema!!
Of course you do! 😀
Whoopsie! A delightful little tale.
Visit Keith’s Ramblings!
Thank you, Keith. Whoopsie indeed!
Great story, Dale. Trees will do that. My dad tried to teach my mother to drive in the 1920’s and she ran his car off the road into a field. That was enough for him. She never did learn. Well done. 😀 — Suzanne
Ha ha… Guess she didn’t have the knack for it!
Beautiful story Miss Dale!
Well thank you, Mr. Bruce!
Oh my word, that reminds me of Mister with his sudden acquisition of an MG convertible last year. He said he’d always wanted one and it was now or never. Fortunately all the trees are still standing in our neighbourhood!
That’s a sweet and funny story, Dale. Am smiling 🙂
Ha ha ha… Hopefully Mister is a better driver than Daddy!!
Ahhh…gotta love that mid-life crisis thing… 😉
Not sure if it’s mid-life with crisis with Mister, but he likes to call it that. More like an early older-life crisis! He’ll never grow up, but that’s what I find so endearing about him.
Ha ha… It is just a convenient label. Let’s call it a “life-is-short-so-do-it-now” thing… Like that is why I am going to Tuscany!!
And truly, it is better when they keep a youthful exuberance…Mick was like that and I loved it.
I had a moment like that during my only accident. I swore the fence posts came out of nowhere. All four of them. It really feels as though the characters been wrenched into a memory. Nicely written.
Four of them, eh? Must’ve been something!
Thanks so much!
This is great. I love your tree coming out of nowhere. I hate it when that happens! Fun story, Dale.
Thanks, Amy…darn trees or staying put…😉
I guess that’s just what happens when you’re racing along the highway at nearly 17 m.p.h!
I loved the story. I’m imagining a happy ending, with Daddy, George and the tree all fine at the end.
Yes speeding along at such speeds… All should be fine!
Woowza …. a tree. Yikes. A wonderful memory despite the trauma with the tree. Great interpretation of the photo prompt.
Isadora 😎
Thank you, kind lady! They are sneaky buggers
When I read this it saddened me, I assumed the father died but the comments are so lighthearted I guess he just grazed that ole jumping out at you tree.
To tell you the truth…I wrote it with his death in mind, but everyone’s comments were so upbeat, I went with it!
Dale, I’ve just read it and saw death right away. It’s not a bit ‘you’ but that’s a good thing in that you aren’t stuck in a rut and can shock!
I do try, on occasion, to give a little twist! I was surprised that most people didn’t see the death! And that’s a good thing… interpretation of a story. I like it.
That’s quite a story weaved around just 100 words! I’m impressed!
Cheers
Why, thank you!!
Great story. Believable and left me wanting to know what happened next!
Oh good! I love when that happens… 😉
Are we sure Daddy wasn’t trying to sabotage the Ford? Knowing how daddies think, it’s a definite possibility. Great ending to a most appealing story.
Well now there’s a thought, Margaret! It is most definitely a possibility!
Thanks so much!
I’m not surprised there was an accident. New experiences always lead to big trouble.
True!!
That last line was sooo funny… Hope Dad was OK!
Thanks, happy you thought so! My original thought was a sad ending but all the comments were hopeful!
There was this flurry of posts in mid/late February and now, no sign of Dale in March. Are you globetrotting? Doing something reckless? 🙂 Hope all is well.
Ha ha! I took my boys for a week of sand and sun in Cuba. Since I knew I could not respond to any potential comments, I took a little break. Fear not, my friend, I’m back and shall resume!
Cuba! Envious here. I trust you not only had a fantastic trip/experience but that we shall learn more in a soon-to-be post? 🙂
That is a promise!!
And yes, it was fantastic.
I’m coming in with my 2 cents way too late; but the good news is no one will know! But I want you to know I laughed heartily with the last line! You set it up well and just like the tree, I didn’t see it coming!.
Ha ha! Never too late! Happy you enjoyed!
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