Sunday Photo Fiction is a weekly challenge presented by my old friend Al Forbes.
The idea is to write a short story (200 word max) inspired by what you see in the picture (below).
This week’s prompt is again one of Al’s own intriguing creations, and reminded me, slightly out of the blue, of a story I wrote years ago that is included in my book, Medville Matters.
This is an abridged version, cut to meet the word limit of this challenge.
Click on this link to enter your tale, and to see what others have written.
© Al Forbes
Click here to hear the author read his words:
Pot Plant
‘So is your mum not coming up this afternoon, then?’
‘Has she ever let you down, dad?’
Her mother has been dead over twenty years.
She pats his hand and looks around the small ward.
‘Ach, I’m an old fool! That’ll be twenty four years next month since I lost her, you know.’
Since he lost her.
No mention that she lost her mother.
In that, at least, he is always consistent.
‘Yes, dad.’
‘You’ll take care of my plants, that peace lily was your mother’s favourite, you know.
I remember her wiping the leaves, snipping and pruning, she had green fingers all right.’
She gave her father the plants about ten years ago, after his last cat disappeared, as cats do.
Her mother never tended a plant in her life.
‘Yes, dad.’
‘Cal was here yesterday afternoon, never misses a visiting, you know. Aye, I don’t know what I’d do without him! He’s been a real tower of strength since I lost your mum.’
Her brother’s freak drowning accident eighteen months ago was the final straw.
Although Cal had been home only once in the twelve years since he emigrated to Australia, her father refused to accept it.
His decline was swift and terminal.
‘Yes, dad.’