Dear Friday Fictioneers
Over the last month I have been unable to leave my comments on some of your sites -that’s the best bit of F F’s for me. Please could you check the comments section of your dashboard, for Woman Walks Dog and click on approve. I appreciate your help. Francine
photo courtesy of J Hardy Carroll
DOWNSIZING
Downsizing huh ! I am ship wrecked with boxes, my past life spilled out. Cathleen’s slippers, worn down, she wouldn’t listen, stubborn woman, she walked out on me. Sons Jake and Maurice wouldn’t stay, left for England , that wicked place, deaf to my warnings. One Christmas card, then nothing.
Right at the bottom, a yellowed envelope dry as a moth’s wing, Irish stamp, a letter from Grandma Rose. Her words finally reach me across the years, ‘Dennis, heed what I’m telling you, say nothing and keep on saying it !’
Too late.
November 24, 2019 at 8:48 pm
Oh… in the end there are a lot of things that should never have been said (and some things never done)…
Wonder if there are anything left that shouldn’t be said.
November 25, 2019 at 12:47 pm
Thank you for your wise comment Bjorn.
November 24, 2019 at 6:55 pm
This was absolutely fabulous, Francine!
Say nothing indeed… would that we all heeded that advice…
November 25, 2019 at 12:50 pm
Thank you Dale so pleased you liked the story. I do agree with this advice, hard to do sometimes if there’s a big disagreement !
November 25, 2019 at 4:55 pm
I practice it…
November 22, 2019 at 8:51 pm
In retrospect everything makes sense… I enjoyed your story.
November 25, 2019 at 12:53 pm
Thank you, I’m glad you liked the story.
November 25, 2019 at 9:13 pm
You’re very welcome.
November 22, 2019 at 2:43 pm
I know the feeling, my daughters think I live in a warehouse dumping their stuff in my attic and garage. One day, just one day I’ll give it all away.
November 22, 2019 at 3:09 pm
I can imagine how that might happen James. Thanks.
November 22, 2019 at 2:32 pm
Excellent advice, just a shame it came too late.
Here’s my tale!
November 22, 2019 at 3:11 pm
Thank Keith, its advice I TRY to follow !
November 22, 2019 at 11:52 am
Dear Francine,
Ship wrecked with boxes sounds like my basement. Lovely writing. BTW I grew up hearing about my wonderful Grandma Rose who died before I was born. According to Ashkenazi tradition, I’m named after her.
I’ve had no problems getting your comments. (Thank you.)
Shalom,
Rochelle
November 22, 2019 at 7:11 am
“say nothing and keep on saying it” – sage advice!
November 22, 2019 at 10:59 am
In your story, I look at my screen differently – a sentient algorithm with a vicious streak now lurks there, you’ve revealed it !
(tried to leave my comment on your site, but think it has been ‘spammed’.)
November 23, 2019 at 12:20 pm
There’s nothing in my spam, I check it regularly…
November 22, 2019 at 11:01 am
Thanks Ali, I agree – less talking and more listening is better.
November 21, 2019 at 6:07 pm
“Say nothing and keep on saying it.” Good advice, worth heeding. Just think of all the messes that could be avoided if people would just quit talking.
November 22, 2019 at 11:02 am
Thanks for your comment Linda- I so agree, nothing worse than being ‘talked at ‘.
November 21, 2019 at 5:43 pm
Beautiful writing, Francine!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
November 22, 2019 at 11:05 am
Thanks so much Susan – pleased you liked the story.
November 21, 2019 at 5:22 pm
You had me at ‘ship wrecked with boxes’!
November 21, 2019 at 5:30 pm
Aha ….glad you were drawn in.
November 21, 2019 at 1:50 pm
One wonders the story behind that. Lovely.
November 21, 2019 at 5:39 pm
Thank you Crispina – pleased you liked the story.
November 21, 2019 at 6:46 pm
🙂
November 21, 2019 at 12:47 pm
It’ll be a long time before everyone can forgive and forget everything that happened during the Troubles, on both sides. Hopefully we don’t slip back in terms of the peace process. If only she had heard those words sooner.
November 21, 2019 at 5:47 pm
Yes, I think you are right Iain, the Troubles still shape Irish sensibilities. Makes me think about how hard real communication can be.
November 21, 2019 at 10:19 am
A gorgeous rummage in the heap of memory
November 21, 2019 at 6:10 pm
Thank you Neil – great comment.
November 22, 2019 at 10:53 am
In your story, I look at my screen differently – a sentient algorithm with a vicious streak now lurks there, you’ve revealed it !
(tried to leave my comment on your site, but think it has been ‘spammed’.)