100-Word Challenge: Pretty Princess

So, it’s week 54 for Julia’s 100-Word Challenge for Grown-Ups, and we’ve got a relatively simple prompt:
LEGACY. Julia says, You don’t have to … include the word but I would like 100 words on what it says to you.

Legacy always conjures up the idea and ramifications of family, for me. I’m sure others can sympathize…and you’ll likely see more of this sort of legacy, this week. As for me, I’m venturing among the Nightingales, again:

“Pretty Princess”

Katie’s Princess

“Miss Trish asked what we’re to be when we grow up,” Billie said, smearing blue across her colouring book Clydesdale.

Sally smiled. “What did you say?”

“Starship captain,” Billie answered. She grabbed a green; the horse became a pegasus. “Or, dinosaur zookeeper.”

“That’s my girl,” Larry quipped.

Sally chuckled, turning to her quieter daughter. “And you?”

Katie dabbed red over her picture princess’s hair, murmuring, “Pretty.”

Sally and Larry stopped, frowning.

Billie gave her pegasus purple horns, declaring, “You’ll be pretty, just like Mummy! But, I have to do more. Because I look like Daddy.”

Larry sneered. “Thanks very much!”

Billie’s Horse

There are brutal truths of society that children understand even at an early age; the importance of beauty is one of them (I know I learned it very young). But I didn’t want to dwell too much on such a ponderous topic, so I figured outspoken little Billie could offer a slightly pragmatic turnaround. Hope you enjoy!

What legacy did you examine for this week?

16 Comments

The Writers Village on August 15, 2012 at 05:50

great story. I gasped with your line, “Sally and Larry stopped, frowning.” wondering what you would say or do. Then smiling, you brought me round…nice writing. Thanks, Randy The pics are terrific, too!

itsjennythewren on August 15, 2012 at 09:12

love the drawing 😛 very good insight to why you wrote what you did for this prompt x

sjbwriting on August 15, 2012 at 11:42

You can always rely on children to say exactly what they think! I like the way you wove the children’s colouring in with the conversation – with their concentration more on their activity than the words coming out of their mouths. Love your pictures of their pictures too!

Sandra on August 15, 2012 at 13:41

Great pictures. And a story to make you pause and think. Nicely done.

shadetheraven on August 15, 2012 at 20:03

Ah, the innocent honesty of a child. It always has it’s own bite to it.
I like the natural feel and familiar setting to it all. It feels comfortable and downright sublime.
Excellent work!

Delft on August 16, 2012 at 03:10

I hope Katie learns that pretty or not, she can do stuff. And Billie’s clear going to be an artist.

Mayumi-H on August 16, 2012 at 15:09

Thanks, Randy. I originally had something much more “deep” in mind…but couldn’t make it work in just 100 words! I figured a slightly sillier twist was warranted. (Those coloring pages were probably my favorite part of writing this one, this week!)

Mayumi-H on August 16, 2012 at 15:10

Thanks, Jenny; I had a lot of fun trying to capture Billie’s wild imagination.

Mayumi-H on August 16, 2012 at 15:12

Thank you, Sally-Jayne. I did want to try and capture the bold, bald honesty of children, here. There’s definitely a deeper sadness, especially with Katie, but they’re still young enough that the articulation is still difficult. Glad you enjoyed it!

Mayumi-H on August 16, 2012 at 15:13

Thanks, Sandra. The older sister is definitely saying something more with that one word; it’s a young girl’s conundrum that continues to haunt through her life. I’m glad that came across as intended. 🙂

Mayumi-H on August 16, 2012 at 15:15

Thank you, Shade. The voices are long familiar to me, by now; I’m glad they come across naturally to others, too.

Mayumi-H on August 16, 2012 at 15:18

Thanks, Delft.
Katie’s definitely growing up faster than I’d ever suspected, complete with self-conscious doubts. :/ As for Billie, even I don’t know how things will turn out for her. She just might end up being a starship captain or dinosaur zookeeper! 😀

Gilly Gee on August 18, 2012 at 17:37

I think Billie will do very well! nice one Mayumi!

4amWriter on August 18, 2012 at 19:45

I love the practicality of Billie’s last line, perfectly timed and I chuckled along at the thought of this conversation taking place.

It’s also interesting how siblings will view beauty differently, as you so smoothly showed in this piece. Nice job.

Mayumi-H on August 20, 2012 at 08:22

Billie is indeed a little spitfire! Thanks, Gilly. 🙂

Mayumi-H on August 20, 2012 at 08:26

Thank you, Kate.
As much as I love playing with the parents in this series, the daughters have turned into little voiceboxes for my own girls, I think. The differences in their personalities and perceptions have created quite the interesting read, for me. They’re full of such clear, no-nonsense honesty. 🙂

The Writers Village on August 15, 2012 at 05:50

great story. I gasped with your line, “Sally and Larry stopped, frowning.” wondering what you would say or do. Then smiling, you brought me round…nice writing. Thanks, Randy The pics are terrific, too!
itsjennythewren on August 15, 2012 at 09:12

love the drawing 😛 very good insight to why you wrote what you did for this prompt x
sjbwriting on August 15, 2012 at 11:42

You can always rely on children to say exactly what they think! I like the way you wove the children’s colouring in with the conversation – with their concentration more on their activity than the words coming out of their mouths. Love your pictures of their pictures too!
Sandra on August 15, 2012 at 13:41

Great pictures. And a story to make you pause and think. Nicely done.
shadetheraven on August 15, 2012 at 20:03

Ah, the innocent honesty of a child. It always has it’s own bite to it.
I like the natural feel and familiar setting to it all. It feels comfortable and downright sublime.
Excellent work!
Delft on August 16, 2012 at 03:10

I hope Katie learns that pretty or not, she can do stuff. And Billie’s clear going to be an artist.
Mayumi-H on August 16, 2012 at 15:09

Thanks, Randy. I originally had something much more “deep” in mind…but couldn’t make it work in just 100 words! I figured a slightly sillier twist was warranted. (Those coloring pages were probably my favorite part of writing this one, this week!)
Mayumi-H on August 16, 2012 at 15:10

Thanks, Jenny; I had a lot of fun trying to capture Billie’s wild imagination.
Mayumi-H on August 16, 2012 at 15:12

Thank you, Sally-Jayne. I did want to try and capture the bold, bald honesty of children, here. There’s definitely a deeper sadness, especially with Katie, but they’re still young enough that the articulation is still difficult. Glad you enjoyed it!
Mayumi-H on August 16, 2012 at 15:13

Thanks, Sandra. The older sister is definitely saying something more with that one word; it’s a young girl’s conundrum that continues to haunt through her life. I’m glad that came across as intended. 🙂
Mayumi-H on August 16, 2012 at 15:15

Thank you, Shade. The voices are long familiar to me, by now; I’m glad they come across naturally to others, too.
Mayumi-H on August 16, 2012 at 15:18

Thanks, Delft.
Katie’s definitely growing up faster than I’d ever suspected, complete with self-conscious doubts. :/ As for Billie, even I don’t know how things will turn out for her. She just might end up being a starship captain or dinosaur zookeeper! 😀
Gilly Gee on August 18, 2012 at 17:37

I think Billie will do very well! nice one Mayumi!
4amWriter on August 18, 2012 at 19:45

I love the practicality of Billie’s last line, perfectly timed and I chuckled along at the thought of this conversation taking place.

It’s also interesting how siblings will view beauty differently, as you so smoothly showed in this piece. Nice job.
Mayumi-H on August 20, 2012 at 08:22

Billie is indeed a little spitfire! Thanks, Gilly. 🙂
Mayumi-H on August 20, 2012 at 08:26

Thank you, Kate.
As much as I love playing with the parents in this series, the daughters have turned into little voiceboxes for my own girls, I think. The differences in their personalities and perceptions have created quite the interesting read, for me. They’re full of such clear, no-nonsense honesty. 🙂

100-Word Challenge: Pretty Princess

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