Carrying over from last time, is this week’s 100 Word Challenge for Grown-Ups:
- You find your entry HERE
- You go to the next entry (if you were 6 you go to 7 etc)
(I was #16, so I’m using #17 for my prompt: “An Important Date” by Andrea, the gothcatlady. It is a lovely little ode to Carroll’s original story, and I suggest you read it for yourself, before going on to my take on her prompt!) - Using the last ten words as the prompt you write your piece. The prompt can be anywhere in the piece but must be complete as it was in the original.
- If you didn’t take part last week, choose any entry to use the last 10 words from.
I was lucky enough to get a very charming prompt – What a wondrous adventure with young Alice that would be – for this week, and I’m delighted that I can even (sort of) continue from my own challenge from last time! So, without further ado, here it is.
Such Wondrous Adventures
With pinafore and ponytails bouncing, Katie bounds across the playground, away from them.
Watching her, Larry sighs. “Seems like yesterday,” he murmurs, “we were pregnant, and I was reading her Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”
Beside him, Sally shrugs. “She’s growing up.”
“Does she have to do?” Larry asks, chuckling.
“What a wondrous adventure with young Alice that would be!” Sally says, and they laugh. But then they quiet, cuddling close.
“I didn’t think it would happen so fast,” Larry laments. He meets her gaze, chuckling anew. “I want another one!”
Sally blinks, then smiles, softly. “Funny, you should mention that….”
I do so love these little challenges, and being able to incorporate them into my own universes, in this case, that of my Songbirds, Sally and Larry. I wish I could share them with more people, too, especially the ones who enjoyed the original Songbirds series of stories. Who knows? Maybe, someday, I can…and will!
I can only hope that Judee, over at write tuit, has as much fun with my prompt as I had with Andrea’s!
This is lovely, and the sentiments are so real. I struggle daily with the idea that my daughter (who is 9) is growing up, and the yearning (but not really) for another baby. The Songbirds seems like a wonderful universe.
I enjoyed your take off of the prompt, not at all what I expected…the sentiments are very spot on, though, as my baby is heading to college this fall and I can remember sitting and holding her and reading to her…
Thank you, Lisa!
I’m enjoying branching out my Songbirds series with these challenges. They’re so close to my own heart and my own loves. I know well that feeling of wanting to hold on; my girls just had another birthday, and sometimes, I just want to hold tight and never let go!
I’m so glad these are resonating with readers. 🙂
Thank you, Lorraine!
There’s something rather magical about watching your own grow up, even if you want to yank them back to you sometimes…! 😀
So glad you enjoyed this. 🙂
This is delightful! Having recently been told I’m to become a grandma it has some real resonance with me! I’m glad you are enjoying the prompts!
Thank you, Julia! Being a parent (or grandparent!) can be a bittersweet journey, indeed.
I am loving being able to adapt my own stories and universes to these exercises. And so happy that others are enjoying them just as much!
What a lovely read .. I don’t have children of my own but found it very touching. Well done on using the prompt, I’m glad it inspired you 🙂
Andrea
Thank *you* for the charming prompt, Andrea! I felt very lucky that there was so much freedom to it. 🙂
Very sweet!
Thank you, Jodi! I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Beautiful. I have two young children and found this very sweet.
Thank you, Susan. I’m so glad that this short has resonated with others, as it did with me. 🙂
Been there. Touching and believably written.
Thank you, ventahl! This was a fun prompt, and I’m grateful that I was able to write something so close to my heart. 🙂