Wednesday's Words on a Friday

 The original Words for Wednesday was begun by Delores and eventually taken over by a moveable feast of participants when Delores had computer troubles. Sadly, Delores has now closed her blog forever due to other problems.

The aim of the words is to encourage us to write. A story, a poem, whatever comes to mind.

If you are posting an entry on your own blog, please let us know so we can come along to read it and add a few encouraging words.

This month the words/prompts are supplied by messymimi and can be found here

***Next month's words (May) will be supplied by Janice and can be found here on this blog ***

This week's words/prompts are:

1.artist  2.kitchen  3.alive  4.manage  5.case

and/or:

1.bamboozled  2.persnickety  3.kerfuffle

Here is my story:

When the raised voices got too loud, Gramps came out of his den and ambled towards the kitchen. “What’s all this kerfuffle then?” he asked with arms crossed over his chest. “Grammy’s being all persnickety, because I’m late home again,” said Joanna, “she needs to understand I am an artist and time means nothing when I am in the zone.” 

Gramps looked at both in turn, trying to keep a straight face. At barely fourteen, Joanna was doing a fair impression of being twenty with her attitudes lately. He glanced towards the window where the evening was already dark enough to be called night, then back at Joanna.

“Grammy has a fair point,” he said calmly. “It’s too dark too early now the leaves have fallen and you missed dinner again.” Grammy cut in, “she already doesn’t eat enough to keep a bird alive!” “Take a seat ladies,” said Gramps and they sat at opposite ends of the table, one glaring, the other sulking. “I know I pretend to be bamboozled by young people these days, things aren’t the same as when I was your age,” he pointed at Joanna, “but I think this case deserves a longer conversation.”

“Can I have something to eat first?” asked Joanna meekly. Gramps had never sat them down before and she began to worry a little. “I’ll get your plate from the oven,” said Grammy, “and there’s chocolate pie in the fridge for dessert.” She set a plate of potatoes and beef stew in front of Joanna with a napkin and cutlery. “Hand over the camera,” said Gramps and Joanna pulled it from her pocket. “I got great sunset shots!”

“I’m sure you did,” said Gramps, “but I am holding this hostage until you learn to manage your time.” He looked at Grammy. “What do you say Stella?” Grammy looked at Joanna to be sure she was listening. “Home every night in time for dinner and call us if you miss the bus. When winter sets in you are to be home by four-thirty. If you want sunset shots, Gramps can drive you where you want to go, but only after you eat a decent meal.”

Joanna was relieved at not being grounded and thought it over as she ate. “That seems fair,” she said, realising she may have pushed the boundaries a bit too far lately. “I’m sorry Grammy, Gramps. This is delicious,” and cleaned up her plate.


Comments

  1. An inspired word choices":

    Ethan had always considered himself to be an artist. Sure, he worked as a sous chef in the kitchen at McDonald's but that kept him feeling alive, involved, in the reality of life. Ethan could manage the challenges , seeing it for all its inspiration as a source of his art.

    He took a deep breath as he prepared to make a case for his prime supporter to continue to fund him. His mother still said NO.

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    1. Excellent, Susan! Your ending made me smile.

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    2. Susan Kane; Ethan will have to find some other method. Well done.

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  2. Have you heard about the new indie band from Adelaide, Australia? They are called Elsie and The Man Servants and their first album is available right now! I have been listening to it all morning and these are the tracks:-
    Side One:
    "The Artist in the Kitchen"
    "Thank God I'm Alive"
    "I Can't Manage Love"
    "A Case of You" (by Joni Mitchell)
    Side Two:
    "You Bamboozled Me Outside in The Garden"
    "Love is not Persnickety"
    "Let's Do The Kerfuffle"
    Along the grapevine I have heard that Elsie and The Man Servants will soon be appearing on "Rage" - the iconic ABC music programme and lead singer Elsie River was interviewed last week by "The Advertiser". She said, "I'm only it for the money!"

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    Replies
    1. Heeheehee! Fun stuff, thanks for playing along.

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    2. Yorkshire Pudding; thank you for the wide smile I now have. Well done.

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    3. so clever! Persnickety! I'm only in it the money...

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  3. I thought I was the only one that use the term Gramps. That what I called my fathers fathers.

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    Replies
    1. Dora; I have read it in several novels and like the sound of Gramps.

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  4. Nicely done, River. I do hope Joanna continues to listen to the people who only have her best interests at heart.

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    Replies
    1. messymimi; she's a sensible girl in spite of pushing boundaries and knows that if she messes up too much her parents won't let her holiday with the grandparents alone again until she is older.

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    2. Joanna has it worked out then.

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  5. Gostei muito de ler essa cena familiar e cheia do carinho que os avós têm por Joanna! Lindo MAIO! beijos, chica

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    Replies
    1. chica; thank you. the grandparents love Joanna, she is the only grandchild and they are sensible enough to not spoil her.

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  6. Sensible gramps! Sometimes, it takes a man to manage two women - calm and measured, not emotional.

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    Replies
    1. jabblog; Gramps is very sensible and sensitive too, he manages without being overbearing.

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  7. "The artist for or in our kitchen clearly is Ingo, alive, kicking and manage(s) to turn the tiny space into something nice in any case."

    Nice story you got. I wonder, though, I do... I left Ingo in Joondalup ER in hospital over night and the female doctor at first refused to let me go by public transport, "too dangerous".
    Huh, what? After all she printed it out (wrong) on google maps and I managed anyways, never feeling insecure! Went to Warwick, was the only one on the bus to Madeley and the bus-driver when I said "thank you" answered with "nighty-night". And a smile.
    I was in my late 40´s! Someone knocked on my cabin´s door, friends called (I need WiFi when in Perth) if I am safely home....
    Really.
    I would not roam Northbridge at night on my own, but other....
    I think WA especially is pretty safe.... Your place not so much?

    P.S. I never had a Gramps. Both passed very long before I was born...

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    Replies
    1. P.S. 2 - saw your comment only now: Be quick, Thingz really closes for good, 70% off now of everything!

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    2. Iris; I think the female doctor was just being cautious with you not knowing the area very well, she might feel bad if something happened to you. My area is probably safe enough, but just in case, I choose to always be home before dark, and in the daytime I know which parts of the city to avoid.
      I had grandparents, but never knew them, they lived in Germany and I was in Australia. I have photos. I won't bother with Thingz, I never wear jewellery anyway.

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    3. I avoid certain areas here even at daytime by now!
      So sad - did your Grandparents not once visit you???
      Being daughter and sister to goldsmiths... what can I say. I have to support this genre...

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    4. Iris; never, it's a long way for old people to come just to visit and they were poor too.

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  8. Even artists have to eat. Well done. Sensible girl, sensible grandparents.

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    1. Charlotte; yes, even artists who are young and "putting on airs" need to eat. Sensible Gramps to hold the camera hostage while Joanna re-thinks her attitude and learns to manage her time. and he is willing to drive her to places for photographs so she is safe and has a ride home again.

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  9. Good rules and a good compromise. I imagine Grammy would even serve dinner earlier, if needed, to allow enough time to reach a more distant vantage for the sunset photos.

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    Replies
    1. Val; maybe not, Grammy is set on her "proper meal times" but she would keep food warm in the oven and get the kitchen cleaned up while they were out with the camera.

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