‘Fiction In A Flash Challenge’ Week #26 Entry Part 1) by John Howell @HowellWave and Suzanne Burke @pursoot #IARTG #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #FlashFiction

Hello everyone and a warm welcome to Part 1)  of the entries for my weekly: “Fiction in A Flash Challenge” Week #26

Today I’m featuring contributions from entry 1)By John Howell and Entry 2) My own contribution.

Last week I set the following Challenge:

Hello everyone and welcome to my new “Fiction in A Flash Challenge!” Each week I’ll be featuring an image and inviting you to write a Flash Fiction or Non-Fiction piece inspired by that image in any format and genre of your choosing.  Maximum word count: 750 words.

Here is the image prompt.

This one-line contribution by John Howell.

“Those chestnuts better get here soon.”

John Howell can be reached here …

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My own Contribution.

MR. ROOSEVELT.

The house will erupt with excitement soon. My heart aches to hear that joyous sound again. I’ll have my sense of purpose reignited. There will be no need for me to sit on an empty bed and sleep all alone.

I’ve been bathed and scented and have been bestowed a new red sweater for the occasion. Gazing into the fire takes me to those other moments in my life history. My first companion was my Miss Penelope. Her grandmother had handed me into her keeping with great love in her voice. “Penelope my small darling, this handsome fellow is Mr. Roosevelt. If ever you’re afraid, he’ll be there for you. He will guard all your most closely treasured secrets.”

The months stretched into years as I watched Miss Penelope grow. I was needed less and less as time went by. Yet, she still reached for me and sat me in front of her when she needed to share another of her secrets. I remained behind in her lonely bedroom when she went off to college. I was boxed and put away when she moved to New York City. Until one miraculous day my hiding place was re-discovered and the light of her smile again lit my world. “Mr. Roosevelt! There you are!” She said in a voice filled with excitement. I listened in fascination as she told me her news, “They say it’s a girl, Mr. Roosevelt! I know you’ll guard all her secrets.” She kissed me on the head and then took me off to the laundry room.

***

My ‘Miss Elizabeth’ had the most joyous of laughs. The old house rebounded with the sound and the warmth of her presence. I was again cried on, hugged till my stuffing threatened to erupt, and clung to whenever she needed solace. She’d often dance with me as she played her endless collection of music and her friends would sit and discuss the life-altering issues, like what dress to wear to the dance on Saturday night. There were times when her life appeared to be thrown into turmoil by one of the young men I only saw through her bedroom window. Those were the nights I got hugged the tightest. But life as always follows its own pattern, and my young charge grew and blossomed into her future. It was once more time for me to be placed in hibernation. How I longed for it to be over once more.

***

Three days ago, my Miss Elizabeth liberated me again. She was laughing and dancing me around the room as we rediscovered each other. “It’s twins, Mr. Roosevelt! A boy and a girl! Can you believe it? Two new babies in the house! You my darling old teddy are going to share the life of my little girl, and my son will meet a brand new companion.”

I met my counterpart this morning. He doesn’t own a name yet. I must admit it feels a little odd sharing the room with another of my kind. It’s not an unpleasant sensation, simply beyond my experience. He’s wearing a fetching blue sweater and didn’t need a visit to the laundry to appear brand new.

And here I am in front of the fire, waiting on the first sounds of my next companion. My life will be filled with love and laughter once more, and oddly I’m comforted by the thought that when hibernation time comes again as it will, I’ll have someone else with me in the dark place and perhaps we’ll share all our own secrets.

Thanks so much for joining me here today. I look forward to seeing your comments. I will as always featuring each new contribution as I receive them.

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