Here I am, again, in Denmark and trying to keep up with Friday Fictioneers! This week was a bit more challenging, with intermittent wifi and trying to type on my friend’s Danish keyboard. The next few days, we’ll be in Stockholm, and then home, later next week. Thanks for being patient, as I try to get to your wonderful stories… I always appreciate thoughtful, constructive feedback, so please leave a comment and tell me what you think! If you’re interested in reading more about my travels, check out my posts Incredible Iceland Part 1 and Part 2. I’d love to hear what you think!
Check out the other wonderful FF stories on Rochelle Wisoff-Fields’ blog, Addicted to Purple. Rochelle chooses a photo prompt each week (this week, Kelly Sands contributed) and then keeps us in line, with her wise words. Stories should be 100 words, with a beginning, middle and end, and we all make an effort to read each other’s stories. Join in!
If I typed without effort, this is what it might look like with this Danish keyboard: I might have to tell you that youøre missing the ØquotationØ marks, or that the commas’ are not where they usually are… that there are symbols likeÆ instead of colon, or € å ø § in the places where <i usually find my other symbols. When <i try to capitalize my i, it comes out like <i. See, not easy! Next week… <iøll be very jet lagged, but happily typing from the home. What a grand adventure, but it will be nice to sleep in my own bed! As always, thanks so much for you patience and kind support.
©Kelly Sands
My Ever Practical Boy (100 words, exactly)
”What about that one– do you see the dragon? There on the left.”
”That’s not a dragon, Mom, it’s a Raptor. See how the head is smaller and the jaw is powerful?”
Jake pointed to the outline of the dinosaur and continued.
”Raptors are related to birds, Mom. The bigger ones could tear a cow to pieces– if cows lived at the same time as dinosaurs.”
”It looks a bit like a komodo dragon, too… an angry one. Do you see it?”
”I think it’s just rain, Mom. Those are definitely storm clouds.”
”You’re so practical, kiddo. Let’s get inside!”
* * *
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TALES FROM THE MOTHERLAND 
You’re in Denmark! Wow, world traveler. Lovely story, Dawn. Storm clouds may very well look like dragons!
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I think the one on the left really does look like a dinosaur! But then, I’m a bit of a dreamer… and a world traveler. 😉 Thanks Amy.
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Dawn, Thanks for updating us on your travels. I never realized that foreign keyboards could be so different even when they’re in English. I bought my laptop here in India but the keys seem the same. It’s the spell check that’s different. It criticizes my American spelling and wants me to spell in British-English, a holdover from the years under the British Raj here.
Good story and well written as always. It was also humorous. It just goes to show that kids see things differently. I asked my daughter once what she wanted to be when she grew up. She was very little and told me, “A frog.” Actually, that was the future actor speaking. She can pretend to be anything she wants now and fulfil her wish. Well done. 🙂 —Susan
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Susan, I love that story about your daughter! Where is she an actress? I think that would be a really fun profession! I’m back on my own computer now, but earlier today and last night was really challenging! It took me much longer to type my story, just watching out for strange symbols! Thanks for taking the time; it’s much appreciated. 😀
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Dawn, My daughter does mostly stage comedy skits, improvisation, and humorous films with Second City Theatre Company in Chicago. She also does standup comedy at some of the clubs in the area. She has an agent who gets other work for her also. She’s done commercials and voice over work and got a job through Second City working on a cruise ship as one of the entertainers for a couple of months. She has a degree in Drama.
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That’s fantastic! We lived in Chicago for 7 years and Second City is top notch! You must be so proud. 🙂
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Pingback: Friday Fictioneers: My Ever Practical Boy | ugiridharaprasad
Thank you so much for sharing. 😀
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🙂
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Lovely story. I love finding pictures in clouds.
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Me too, FabricatingFiction! I actually do see a dinosaur in that large, left cloud… but then, I’m a bit of a dreamer. 😉 Thanks for taking the time; it’s much appreciated.
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Dawn, you made me really look at the cloud to the left and I see a chicken. No imagination? Glad you’re having fun traveling. Donn and I had the same issues in Norway (with the computer.) Makes it kind of fun. Good story this week. Cheers.
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I see so many things in these clouds, Alicia… so chickens are easy to believe! The keyboard: oh my! That was a real challenge. But, there are much worse problems to have. 😉 Thanks for the feedback.
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I love the dialog. I have a son, this seemed real to me.
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I have two sons, and I can pretty much guarantee this happened at some point or another… with a few small changes. 😉
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I have tow also after I hit the reply button I felt bad about my comment sounding Ike I only have one. I HAVE TWO SONS. (ya think that fixed it?)
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NO worries… I have 3 kids, and often talk about one, or the other… or the other. 😉
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Cute one Dawn, loved the dialogue 🙂
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Thanks so much. I’m really glad you enjoyed it; I really wanted to do something lighter and more fun.
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I was like that kid, very practical. Loved this story, I can imagine having the same conversation with my mom.
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I have a son like this… the story’s fiction, but no doubt he and I had something similar, somewhere along the way!
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cute. I like cloud imaginings, too.
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It never gets old! Thanks so much for stopping by TFTM. Your time and comment are much appreciated. 🙂
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Lovely take on the prompt, I think we were both on a similar wave length this week! Your dialogue is well done.
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Thanks so much Maree. Sorry for the delay in response, and for not getting around to other stories. I’m traveling abroad and have had wifi problems… then forgot my power chord in Denmark. Just getting caught up now! Thanks for taking the time to stop by and comment, it’s much appreciated.
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You know I think I recall having conversations like that with the kids… well captured Dawn.
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Thanks Sandra. No doubt, as mothers, we’ve all had this conversation at some point or another. 😉 Thanks for stopping by!
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Dear Dawn – Awesome story! And, I make creatures out of the clouds too. I love the banter between Mom and Son or sons – cute and spot on! Good story – funny! Nan 🙂
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Thanks so much Nan. I’ve been without my power chord, so just getting to comments… and did very little reading this week! Hope to get back on track as I head home. 🙂
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Such a cute take on the prompt! Well done!
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Thanks Lisa. I decided not to go with the dark or foreboding that those clouds could easily conjure. 🙂
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Loved the dialogues. They really took the price away.
Have an amazing holiday ahead 🙂
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Thanks so much Soumyaa and welcome to Tales From the Motherland. I really appreciate you taking the time to read my work and comment! 🙂
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Sigh. Sounds like the kid needs to put his head IN the clouds and learn to dream.
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No doubt!
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I can just about feel the electricity in the air. Happy travelling. About the time you arrive back here, I’ll be on the east coast for a few weeks.
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Enjoy your trip Sue! I hear it’s really hot at home, so maybe New England will be a relief… for a change. 😉
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Actually, it’s lovely here: low to mid 80’s. I expect Maine will have 85% humidity and moderately warm temps. And we will have a blast!
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Safe travels, and have a blast!
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Really neat story with interaction. Very real. Nice one, Dawn!
No story from me this week. But, I’m making the rounds.
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Thanks so much WM. I’m traveling and left my power chord in Denmark… so, I have been off the grid too! I hope to get back into the swing of things next week. 🙂
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Dear Dawn,
A beautiful story rife with love of a mother for her son. She sees one thing and he another, she loves him without end and he just thinks they’re watching clouds.
Aloha,
Doug
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Dear Dawn,
A very pragmatic boy. I agree with Helena. Perhaps he’s too well grounded. Until the last couple of lines I thought they were in a museum. You surprised me and made me smile. Good use of the prompt.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such a grounded little boy! I think I’d be much more like his mother. A dreamed through and through.
Sorry I’ve been away. I’ve been going through a family crisis in the past week and a heavy work load the previous weeks. It’s just been hard to get back into the swing of things here in the blogosphere. Glad to hear about your travels though! Hope you are having a marvelous time!
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That was sweet – it brought back memories of my onw little boy, now grown and gone to live abroad.
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Splendid evocation of childhood. Worked for me as a parent as much as it did as an ex-child.
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Wow..I loved this take on the prompt. How creative of you to imagine the clouds from a little boy’s perspective! And, I could relate to the dragons and komodos..my little boy is also fascinated by these 🙂
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Thanks Uma. I always see things in clouds, and figured that was a nice place to jump off from the prompt. Thanks so much for visiting TFTM. I appreciate you taking the time to read my story and share your thoughts! I hope you’ll stop back again.
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You captured the essence of the ‘practical boy’, who reminds me a bit of my seven year old grandson. He has quite a mind for data and is willing to share his knowledge when the conversation turns to a subject about which he has some expertise. I think the greatest gift you demonstrated was creating this story from the image of the clouds in the photo. I continue to be impressed by your creative imagination. – Mike
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Thanks Mike. Your comments always give me a warm fuzzy! xo
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