Home > Fiction > FFftPP – Time to Go

FFftPP – Time to Go

Here is my story for Roger’s Flash Fiction for the Purposeful Practitioner. The opening sentence is in bold, and to read this week’s other stories click on the blue froggy. The photo was supplied by the pubic domain archive.

Picture public domain

Picture public domain

 

Enough is enough. Things had gone entirely too far. He’d decided he wasn’t going to stand for this any longer.

He settled the rucksack on his back and began walking, heading for the woods behind the house. He’d packed everything he might need and had money in his pocket.

As he walked, the sun beat down, merciless, making him sweat. Sitting on a fallen tree trunk, he took a long drink from his bottle. He was doing the right thing, wasn’t he? Of course he was. Standing up, he continued deeper into the woods…

… the woods which were beginning to look quite dark and forbidding. No, he couldn’t start having second thoughts, although… things weren’t really that bad, were they? They’d had such an argument, but when he thought about it, he wasn’t entirely blameless. He hadn’t done what had been asked. He’d lied about it. Maybe he should turn back? His feet hurt, he was running out of drink, he’d eaten all his chocolate and he’d already been gone nearly an hour.

Besides, Mummy would be starting to worry and it was nearly dinner time!

 

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  1. January 23, 2016 at 11:21 am

    Nice twist at the end.. 🙂
    He should run home before mummy gets angry again! And of course, there could be monsters lurking the dark woods 😉

    Like

    • January 23, 2016 at 3:29 pm

      If he’s quick she probably won’t even notice he was gone. And then, as you say, there are the monsters in the woods to consider 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  2. January 23, 2016 at 12:01 pm

    Sweet story, Ali. Great twist at the end. Lots of kids run away but most don’t stay away. Well done. 🙂 — Suzanne

    Like

    • January 23, 2016 at 3:30 pm

      Most are back within the hour :-). I’m glad you liked it!

      Like

  3. Merbear74
    January 23, 2016 at 1:16 pm

    I think I lasted maybe a half hour when I tried to run away as a kid. 🙂

    Like

    • January 23, 2016 at 3:34 pm

      I only made it a hundred yards 🙂

      Like

  4. January 23, 2016 at 3:50 pm

    Cute story! Reminds me of when I was 3 years old and was going to run away. I got on my tricycle and rode around the block. Hahaha! That is as far as I got. Had to go back home.

    Like

  5. January 23, 2016 at 3:53 pm

    Been there, done that…lol. The whole time thinking… “I bet they miss me soooooo much” only to return and find out they didn’t even know I was gone.

    Like

    • January 23, 2016 at 4:25 pm

      Half an hour for a child is like a whole day for an adult. All those poor little tykes whose grand gestures go entirely unnoticed!

      Liked by 1 person

  6. January 24, 2016 at 12:21 am

    “Oh,” said mom. “Running away? Be back before the streetlights are on or no dessert for you!”

    Like

    • January 24, 2016 at 7:57 am

      Kinda takes the wind out of a young’un’s sails 🙂

      Like

  7. January 24, 2016 at 7:04 am

    Love the story, but … am I the only person here who did not run away when I was little? I’m surprised how many people did…

    Like

    • January 24, 2016 at 8:03 am

      Yep heh heh!
      To be fair, determining to run away and then coming back for tea half an hour later doesn’t really count, though.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. January 24, 2016 at 1:42 pm

    Oh dear.
    Not such a good plan after all was it?
    Cute.

    Like

  9. January 24, 2016 at 3:14 pm

    Next time, bring more chocolate, kid…

    Like

    • January 24, 2016 at 4:42 pm

      He could have lasted until at least supper time with a couple of extra Mars bars.

      Like

  10. January 25, 2016 at 6:22 pm

    Mom told me of when I was 5 and threatened to run away. I started packing. She help. I placed my back by the door. She made me dinner. As night fell, mom asked if I was going to leave. No. I was afraid the frogs would get me.

    Like

    • January 25, 2016 at 7:08 pm

      My Mum told me yesterday that something similar happened to my brother. She helped him pack and watched him walk a few yards up the drive. Then he stopped and looked back and she went and got him.
      I hope you have conquered your frog fear 🙂

      Like

      • January 26, 2016 at 2:46 pm

        What a wonderful Mum. Let him start out then at his moment of doubt, she shows him how much she loves him. Great!
        Yes, no longer scared of frogs. They’re not as large as they used to be. ;0)

        Like

  11. mandibelle16
    January 26, 2016 at 5:54 am

    Well told story. I started reading thinking it was a man until he says his drink is gone and he ate all his chocolate. What a cute boy. He should go home to his Mom and eat dinner

    Like

    • January 26, 2016 at 7:48 am

      Thanks. Originally there were more clues to it being a child earlier in the story but I removed them to keep it hidden as long as possible. I’m glad you liked it!

      Liked by 1 person

  12. January 26, 2016 at 12:25 pm

    Great story from the perspective of a child.

    Like

    • January 26, 2016 at 12:34 pm

      Thanks, I’m glad you liked it!

      Like

  13. gentlestitches
    January 27, 2016 at 10:12 am

    Loved it. ❤

    Like

  14. January 29, 2016 at 12:57 am

    There were soooo many times that I was the lad in this story!!! Well told! So glad you could participate this week. Hope to hear from you in Week #5.

    Like

    • January 29, 2016 at 8:07 am

      I reckon most people “ran away” at least once when they were little!

      Liked by 1 person

  15. February 1, 2016 at 2:54 pm

    A very sweet story, Ali. I only got a far as the front gate before chickening out and running back inside!

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