FF – After He’s Gone
Here is my little story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was contributed by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields herself!
“The house seems so… empty without him.”
Her husband nodded and opened the cupboard.
“Look,” she sobbed. “All the stuff he used to play with. The old clock. He… he… loved that clock.”
He kissed her forehead. “He did. Such happy memories.”
“Gone so fast. I miss him so.”
The doorbell rang. He peeked out the window. “Shit! He’s back! And he’s brought laundry! I told you that college just down the road was too close. Close the curtains!”
“And switch off the lights! Too late. He’s seen us… Hi dear! How are you? Dirty washing, how lovely…”
Categories: Fiction
flash fiction, Friday Fictioneers
Ha…this gave me a good chuckle. Separations have both benefits and pains.
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True. I’m glad you liked it!
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Oh that was such good fun! Thank you for making me laugh.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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I’m glad you enjoyed it and that I made you laugh 🙂
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Haha, be careful what you wish for. We love them so much, and yet they can be really annoying sometimes 🙂
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Especially when they don’t seem to be able to work a washing machine 🙂
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Miss them when they’re gone. Avoid them when they come around. 😉
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Ha ha, spot on 🙂
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This made me LOL! 😀 No doubt he will be raiding the fridge as well! 🙂
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You didn’t expect him to do his own shopping, did you? 🙂
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Dear Ali,
You made me laugh out loud. What a brilliant misdirect. When our youngest left home (the second time) we missed him dreadfully and feared all the while he’d move back in.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Ha!
This was one of those stories where I was stumped all day, then I saw the title “Grief” in my inbox (J Hardy Carroll’s story) and the whole thing instantly wrote itself 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Ali
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I hope to one day experience an empty nest some day. Good story!
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That day will come 🙂 I’m glad you liked it!
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It reminds me of the days gone when my son was in college. He brought home his laundry on weekends.
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I was too far away, otherwise I’m sure I would have too!
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😂😂😂😂😂😂
The aspirations and the nightmares of parenting. The paradox of parenthood – missing absence and dreading return. Would we ever be free? Once a parent always a parent, till death do us part!
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It’s a strange one! Small measures of each is probably the best way.
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Exactly right!😊
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🙂
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You turned this beautifully. And comically. 🙂
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Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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Hahahaha.
This was wonderful…. as always. 🙂🙂
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Thanks, I’m glad you liked it 🙂
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Haha! Nice story. I hope there’s enough beer in the fridge…
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He’s a student. There’s never enough beer in the fridge… 🙂
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It seems they spoke too soon. They’ll probably see a “lot” more of him. Hilarious, Ali.:D — Suzanne
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Yep, any time he wants something doing 🙂
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Hhaha- loved this take on the prompt 😀
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Sorry, I must have missed your comment until now 😦
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
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Hahaha, this was amazing!
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Sorry for the late reply, I appear to have missed a couple of comments recently. I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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I know so well how this couple feel… This happens even when the uni is many hours’ drive away, too! A fun scene that fits the prompt so well. 😀
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As you know I don’t have kids but I can imagine my Mum when I used to come back from Surrey with a bag full of laundry 🙂
I’m glad you liked it!
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Hahaha. Hilarious. Now I wonder whether you are writing of my ma and pa…. hmmmm
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Haha! Don’t forget to raid the fridge while your mum’s doing your laundry 🙂
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I had boomerang kids too. Great twist, love it!
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It’s a common phenomenon! I’m glad you liked it 🙂
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Aw, he might be back for 18 more years of wonderful memory making! Lucky parents…
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What more could tired and ageing parents ask for?
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Ali, you are such a rogue. Thanks for making me chuckle. One of my sons actually come home from uni yesterday to do a Duke of Edinburgh presentation for his Gold award and didn’t bring us any laundry. He did try to eat us out of house and home, though. And he was only home an evening and the next morning.
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When you’re a student you’ve gotta take it while you can, as I well remember! No fridge or buffet is safe.
I’m glad you enjoyed it, and well done on your son for doing DofE!
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What a fun story! So believable. 😉
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Many parents have had this experience I imagine (mine did) 🙂
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I still use my parents’ washing machine when I visit them. 😊
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Hee 🙂
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Hilarious. I love your sense of humor.
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Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
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Buahahahahahaha!
I so love this! I just recently re-watched “Failure to Launch” with Matthew McConnaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker where the parents hire her to get him to finally leave the house (he is in his 30’s…)
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That sounds like a fun film. Even the title is funny! They have it on Amazon Video, maybe I’ll have a look.
I’m glad you enjoyed my story 🙂
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I did enjoy it. As for the film, it is a light rom-com – which are fun to watch now and again.
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I must admit to watching the occasional Sandra Bullock 🙂
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I knew there was a softie in there…
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Shh, don’t tell 😉
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Wouldn’t dream of it. 🙄
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🙂
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I think it’s time for Mum and Dad to install a force field or at least an early warning system 😀
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Some sort of security camera perhaps 🙂
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Just when you think they’ve flown the nest….! Delightful.
Click to read my FriFic!
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There’s just no getting rid of them! I’m glad you liked it.
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Fun and totally believable. My mother-in-law would have been crushed if my husband hadn’t taken his dirty laundry home with him from college 🙂
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A familiar scene in homes across the world 🙂
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Wonderful change from missing him to wishing he’d stay away. Of course, they brought him up well so he will know how to use the washing machine, and he’ll be offering to cook dinner for them as recompense. 😉
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Yes, that’s definitely what’s going to happen 😉
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Love how you cast this poignant tale of loss and then have us laughing two seconds later. Well done, as always.
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A little bit of misdirection 🙂 I’m glad you liked it!
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This made me laugh. My sister and I were just talking about this type of scenario the other day – my nephew is off to uni next year and we’re expecting him to be reappearing with his laundry at regular intervals!
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Your mum also commented and I got the impression you guys often wandered back unexpectedly 🙂 We all did it!
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Oh yes!
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🙂
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LOL…good one!
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Thanks 🙂
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Hahahahaha!This sounds like a real life story.
Loved it.
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It is real life for many parents! I’m glad you liked it.
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Harsh reality 🙂 Priceless 🙂
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This is real life for many. Including my parents, once upon a time 🙂
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