Friday Fictioneer Challenge: Write a 100-word story based on the prompt.
*****
Nothing But Gray
Paul stood, hands in pockets, looking out.
She’s set four places again, he thought. And she sits in a different chair now, doesn’t talk, just looks out the window at nothing but gray stone.
She brought in a covered dish. “Chicken casserole. Your father’s favorite.”
He heard Jack slip in and pull out a chair. Paul didn’t move.
She sat down. “Come. Eat.”
He turned. “Every night, Mom, four plates. And you, just staring.”
“Four people, four plates.”
“Dad’s dead, Mom. He’s dead. Three months now.”
She unfolded her napkin. “And I watch for your father. He’ll be home soon.”
*****
Rochelle Wisoff – Fields – Addicted to Purple
Kathy Waller 
Beautifully written and very sad at the end. I want to tell Paul, “Let her live in her make-believe world. She’s grieving.”
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Damn it! Another one that makes me sad 😦 well written though
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Nice description of grief. We all handle it differently.
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Touching story! I liked it.
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Thank you.
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How sad. I wonder whether she’s in denial or has mental issues. Sad either way.
janet
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I was thinking mental issues. But I don’t understand this character well enough to know. Thank you for visiting and commenting.
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very good, wanted more…
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Thank you. I’ve been wondering what I might do with it. If I wanted to go further down that road.
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Yes, sad… but you bring an edge of creepiness when mom can’t even process the reality in front of her.
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Eerie–and well written!
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Thank you. I surprised myself by finishing it in one sitting.
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Denial. A terrible place. Sadness all around.
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Dear Kathy,
A well rendered portrait of love and loss, deterioration and the deadly quiet of despair. The only downside of a prompt as bleak as the one we used this week is that at the end of the week I feel like slitting my wrists. That said, you did you part beautifully. Well done.
Aloha,
Doug
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Always enjoy reading all the different takes on the assignment. Great mood portrayed. Liked the sentence with “gray stone”. Every word counts. Nice.
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Sad. I like how you’ve shown Paul’s point of view – works really well.
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Very interesting.
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Dear Kathy,
I think Paul needs to put Mom in treatment. Sad story, nicely written.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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