PHOTO PROMPT © J Hardy Carroll
“Get outta the way, old man.”
“Go around me.”
“But I want to walk there. They should shoot old people like you.”
Henry stopped. The 20-something stopped as well instead of stepping around him.
“When I was your age…”
“Well, you’re not. Now go off and die somewhere else.”
Henry reached down, took off his left leg and then stood balanced on his right.
The young man paused only a second before trying to kick Henry’s good leg.
The kick didn’t land, but Henry’s foot did.
“When I was your age, I was shot,” Henry said as he walked away.
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Word count = 100
Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. This week’s prompt is here and uses a photo © J Hardy Carroll. Read more or join in by following the InLinkz “linky“.
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As I was rereading this before posting, a song went through my mind, so I changed the title, adding that last tag line. Yeah, Aretha was asking for some respect for other reasons, but still, we all do want just a little bit, don’t we?
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Your last line was a perfect ending. Love the punch on the word “shot.”
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Thanks. With the wounded vet idea, as soon as the kid said he should be shot, I had to end it that way.
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Dear Trent,
No doubt Henry commanded the young punk’s respect. A day the boy won’t forget I’m sure. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I hope it’s a lesson the kid learned for good… Thanks.
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RESPECT! I love this story – Henry is amazing. So cool and calm in the face of such horrible behaviour.
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Henry has obviously seen worse, so he knew how to handle the punk. Thanks!
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Well done Henry, well done Trent!
Click to read my FriFic tale
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Thanks!
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Well done Henry!
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Thanks!
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I hope the young man learned his lesson.
Respect the elderly
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I hope he did. If not, he can get slapped by another shoe…
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So many wounded veteran stories this week! Another good one.
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Thanks. I think it is two things – although a lot of people who were not in the military wear prosthetic, we have seen so many wounded warriors over the last decade and a half that they are the first thing we think of. And then, of course, yesterday was a patriotic holiday here in the US (though it actually has zero to do with the military), that a lot of people’s thoughts went that way.
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Made me think of the Karate Kid, when he used the Crane position! Henry must have had an excellent sense of balance!
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He had a great sense of balance! Plenty of practice. I thought about The Karate Kid, and for a second thought about having him kick the guy with his good leg, but then thought it better if he used the prosthetic as a club instead.
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Great story…great song💜
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Thanks!
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😉💜
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Great story telling! I like your response to this prompt.
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Thanks!
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The punk sure deserved it.
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Yes, he sure did.
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There is some grim satisfaction in realizing that the youngsters will — if no one kills them first — eventually get old, too. I hope they have the sense to be embarrassed.
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If you are a kid you are going to live forever or die young and good looking. I wonder if Roger Daltrey smiles these days when he hears the line “I hope I die before I get old”? (Actually Pete Townsend wrote that line, but Roger put the emotion into it.)
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Typical entitled moron got put in his place
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Yep, a lot of them need a good boot in the rear, though i guess a foot across the face works.
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A totally unexpected response!
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I hope in a good way :)
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It was.
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you could have taken that ending in a few directions and the “shot” part followed the verbal exchange and kick nicely – and then – the cherry on top – the song!
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I’m hoping the “kid” remembers the song the next time he meets up with someone who he thinks is in his way ;) Thanks.
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yes – but he might need a few hard lessons first –
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He did get “slapped” a couple of times with a fake leg, so he had at least one hard lesson….
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ha – yes – but might need more
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He might, but I’m hoping he is a quick study…
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we shall see
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That kid needs a good kick in the teeth. I’ll send my character from today’s story over to do the job. ;-)
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He did get a good kick in the teeth, though Henry was swinging his leg like a baseball bat at the time ;) I’ll stop by later – I’m intrigued….
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A handy concealed weapon!
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It is. Most people don’t expect to be kicked in the teeth by someone who has issues climbing stairs.
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Was hoping Henry would do something like that…
Little Punk. No respect whatsoever.
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Nope, he deserved what he got and more.
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Very nicely done Trent!
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Thanks!
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Go Henry!!
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He’s ready to kick butt, even if he has to pick his foot up to make it kick…
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Trent, he must do yoga!
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Yep. He is very good at those one-legged balancing poses ;)
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indeed…
ha
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