
PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson
Quit charging around the house! If you have to run, go outside and play!
I don’t care if I told you to stay in when it rains. Yes, I did say that you’d catch pneumonia and die. But that was then, this is now.
You brought the wagon into the house!?! That’s an outside toy! Bring it out immediately. No, not down the st…
–
Honey, you know that glass door at the bottom of the stairs? Can you take a look? I think it’s broken.
–
And call the police – when that boy comes inside, I may kill him…
***
(Yes, I should have stopped it after “I think it’s broken”, but I had enough words left over, so…. ;) And of course I wasn’t ripping Calvin and Hobbes, no, not at all ;) )
*
Word count = 100
Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. This week’s prompt is here and uses a photo ©Dale Rogerson. Read more or join in by following the InLinkz “linky“.
Ah, the complexity of emotions parenthood brings!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, wanting to hug and strangle your kid at the same time ;)
LikeLike
I’ve been this mom… very relatable!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It seems that everyone has experienced a child like this – I must have hit a universal truth ;)
LikeLike
You definitely did!
LikeLiked by 1 person
:)
LikeLike
The last line is so essential.. After all it reflects the raw emotions.. Ha ha… Enjoyed this one
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, in ways it is essential. The mother in the cartoon that influenced this story once said something like, “Being a parent is wanting to hug and strangle your kid at the same time.” Thanks.
LikeLike
Sounds like that door has endured a lot of slamming!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It has, but the wagon going down the stairs into it was just a bit too much…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great Trent, reminds me of the mixed messages we got from our parents when we were young
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, I think it was actually the mother in Calvin and Hobbes that said, “Being a parent is wanting to hug and strangle your kid at the same time.”
LikeLiked by 2 people
Great line
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! It was Hobbes’ fault, mum…
LikeLiked by 1 person
He always blames Hobbes, but Mom always sees through those little lies. I’m not sure why she never believes that the stuffed tiger did it…
LikeLiked by 1 person
This isn’t a rip-off, it is a documentary. :D I don’t have kids, but did know enough wild little kids in my time to understand. Great fun, and I love C&H, too.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Reading all of the comments everyone knows, or was, a little Calvin… I’m a little of both – I have known some and was a little bit of one ;) Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That could have been me a few years ago! Thank goodness those days are behind me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The accidentally breaking things could be me now ;)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sadly, I can envision this happening in real life. In fact, sounds like something I would have done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it is something that could occur in real life, and that, though I was pretty manageable compared to Calvin, it’s possible I could have done something similar…. No, I never broke anything as a kid, not me ;)
LikeLiked by 1 person
giggles… me, either. hehe!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure not ;)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Uh oh… Somebodies gonna get it…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep. He’s doing well to hide ;)
LikeLike
Dear Trent,
And right outside the door is a horde of angry snowmen aiming their stick rifles at her, right? I always loved Calvin and Hobbes. I think my youngest son was Calvin Incarnate. Fun stuff.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, a horde of angry, sort of sinister looking, snowmen are out there…. One of the saddest days of my life was when I read the Watterson was retiring from Calvin and Hobbes. Looking at the comments, it seems almost everyone raised a Calvin. Thanks :)
LikeLike
Oh, my son thinks he is Calvin too, he calls me Hobbes, the wise caring companion who sucks at math like me. There were so many things in your story for me to relate to :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
lol, well, “Hobbes”, I hope your “Calvin” doesn’t cause this much damage :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thankfully, no 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Young boys playing inside a house with glass doors. Something is bound to break.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, exactly.
LikeLike
I loved the one sided dialogue and could certainly relate having raised one very active little boy. I liked the last bit too! :-)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! It does seem like everyone who has raised a little boy was able to relate to this one :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Calvin and Hobbes, may they rest in pieces—I have three sons. I get it. Totally.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I do miss Calvin and Hobbes… I’m sure with three sons that you do get it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perfect!! Loved it – made me remember my brother who stuck his hand through a glass door – 50 stitches….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ouch! Luckily I never did that, but I know people how did that type of thing. How did any of us survive childhood? Thanks!
LikeLike
It’s not ripping off C & H, it’s just describing every parent’s experience bringing up children!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of course what made Calvin and Hobbes so funny was how much people could relate.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I almost felt like I was reading a snippet from my life, haha. The only thing missing is that my boys would have rode it down the stairs and it would have been “call the ambulance I think I am having heart failure…”
Loved it, great response to the prompt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! I’m sure this story would fit in with the Penis Chronicles pretty well, though of course there it would fact instead of fiction….
LikeLike
If you’re gonna steal, steal from the best. How many parents have uttered those same words: “I’m gonna kill…”? Fun piece.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Steal from the best”: that’s my philosophy, and there were none better than Watterson and his great comic strip! Thanks. (Typo fixed…)
LikeLike
Watterson – auto correct strikes again
LikeLike
Love it, Trent! She sounds just like me… kinda… or every other mother with a “Calvin” of a boy…or two
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think a lot of boys are like Calvin, or is it the other way around? Thanks, Dale!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it definitely goes both ways… Watterson was inspired by real live, no doubt…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Funny is that he didn’t have any kids. I know he based the dad on his own father, but with his own bicycling hobby, and I think he based Calvin on himself.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I would not be surprised… :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love it ,💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Willow :)
LikeLike
💜😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Someone’s having a bad day! Made me smile though. :)
p.s.your opening word should read ‘quit’ I think?
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some is having a very bad day! Thanks, I corrected the typo.
LikeLike
It never rains but it pours
LikeLiked by 1 person
One adventure after another… I like the rain pun :)
LikeLike