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17.5.18

GRANDMA'S BOOTS - a story in a hundred words


GRANDMA’S BOOTS

I loved Grandma’s cottage – after school I’d lie on her rag rug while she told the story of each scrap, eating buns hot from the chipped yellow stove. She made soup with vegetable peelings that Mum would have thrown away, never bought new clothes, and mended her own boots.
‘Embarrassing’ Mum called her, but she couldn’t stop me loving her.

Then one day there was no smoke drifting from her chimney, no smell of baking.
Mum bought a frock to bury her in and burned her old clothes, saying they weren’t fit for the jumble.
I hid her boots in my wardrobe.
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Thanks to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers on her blog  https://rochellewisoff.com/  and to Courtney Wright for the atmospheric photograph. The stones on which the boots sit reminded me of the cottage my daughter and her husband are renovating in Northern Ireland - they will know exactly where I saw Grandma's stove!
Like many of you I have been busy writing, working on Wolf Pack, the second in my Living Rock series, and also preparing to publish another book in a completely different genre - historic drama/romance. Helter-Skelter is the story of Albie, his search for his gypsy father when his mother abandons him at the age of twelve, and eventually of his army service in the first months of World War Two.
Look out for Helter-Skelter by Elizabeth Young soon on Amazon.

45 comments:

  1. A lovely memory for her to keep hidden. Nicely done Liz.

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  2. lovely, Lizzy

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  3. You weave so much into so few words!

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    Replies
    1. That's the fun and challenge of flash fiction.

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  4. Love... this tugged at my heart.

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  5. What a beautiful, vividly written story! Loved this, Liz.

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

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  6. Dear Liz,

    Beautifully written. So much story in few words.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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  7. So glad he got those boots. Tender, loving story.

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  8. That gave me goosebumps, Liz.
    Grandchildren are way more perceptive than children...

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Dale - you have grandchildren too?

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    2. Nope. Not any time soon, methinks...

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  9. A lovely memento rescued from the fire.

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  10. Yeah! I was hoping the boots would be saved. Grandmother sounds delightful - a bit like mine was. Ah, I wish she had been around longer so I could have REALLY heard her stories.

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    1. We should all be interviewing our parents before their memories die with them.

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  11. We always need something to remember our loved ones by... love it.

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    1. Thanks Bjorn - I have my father's wedding ring, which I wear when my fingers swell in hot weather!

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  12. The world through the eyes of a child...special memories, never to be forgotten.

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  13. Your writing really appeals to the senses, Liz, and there's always that little pull at the heartstrings too.

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  14. So sweet that love of her grandma. She took the time to listen and understand. I don’t think mum with get it

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  15. I know what it means to deal with a heap of old things left behind, so I can sympathize somewhat with the mother. But I'm glad the daughter kept grandma's boots. Keepsakes are important. Touching story, Liz.

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    1. Yes, there's only so much junk one can keep, but the granddaughter found her own keepsake.

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  16. Lovely story with a heart as warm as grandma's cottage back in the day. So glad your narrator kept the boots.

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    1. Thank you Anon - I am glad it warmed your heart too.

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  17. What a wonderful granddaughter!

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  18. I love this Liz. Such sharp description, so spot on and the juxtaposition between how Mum feels about Grandma compared to how her grand daughter feels - so sweet and touching and perfectly worded. Spot on writing

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  19. That's a lovely story. We all need a little something even if they are torn or tattered to remember the people whom we love or amaze us. Grandparents are one such people.
    Thanks,
    Norma.

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    1. I only met my grandparents once as we lived on the other side of the world - I believe I missed out.

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  20. What a beautiful story of pure love. Made me wonder how "Mum" could come from a woman like "Grandma." Love it!

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    1. Some character traits skip a generation!

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