Image by Jean L. Hays
‘Can you see the car, George?’
George bounces on the spot and points. ‘Car!’
We’re sitting side by side on the front step. Traffic rumbles past just metres away. Not the best place to bring up children. But you do the best with what you’ve got.
‘Look, George! It’s a truck. Can you say truck?’
‘Quack, quack.’
‘No, not a…’
‘Quack, quack.’
‘Well, close enough.’
My son looks at me with big blue eyes and smiles. I bundle him up in my arms and carry him inside.
Not the best place to bring up children.
But this is our place.
*********
Bill Bryson’s Notes from a Small Island was my 5th book in my 100 book challenge and I’ve written a short review here. For someone who never used to read much (I hear you gasp – a writer who doesn’t like reading!?) I’m actually really enjoying working my way through the list. Check out the 100 book challenge list, and my other reviews, here.
Follow @jessieansonsFriday Fictioneers is a challenge set by Rochelle Fields where writers around the world create 100 word stories inspired by the one image. For more information see: http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2014/11/05/7-november-2014/
Jessie Ansons 
Aww, this was warm glow time Jessie. Good start to the day. Well done.
Thanks Sandra! I thought a warm glow piece would be nice for a change.
Dear Jessie,
I dare say little George is going to be saying truck in no time as well as V-8, four on the floor, etc etc. Lovely story that left me with a smile.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks Rochelle! And once again thank you for making Friday Fictioneers everything it is!
Very cute story, good work
Glad you liked it 🙂
Cool tale.
And great when a bus goes past!
It sure is 🙂 thanks for reading!
Such a simple, beautiful story. Lovely.
Claire
Thank you Claire, glad you thought so.
Reblogged this on ugiridharaprasad.
Thanks for the reblog!!!
Pingback: Our place (Friday Fictioneers) | ugiridharaprasad
Sweet story, and well written. You brought a good sense of location to the tale.
Well done.
KT
Glad you thought so! Sometimes I find it hard to do in 100 words, so I’m glad I got that sense through.
Great story of love and perseverance, I truly enjoyed it.
Lovely comment! Thank you 🙂
Dear Jessie,
A wonderful tale about making do and the unseen wealth that families with an abundance of love have. Well done.
Aloha,
Doug
Aloha Doug – thanks for your lovely comment. I like how you’ve referred to it as ‘unseen wealth’ – so true.
Very sweet. 🙂
Thanks, Binks! I’m up for a double challenge next week if you are 😉 First in first served.
Sometimes your own place is more important than the perfect place. I like the dialogue here. 🙂
Thanks David! Yes, absolutely true 🙂
His next new word may be “lemon”.
DJ
Haha yes, no doubt that will come!
Nice gentle piece. Clever dialogue.
Thank you 🙂 glad you thought so
Sweet piece. I have a friend who reared her 3 kids in a place like this – they’re all charming.
That’s great to hear! The house itself really doesn’t matter in the end 🙂
Lovely take on the prompt, Jessie – and yes, there’s no place like home, there’s no place like home!
Thanks Di! Glad you liked it 🙂
Adorable scene and dialogue that any parent can relate to. Now if only I had little kids again that age! They grow up too damn fast.
This piece was all about my little boy – he’s 14 months and simply adorable. Everyone tells me they grow up fast!!
Sweet, Jess. Just plain nice! I could see that little guy and his chubby little arm pointing. You really DO the best with what you have. Same for your writing. Marvelous!
Thank you so much for your lovely comment! Glad you could picture the little guy 🙂
Exactly. So very gentle, kind and true.
Thank you Leona! Lovely of you to say so.
Sweetly told, and wonderfully descriptive. The interaction between mother and child is so dead on. Nice job, Jess!
I’m glad you thought so! Your comment made my day 🙂
Lovely intimacy ~ Mum and George sharing and caring during unrepeatable days ❤️
That’s right 🙂 You really can’t put a value on things like this.
Home is where the heart is. Sweet story.
It sure is! Thank you for stopping by 🙂
This reminds me of when my boy was little and he would hear the sirens and scream Fire Fuck!
Haha oh they’re so funny. My son has a habit of telling strange men that they’re his ‘dada’…
Endearing characters, and a lovely story. Heartwarming.
Thanks Margaret – I’m glad you thought so 🙂
Beautiful slice of urban living, Jessie.
Marie Gail
Glad you thought so Marie. Thanks for reading and commenting!