"Javan's Pick Up" (StoryADay Challenge/Day 23)

THE PROMPT ( BY MONIQUE CUILLERIER, WHO LIVES IN OTTAWA, WHERE SHE WRITES FICTION, LONG AND SHORT, WHEN SHE IS NOT PROCRASTINATING ON TWITTER AT @MONIQUEAC OR SPORADICALLY POSTING AT NOTWHEREILIVE.CA. YOU CAN READ ONE OF MONIQUE’S STORIES IN THE ANTHOLOGY BIKES, NOT ROCKETS)

Write outside your comfort zone with a random genre, weather type, and errand. (see below)

When you are stuck for new ideas, working from specific suggestions can open up new possibilities. They can also take you out of your normal way of working and help you explore different approaches. You never know what sort of story will result.

Roll a die for each category.

Then, write a story in your genre, with the particular type of weather and errand. 

*

“Why is this line so long?” Liam Baxter said, blowing into his closed fists. “It’s freezing out here.”

“Relax, all of these parents are waiting for their child just like we are honey.” 

Erin widened her eyes beneath her wool cap. Liam knew what those eyes meant. 

“These kids are spoiled,” Liam said. “There are consequences to raising spoiled children.” 

Another parent turned around and looked at them, but said nothing.

“Can you just be quiet?” Erin whispered, tightening the scarf around her neck.

Liam wiggled his toes and felt how soaked his socks were, the snow had infiltrated his boots.

“I just don’t understand what’s the hold up, grab your kid and leave.” 

“This is why I prefer to pick up Javan by myself, you’re always making a scene,” Erin said.

“Excuse me honey, that I’m not excited to be waiting in a snowstorm as our son finishes archery practice. I didn’t even know what archery was until I was in high school. This is ridiculous. The amount of privilege these kids have, and how ungrateful most of them are.”

The parent in front of them turned around again. She had on a purple knee-length parka. “Our children should have it better than we had, don’t you think?”

“Yes, I agree with that ma’am,” Erin said. “That’s the entire point.”

“Exactly,” the woman said. “I’m so proud of what my little David is learning here.”

“We give our kid everything,” Liam said, looking at Erin. “And if we ask him to clean his room, he throws a tantrum. All kids are sweethearts until they don’t get their way.” 

“That’s just a phase, kids will be kids,” the woman said.

“Ma’am, no offense, but no one is speaking to you,” Liam said. “I’m having a discussion with my wife, and ease-dropping is very rude.”

The woman turned forward without another word. The line started moving.

“Finally,” Liam said. “With all this archery, we should make him hunt dinner.”

“Please be quiet,” Erin said. “Please.”

When Javan saw his parents, he ran to them. “Mom!”

“You only see your mother here?” Liam asked. 

“Hi dad,” Javan said. 

“You don’t sound as excited.”

Erin rolled her eyes. “Sweetie, how was class?”

“It was great. Mr. Gibbs showed us a film on the history of archery, it was awesome and informative.”

Erin smiled at her growing boy. 

“Sounds like a hoot,” Liam said. “Zip up your jacket, it’s cold out there.”

“What’s for dinner?” 

“What are you hunting?” Liam said

Javan looked at Liam quizzically. “Huh?” 

Erin turned Javan’s chin to her. “We made your favorite. Let’s go home.”

As Erin and Javan walked towards the exit, Liam looked around at the other families. 

“Vastata haedos,” he whispered.

The End.

**This is a work of fiction. Names. characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

[Dice Roll Results: Genre - Political Satire. Weather Type - Snowstorm. Errand - Pick up a child from an extracurricular activity]