Pa (100 Word Flash Fiction)
The backstory is longer than the story. I grew up in a multi-generational home. Four generations of us lived together in a way humans have lived together for thousands of years, each generation having its own set of responsibilities that get passed on to each succeeding one.
Our house was two-and-a-half stories, built by my great-grandfather after he got drunk one rainy night and burned the other one he'd built to the ground. (He apologized for that to his wife, Luda Mae, and she probably forgave him eventually. Hard to say with that old meanie. I've seen her battle huge hogs bare-fisted, and win.)
At fourteen, Pa was one of my best friends. He'd been a sort of hero to me all my life, the one of his generation that had defied his parents, married who he'd wanted and become the man I knew. Every one of his brothers had become 'professional men', doctors, lawyers and businessmen. But my Pa chose to be a farmer, to raise a large family and live life as far from society as he could.
Pa was the first in my family to recognize my writing. He was the first to tell me I could do anything I wanted to do, even if it was nothing anyone else would ever understand. He was the first to teach me that I needed only one person's approval, and that person would stare at me from the mirror every day of my life and either give it, or not.
This is the story of how he died, and the promise he required from me. I think that here, I can say I've kept my word. And with that, meet my Pa Roberts and bid him farewell.
Pa
He was dying.
"Everyone you meet, every chance you get, you tell 'em." The ancient man paused. His gray gaze trapped me. “I was the meanest son-of-a-bitch that ever walked this world."
His enormous, crepe-wrinkled hand gripped mine, squeezing ever tighter. "You tell 'em."
Slowly, his face relaxed. His eyelids gradually fell.
"You'll tell 'em.” A whisper.
His desperate clench of my hand eased. Together, we awaited his apportioned reward.
One final, sudden breath--eyes opened fully, clear and gray behind tired, wrinkled lids.
"I'll tell 'em, Pa. I'll lie for you."
Pa smiled. “My boy.”
He sighed. “My…”
Dammit @jonknight. This is a great story. Is this really how it he went? Such a glorious way to go. I can only hope I can be that coherent and dramatic in my last minute. What a great memory.
Thanks! It was condensed slightly to fit the self-imposed 100-word limit, but these events actually happened. He told me for years to tell everyone he was the meanest SOB etc...
I love flash fiction. So much you can say in 100 words. Good job, and thanks for sharing!
Thanks for stopping by and reading my little story!
Everybody stopping by here and reading - you guys need to go now to check out @vsmiller's work. New to steemit and contributing greatly. I'm following.
Thank you for sharing your touching last moments with Pa. I think we all need 'Pa's in our lives to encourage us to do what we dream.
He was the best of men, he was the worst of men. He was, like the rest of us, human in every sense. His outstanding place in my life was to teach me that very thing. Thanks!
That is so beautiful. Both the backstory and the story. He gave you one hell of a gift in teaching you to seek only your own approval
Thank you. I was lucky in my childhood. He and his wife practically raised me until I was four because everyone else had jobs. In a way, I was raised by the generation that raised my grandparents.
I loved this in the queue and I love it now.
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Your Pa sounds like he was a great man. This is such a sad moment, but written so proud, lovingly. Thank-you for this, Jon.
Thank you--he tried always to make us think. I'd like to believe he succeeded, at least partially!
I like the back story, and also where you went with it. Your Pa sounds like he was worth his weight in gold. Captured well with your story.
Thanks - there are many stories I might tell about him. For instance, one day he came upon a man in a field, whose tractor had flipped over on him. Pa lifted the tractor and flipped it back onto its wheels. Saved the man's life.
And what a story even that one anecdote would make for. I's say you had quite the role model.
I love this story of your "Pa". Wonderful job and story, Jon.
Thank you, ma'am! Pa was interesting for certain.
Impressive bit. Followed.
Thanks for reading!
Congratulations. This post is featured in this week's Muxxybot Fiction Curation post.https://steemit.com/curation/@muxxybot/muxxybot-fiction-curation-13
I am honored! Thank you.
Just directed to this as an example of a great piece of micro fiction. It's a really strong telling of a powerful moment. Could work equally well as a poem ;)
Thank you. This was a special little story for me to write.