| Family Fiction posted May 8, 2022 |
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250 Word Max - Flash Fiction competition Entry
The Barn
by Dick Waters
Some people call it ‘The Barn’
Four exterior walls…
He referred to it as a ‘Story Box’
Old wide boards, some rotting with age
“The farm and barn have stories to tell.”
An only son, his dad wanted him to continue the farming tradition
It wasn’t going to be that life for him
It was the late 60’s, the country was at war
Although married, he was going to enlist in the Marines
He fought over there for something he never really understood
Every day he did his best to protect his buddies and himself
They were too close to the ‘Demilitarized Zone’
When he came home, they had a son
Like the farm, his parents were going down hill
His parents had to sell and it changed hands
*.*.*
It started slowly and then became more aggressive – the cancer
‘Agent Orange’ poisoning
Finally, his wife asked where he wanted to visit before it was time
His words surprised even him – ‘The Farm’
The new owners were rebuilding the farm, and the house was already torn down, but the barn was still standing
Despite over a hundred winters, and showing signs of age, it was protruding like a finger to Mother Nature
He wondered what his life would have been like if he had indeed stayed on the farm
*.*.*
She watched the man and the boy studying the barn
“Bill, QUICK, you need to help this boy, the man with him just collapsed in the snow.”
Some people call it ‘The Barn’
Four exterior walls…
He referred to it as a ‘Story Box’
Old wide boards, some rotting with age
“The farm and barn have stories to tell.”
An only son, his dad wanted him to continue the farming tradition
It wasn’t going to be that life for him
It was the late 60’s, the country was at war
Although married, he was going to enlist in the Marines
He fought over there for something he never really understood
Every day he did his best to protect his buddies and himself
They were too close to the ‘Demilitarized Zone’
When he came home, they had a son
Like the farm, his parents were going down hill
His parents had to sell and it changed hands
*.*.*
It started slowly and then became more aggressive – the cancer
‘Agent Orange’ poisoning
Finally, his wife asked where he wanted to visit before it was time
His words surprised even him – ‘The Farm’
The new owners were rebuilding the farm, and the house was already torn down, but the barn was still standing
Despite over a hundred winters, and showing signs of age, it was protruding like a finger to Mother Nature
He wondered what his life would have been like if he had indeed stayed on the farm
*.*.*
She watched the man and the boy studying the barn
“Bill, QUICK, you need to help this boy, the man with him just collapsed in the snow.”
Four exterior walls…
He referred to it as a ‘Story Box’
Old wide boards, some rotting with age
“The farm and barn have stories to tell.”
An only son, his dad wanted him to continue the farming tradition
It wasn’t going to be that life for him
It was the late 60’s, the country was at war
Although married, he was going to enlist in the Marines
He fought over there for something he never really understood
Every day he did his best to protect his buddies and himself
They were too close to the ‘Demilitarized Zone’
When he came home, they had a son
Like the farm, his parents were going down hill
His parents had to sell and it changed hands
*.*.*
It started slowly and then became more aggressive – the cancer
‘Agent Orange’ poisoning
Finally, his wife asked where he wanted to visit before it was time
His words surprised even him – ‘The Farm’
The new owners were rebuilding the farm, and the house was already torn down, but the barn was still standing
Despite over a hundred winters, and showing signs of age, it was protruding like a finger to Mother Nature
He wondered what his life would have been like if he had indeed stayed on the farm
*.*.*
She watched the man and the boy studying the barn
“Bill, QUICK, you need to help this boy, the man with him just collapsed in the snow.”
Photo courtesy of K.S. Brooks (www.indiesunlimited.com)
This is my entry into that site's weekly free flash fiction competition, which the picture and the words 'The Barn' were given as the prompts.
Please check out that site for great things for authors and writers.
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and 2 member cents. This is my entry into that site's weekly free flash fiction competition, which the picture and the words 'The Barn' were given as the prompts.
Please check out that site for great things for authors and writers.
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