Exceptional When will it end? The wooden spoon by Wendy G      ~ Family Story ~ (fiction) Contest Winner

No-one can remember the start of the family tradition. Every so often a large wooden spoon would be surreptitiously placed in the victim's bed … but no-one ever knew who the perpetrator of this practical joke was. Nor did anyone ever let on that they had been the recipient of the spoon. The next day the villain would scan the other faces suspiciously to see if there was any reaction to finding a spoon in the bed. There never was. The recipient would also scan the faces suspiciously to see if s/he could detect the one who did it. They never could. Everyone looked innocent, totally oblivious. No questions were ever asked. The recipient could become the next perpetrator… but not necessarily. The victim quietly returned "The Spoon" to its place in the second top drawer in the mother's kitchen. Some-one began the quiet plotting ... would it be for days or weeks ahead, or even months? But no-one forgot about the wooden spoon. It was a really flat prank, as no-one ever got the satisfaction of embarrassing a sibling, nor the kudos from inventing a joke which WAS funny. "The Spoon" kept reappearing at odd intervals for years. Imagine the shock of the brother when on his wedding night he climbed into his bed after a long and exciting day … and there was "The Spoon"! This time he knew that one of his sisters had brought her new sister-in-law into the ritual. The wooden spoon still had to be slipped unobtrusively back into the mother's second top drawer … and quietly removed, during visits, by whoever chose to be the next instigator. Sometimes there was an accomplice, sworn to secrecy. Time passed and they all had children. The wooden spoon now magically appears in the beds of the sisters' or brothers' children … and they in turn might give it to a cousin to put in their parent's or sibling's bed. Mother has several wooden spoons, so no-one ever notices when "The Spoon" goes missing. Backwards and forwards goes the wooden spoon, now giving quiet pleasure to the next generation. It is now a subject of discussion at family gatherings. Remember the wooden spoon? Everyone laughs at the memories  … And sure enough, before long it will be back in the bed of one of the little ones – or maybe of the grandparents! Writing Prompt *Read All Rules* Write a FICTIONAL story that involves a human family. The word length is 550 words or less. Do NOT write about, or refer, to Halloween in any way--no witches, bats, zombies, trick-or-treating, for example. This is NOT a Halloween story. NO 'blood & guts" gory story, such as murder of people. Do NOT include any spirits or time travel among characters. Do NOT have any music that automatically plays when story begins. You may use 1 picture that has no words, animation, or music, one color font with one color background, dedication line (optional) which doesn't count in word length, and author notes that may include 1 video (may have vocal sound/music). ~ Family Story ~ (fiction) Contest Winner Recognized Author Notes Thank you for reading. I think this family must be just a little quirky! The "spoon thing" is only ever known to two people at a time ... but it just keeps on going! Some elements of fiction are mixed in (with a wooden spoon!) (387 words)

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