“Here you are, sweetie.”
I unwrapped the parcel knowing well its content — another cap.
“Thank you so much, mother, you really shouldn’t knit you know.”
I looked at her arthretic hands knowing well the pains of knitting. But I couldn’t pain her even more, reminding of all the caps she’d already given me.
“Sweetie I can tell how you are freezing.”
I smiled while running my hand over my bald head.
“You’re right mother.”
I hugged her hiding my tears. I couldn’t pain her by telling the reason for my haircut. Would she continue knitting caps for my funeral?
Copyright Björn Rudberg
I have always found it harder to write about my own picture, after all I remember the place and why I took it, but I did find a story in the picture telling you a story of aging mothers, and how they can become obsessed with making things for you.
Friday Fictioneers is run by Rochelle, giving a picture each week asking us to write 100 words of fiction on the same picture. Join the fun.
On Monday I received my copies of Chiaroscuro – the poetry anthology we have published from contributions at dVerse. It contains poems by more than hundred poets (some of them also writing on FF). It’s available at Amazon US and UK. We have priced as low as we could to spread the words of all these talented poets we have in the blogosphere.
I hope his mother doesn’t survive him. It is tragic to live longer than your children.
I hope so too… and I think the protagonist wishes that too.
A poignant one, Bjorn
Thank you…
Tremendously moving. I wasn’t expecting that ending – well done.
The world is filled with tragedy, but most of is far from loud.
As a bald man I can appreciate the gesture, fortunately it’s nothing more serious than that for me. Touching story. Congratulations on the poetry collection.
It felt great to have the collection ready for Christmas… My copies will be great for family and friends.
Dear Björn,
Painfully good story. So much written into your 100 words. Beautiful and tragic.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you, I’m glad it came across despite the fact that it was a lot to pack in 100 words.
A poignant piece indeed. Quite moving in fact.
Click to read my FriFic!
Thank You Keith… I felt a bit moved as well.
Us bald beanie-wearers need to stick together…
Hope its bald for no bad reason…
only is ‘was too sexy with hair’ was a bad reason!
That’s such a poignant story, Bjorn.
Congratulations on the anthology.
Thank you
I liked it…will soon check the book out…
Ha.. you will recognize a lot of the poets.
My mother like to crochet. My wife and sister-in-laws could always count on getting a doily at Christmas. We still have several and appreciate them now more than then.
I’m glad your character spared his mother the pain. It’ll hit her soon enough.
I think he hopes that she will die before him… in my mother’s case it was pottery…
Really great piece, Bjorn. Like the photo too.
Thank you… those hats where everywhere on Madeira…
Very poignant, most moving, Bjōrn
Thank you Sue… Madeira is great for photos… but it was hard writing for your own.
Oh my… so heartbreaking and beautifully done, Björn. Thanks for the great photo! I know what you mean about it being hard to write about one’s own photo!
(May I suggest you change arthritis to arthritic hands?)
Excellent… sounds a lot better.
😘 from one friend to another
As I frequently tell my own kids, “it’s a mom thing” so just put up with it.
I think that’s the thing… you put up with it, but maybe you hide some other secrets doing so.
It’s a wonderful tale of love. Perfect for the season.
Sometimes love is to hide the truth…
True.
He’ll get better, I’m sure you can’t go killing off nice sons
No I hope so too… he seems to good to die.
Beautifully written. Very touching … and then the quietly devastating ending.
I hope there is a second opinion…
This is beautiful. I’m glad you found a story to go with your own photo. It is perfect.
I’m glad you like both the story and the photo
Oh, it was already such a sad piece before he said he didn’t want to trouble her with the reason for his bald head. I think so many people get the same gifts from loved ones, and they don’t realize how truly valuable they are until they stop receiving them. Which was the very thing I was contemplating until the sad ending. Lovely piece though.
Oh my. This is so very emotive, Bjorn. The intense love of mother for son and the sense of impending loss. It hurts.
I meant to add the sparseness of the writing adds to the intensity.
My copy arrived today – it is beautiful! There are no words, even for a poet, to thank you and Grace for your work.
When I lost all my hair a few years back, my youngest grandson asked if it would grow back ginger! So I enjoyed your story even with its sadness for recalling this memory.
i didn’t expect the twist at the end. sad story.
Awwweeee, how poignant and touching. No parent should have to go through this. Good that she’s oblivious to his impending demise as of now.
I like your story very much, as well as your photograph for this week’s challenge Björn. Thank you for the inspiration! 😊
The love between these two is almost tangible. Beautiful story.
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Ooh, a seemingly sweet tale of motherly love with a wrench in the tail. Nice one!
Touching and very sweet. Sometimes life is just sad.
She’ll feel the pain when he dies – perhaps that will be soon enough.
How sad! But what a great love he shows for his mother in so many ways. Love can redeem so many situations. You’ve written a beautiful story, Bjorn.
A moving story. She knits for him and he withholds telling her truth that would bring her pain, out of their love for each other.
So sad, Bjorn. You can feel the pain in your narrator’s voice. So well done
I never saw those last three lines coming. So hauntingly beautiful, Björn …
You have me in tears Bjorn. It came so unexpectedly it was like a punch to the guts. So poignant. I feel for him and for the loss his mother is going to feel.
That hurt! So much humanity in these few words.
Cool pic too.
Very tragic story, Bjorn. Loved the emotions on display here.
What an awesome piece! I was hooked until that powerful last line. A mother and son who love each other very much. I hope he tells her eventually so they can go through it together.
I pray that the woman shouldn’t outlive her son. She would be devastated. Great take on the prompt.
Such a sad tale. The mother’s love unmistakable, and the child’s reciprocation. All that knitting gives mother purpose, and probably keeps the fingers more nimble than they would be. I imagine she will stop knitting if her son succumbs.
Oh gosh, I would leave her in ignorance too and take all the hats… bit of a sting in the tail in this story Bjorn
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A beautiful story. Mothers are like that. They will do whatever they can for their children. She may understand more than we think, however.
Wow! That was an incredible story. You brought tears to my eyes. Well done.
I’m going to resume writing stories with FF in the New Year.
Happy Christmas!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Sad and poignant Bjorn. Have a good Christmas
This was so moving for me… and so close to reality. Twice, we’ve had these haircuts in my family. You packed it all in a few words.
Here’s to health and happiness ….Merry Christmas!
This is a heartwarming story, Bjorn of a kind of love that’s a gift. Good writing. Thanks for the lovely picture that made all our stories possible. All the best for your book. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2018. 🙂 — Suzanne
A poignant story, especially the ending.
Sad and moving. So much told and left unsaid in a 100 words. Nicely done.
Oh my, Bjorn. I was sad as I read, thinking of my own mother’s arthritic hands and her desire to give me things over and over, that might make my life better. Then, that last line! A sad, beautiful story to make me appreciate the fragility of life.
A really sad but touching story Björn. Nicely done.
This really tugged at my heart. My grandmother was just like this. Wonderful piece.
Thank you… I think there is a part of my mother in that old woman too…
A moving story, around the love between mother & son, told with real empathy I think. Twist at the end is powerful. Well done.
yes moving store ….and be thankful you get a parcel with a hand knit cap…so special!