Live and Learn

Flash Fiction

Live and Learn

Playing catch with my daughter, a cloth ball filled with beans in it that my sister made for her. She was three now and uses regular balls, but this one had been special since she was one, she still loved it. For me, it’s wonderfulness was that it doesn’t bounce, which made it a lot easier for me to catch. I don’t want her to find out this early in her life that her mother is not very sportsy.

Today we were playing in the living room while Monkey Noodles was on TV. Monkey Noodles, one of her favorites. Frankly, for the most part I couldn’t stand him… but I sat thought it with her, occasionally, to keep her happy.

Well, she was sitting on the floor at one end of the sofa, me at the other, and we were tossing it back and forth as “Monkey” got into today’s troubles. He always found his way back out with the help of his friends, and being honest, in a way that real kids could understand.

Angela threw the ball to me, but at that exact moment Monkey yelled “Catch that ball!” We both looked at the TV where Monkey was swinging down a hill on a branch.

Well, our “ball” hit the coffee table, and knocked the lamp off and broke into pieces all over the floor!

“Oh dear!” I yelled, standing up.

“Don’t touch it!” my four-year-old yelled. It’s dangerous!”
Surprised, I said “Yes! How did you know it might be dangerous?”

She looked at me like I was crazy, “Remember? Monkey Noodles told us!”

Well, Monkey Noodles got an A plus that day from me! I even started watching more of her other favorites on occasion. And she was right; Monkey Noodles was the best!
Live and learn!