Such is Life

Flash Fiction

Such is Life

We have a stone wall at the back of our yard. It’s not decoration. It’s at the back of our yard, and a few feet beyond is still our yard, but also a swampy stream. One of our chores is keeping track of the stream making sure it doesn’t get too close to the wall. We periodically buy truckloads of sand and dump it on the stream side just to keep the wall from sinking. It still sinks a little, but whoever built it in the first place did a good job!

I love to sit there and watching the stream and the woods on the other side. Turning back to our house, I see houses and streets and cars. When I look at the stream my imagination takes over. I’m stranded on a beach. Escaping from a nasty king. I’m hunting polar bears! (only in winter, of course.)

One day as I was watching a blue bird fly from tree to tree, on the other side of the stream, I started wondering. Was he (or she?) looking for something, or trying to escape something? As I sat there thinking of reasons, I made up a reason that was kind of funny, and suddenly I had to write it down so I could share the funny with my kids. My first story! I was so excited!!

I had it all played out by the time they got home from school. Joey in second grade now, and Teresa in kindergarten. As soon as the snacks were finished, I got them to sit down and listen as I read my story to them.

They were not impressed. Let’s say, enough that I won’t be reading it to anyone else…
Oh well, I still had a fun day! Such is life!