I’ve been tagged (for the first time)! Thank you so much to Kay from Kay Adelin for tagging me! She’s one of my favorite bloggers, so definitely go check her out!
If you are a little confused about what a “tag” is, you’re in good company. I have no idea what I’m doing. But I’m doing it!
Kay gave some interesting prompts, and I had a really hard time choosing one. One of them, the dialogue prompt, stuck out to me a bit more than the others, because it reminded me of a random story that I started a while back (it had absolutely no structure, hence why its in the trash now) that I called “The Things We Left Behind”.
P.S.: Sorry if it’s a little heavy.
Rules
- Tag 4-8 other bloggers
- Link back to the creator of this tag and thank the blogger who tagged you.
- Write a short story, poem, or flash fiction inspired from one (or more) of the prompts of the person who tagged you.
- Make 5-10 of your own prompts. They can be anything: phrases, single words, quotes, pictures, music–get creative.
- Have fun! (and let me know if you do this so I can read yours).
The Prompt:
“Well, this is the most intense family reunion I’ve ever been to.”
The Things We Left Behind
“I think the last time I saw you was at Mom and Phil’s wedding!”
That was a lie. We had both been at Phil’s funeral three months ago, though he may have not noticed me between his girlfriend crying her eyes out and Uncle Dan’s drunken performance of “Who Let the Dogs Out”.
I smiled hastily, nodding my head. That was me. Forgettable.
“How have you been?” he asked, waving his speared piece of pie in a circle.
“Alright,” was my reply, as was customary when a relative I didn’t regular hang around asked me that question.
Of course, it was followed by the unavoidable, “Whatcha been up to lately?”
I searched the room for my boyfriend, Kyle, while responding with, “Oh, you know, the usual, lots of work.”
“You still working for that company in South Hills?”
That coffee shop on the corner? I quit that job seven years ago. But, since it was easier, I gave him an affirmative, and excused myself as politely as possible.
Kyle had busied himself with the dessert table, taking two of everything with chocolate in it, the brown smear across his bottom lip telling me he was enjoying himself. Good. At least one of us was.
“Want some?” he asked, his mouth full of fudge. It took me a second to translate what he had said. I shook my head.
He studied my face. Chew, swallow. “You okay?” His voice was soft. Like he was approaching a wild animal.
Smile and nod. Seems to be the theme for tonight.
The massive oak doors swung open, revealing the reason we were here.
Maya. Her brown hair in tight coils dancing around her face, her jeans fitted and her jacket shiny and clearly brand new. Her face clean, her makeup perfect. Where are the dark circles around your eyes?
Every muscle in my body tensed. Kyle chewed his brownie very slowly, watching me.
Time seemed to move in slow motion. She crossed the room, sat next to Quinny, and began a hushed conversation. Quinny was the only one who liked her.
“Well, this is the most intense family reunion I’ve ever been to!”
Clyde, motorcycle helmet tucked under one arm, the other running through his blonde curls, leather jacket hugging his bulky frame. His eyes raked around the room, likely looking for alcohol, and his face fell when he found none. Way to say the quiet part out loud.
Maya stood. All attention was back on her now.
“Is everyone here?” She had the kind of voice that didn’t ask questions to receive an answer.
“Except Uncle Dan,” Russel murmured, and I heard a quick, “Shut up!” from someone behind me.
“Who made you in charge?” Clyde called, his tone daring her to challenge him.
“Dad.” was the answer. Maya raised her chin.
“How do I put this…” Clyde paused for dramatic effect, “…you’re adopted.”
Maya didn’t flinch. She knew that already.
“That’s why nobody likes you!” Someone yelled. It sounded like Peter.
Clyde spun to point at him. “No,” he chided, “nobody likes her because she was Phil’s favorite.”
“And Phil liked her because she’s adopted!” Peter folded his arms. “Point proven.”
“Dad liked me because I am better than all his actual kids,” Maya shot back.
“We aren’t his ‘actual’ kids.”
I was surprised to hear Frank say that. He’d always been the quiet one out of all my eleven brothers. Never spoke up for himself. Always got his butt kicked.
But he was right.
Phil was a nice enough guy, but he could never replace Dad. No one could. And when he died…
Well, the family became this.
“Right. Which is why he left you nothing.”
The reply hung in the air, dangling above our heads, just out of reach.
Phil left us nothing?
Maya smirked. “I got the house. Case closed.”
A million outbursts filled the room at once. Screaming for justice. Death threats.
A typical family reunion.
I almost didn’t realize that Kyle had grabbed my hand. “Let’s go,” he said.
I almost wanted to stay. To let my angry voice rise up with the others.
But I was forgettable.
I let Kyle lead me away.
“They need Jesus!” Kyle sang as he slid into the driver’s seat.
I stayed silent.
The car rumbled to life. I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore.
“Baby…” He took my hand. My head found its way to his shoulder.
I didn’t know why I was crying. It didn’t matter. It felt good to cry.
I glanced at Kyle. His eyes were closed. Praying. Was he praying for my family? For me? How could he have so much faith?
I threw a quick, Jesus, help me, up before I attempted to control myself.
“So, are those all your brothers?” Kyle asked. Bless you for changing the subject.
“Yeah,” I said shakily, “Kirk was the only one who wasn’t there.”
“Who was the redhead talking to Maya? She looks familiar.”
“Quinny. Russel’s wife. She’s the only one that tolerates Maya.”
“And why does everyone hate Maya, again?”
“She’s a brat. Entitled. You saw her. Also, Phil favored her over the rest of us.”
Kyle was quiet. A hysterical giggle bubbled up inside me. “She needs Jesus most of all.”
He waited a moment before responding. “We all need Jesus. The same.” His voice was soft. He had so much faith.
“Do you ever wonder,” he asked after a beat of silence, “what things you’re leaving behind?”
My Prompts
- (Not my own, just thought it was HILARIOUS!) At the age of 16, everyone teleported into a small room. In front of you is a table filled with all kinds of meals, from apples to gourmet meat dishes. Whatever you take a bite of determines what superpower you get. You are the first person to take a bit of the table itself.
- Write something based off of the song The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia by Reba McEntire.
- “(name) is dumb, but at least he’s happy.”
- Start your story with: “What could go wrong?” We hear a distant explosion. (Or something along those lines).
- Write a happily ever after- with a twist.
- “The smallest coffins are the heaviest.”
- Two brothers like the same girl. But they slowly find out that she’s not-so-great. For example: Joey burst into my room. “Sara’s dad has gone to jail three times! Did you know that?” “That’s ‘red flag’ number eight!”
- Go outside and write a story based on three different objects that you see (the stranger the better!).
Tagees!
Tippy @ The Golden Quill
Cenzie @Cenzie’s Blog
K @The Pages
Hannah @ Faith, Fiction, and Fairytales
Sara @ Baking Up Stories
+ANYONE!
Thank you all so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed this post and I can’t wait to read YOUR stories! God bless!
Cally May Writes 
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