Copyright — Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Once again we have a chance to show our creativity by writing a story for the Friday Fictioneers’ weekly challenge. This challenge is to write a story with no more than 100 words. It’s to have a beginning, middle, end, and follow the picture prompt supplied for that week. The gracious and talented hostess for the challenge is author and artist Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. The prompt this week is also supplied by her. Thanks Rochelle.
http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2014/07/30/1-august-2014/
Genre: Nonfiction
Word Count: 100 Words
THE FLIGHT HOME by P.S. Joshi
It was the summer I turned twelve. My brother, on a road trip, stopped in Ohio. He decided to take Mom and me back with him to California, a five-day trip stopping nights.
It rained a lot that summer, leaving Dad with a garden full of vegetables to give away.
After a long visit, Mom decided we’d fly back to Ohio. It took eight hours in those days.
Dad came to pick us up at the airport, and was extremely relieved we returned safely. He said, “All I could think about was a thin floor and that long way down.
Musings on Life & Experience 
The feeling I get from this story is one of a lazy sunday afternoon where all I want to do is sit down without a care in the world and read a book, funnily enough. Good effort and good story telling
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Thanks Weltchy. I have some happy memories thanks to my parents and brother. Thanks for the encouragement. I hope the short story you were working on does well. I’m glad you liked my story. 🙂 —Susan
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What a great last line.
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Thanks Carol. My dad really said that. He was so relieved to see we came back safely. I’m glad you liked the story. 🙂 —Susan
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Dear Susan,
A nice pleasant story. No horrid twists at the end. Just a a sweet family tale. I really enjoyed it.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle. I’m glad you liked the story. Thanks for the prompt that gave me the inspiration. 🙂 —Susan
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A nice snapshot of family life.
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Thanks FF. I have a lot of happy memories like that. I’m glad you liked the story. 🙂 —Susan
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I share that same apprehension. 🙂 Nice reminiscence.
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Thanks Sandra. Oddly enougjh, although my dad never went up in a plane, Mom told me that his father had gone up for a short ride years before. I’m glad you liked the story. 🙂 —Susan
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Placid and very readable.
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Thanks Yarnspinnerr. I’m glad you liked the story. 🙂 —Susan
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🙂
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Your ending sentence reflects well the fear so many have of flying–despite the ridiculousness of that fear. Far more people perish in auto accidents, yet we seldom think twice about hopping in the car to pick up milk at the grocer’s or the kids from soccer practice. Nice reflection this week.
All my best,
Marie Gail
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Thanks Marie Gail. My dad never went up in a plane, but for some time, as a fireman, he drove a fire truck. That was a lot more dangerous than driving a car to the grocery store. He was responsible for not only the guys on the truck, but people on the street. That’s why they keep that siren going. They have the right of way, but have to have quick reflexes. I guess he felt more in control than if he went up in a plane as a passenger. I’m glad you liked the story. 🙂 —Susan
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I’ve often wondered why individuals who are so brave in certain situations have such irrational fears in other situations. Control does seem to have something to do with it. Honestly, I have plenty of “irrational” fears myself. As to the fear of flying, my guess is that media coverage of crashes and other tragedies plays into it heavily.
MG
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I think you’ve probably got a valid point there.—Susan
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A thin floor indeed.. The brittleness of an aircraft is something I refrain from pondering… Love the fact it was nonfiction.
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Thanks Bjorn. I think most of us prefer not to think of it when in the plane. I’m glad you liked the story.Sometimes the prompt leads me to nonfiction and sometimes to fiction. I just sort of go with the lead. 🙂 —Susan
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I can totally see Dad in the garden worrying about thin airplane floors. And the relief on his face when he saw the two of you.
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Thanks Alicia. Yes, he was quite relieved. I’m glad you liked the story. 🙂 —Susan
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I quite enjoy the memories you share with us and you do it in a very lovely way.
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Thanks Lore`. I’m glad you like the stories. Thanks for the encouragement. 🙂 —Susan
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Sweet story. I can imagine Dad at home worrying until they touched down. The idea of a long road trip sounded fun, though!
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Ali, The road trip was fun except for the afternoon we had to drive through the desert without air conditioning. My brother had to get back to work and was pressed for time. By the time we got to Las Vegas, my mother’s face was extremely red. She drank three iced teas. Air conditioning never felt so good. On that last day when we reached Los Angeles, it was into the night. You drove with an insulated bag of water hanging on the front of the car when you went through the desert. That was to put in the radiator when needed. It was quite an experience for 12-year-old me. 🙂 —Susan
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Wow! I keep forgetting there’s desert in those parts. Very uncomfortable!
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I’m glad I was young. It was hard on my mom. People from the west coast often go to Las Vegas. They used to take a train, but now they probably fly. —Susan
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Dear Susan,
I liked your story and loved your last line.
Aloha,
Doug
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Thanks Doug. I’m glad you liked the story and appreciate your encouragement. I enjoyed seeing the photos of all of you at Rochelle’s place. 🙂 —Susan
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Nice story. I enjoyed the read.
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Thanks Maree. I’m glad you liked the story. 🙂 —Susan
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That floor IS thin. Lovely memory.
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Thanks Partick. I’m glad you liked the story. 🙂 —Susan
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Hi Susan, I like happy endings and there always is a bit apprehension when one is flying so I can understand how your Dad felt. With all the accidents happening in air travel these days it’s becoming just a bit scary. Especially if family members are travelling. Stay safe.
All the best, Zainab
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Thanks Zainab. It’s also a hassle just getting through the airport and onto the plane. I’m glad you liked the story. 🙂 —Susan
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Simply put and well told story 🙂
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Thanks Santosh, That seems to be the style and voice I’m most comfortable with. I’m glad you liked the story. 🙂 —Susan
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This was a nice read. I got this lovely image in my head of your Dad hugging his family and that huge release of anxiety when you and Mom returned safely. A warm fuzzy for sure.
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Thanks Russell. I’m sure Dad did breathe easier when that plane landed. He also no doubt missed us all the more as we were gone about six weeks. It had rained a lot that summer, and the garden grew like crazy. Mom wasn’t there to can anything so he had to give a lot of vegetables away. He was a fireman and had every other day off, so he was all by himself on those days. He knew enough cooking to feed himself, and that was a good thing. He was very glad to see us back safe and sound. His family meant everyting to him. 🙂 —Susan
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What a sweet story, and ably reflects that homecoming feeling, that sense of relief and ‘rightness’. Well done 🙂
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Thanks Joanna. You’re right about coming home. I’m glad you liked the story. 🙂 —Susan
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That’s a nice family tale. An eight hour flight! No wonder Dad was worried.
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Thanks Subroto. I’m glad you liked the story. Dad probably worried all eight of those hours. On long trips, he preferred we travel by car or train. 🙂 —Susan
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I loved your gentle and peaceful narration, and the loving tone of the father in the story. Great last line!
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Vijaya, I’m glad you liked the story. It was nonfiction and my dad really said that. 🙂 —Susan
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“A thin floor and a long way down?” Now I’m going to be thinking of that on every flight I take! What a nice family oriented story, but where are all the zombies?
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Thanks Perry. Sorry I planted something in you mind that’ll bother you. There weren’t any zombies around at the time. My mom was very practical. She said, “It’s not the dead who’ll hurt you. You have to worry about the living.” 🙂 —Susan
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🙂 Hopefully your dad was able to give some veggies to some of his firemen co-workers. Oh geez! Never thought about airplane floors being thin !
I enjoyed this…reminded me of vacations as a child…
Ellespeth
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Thanks Ellespeth. As I remember, he did give veggies to the other firemen. Sorry if I caused extra worry to people about plane flight. I guess the luggage compartment is beneath the passenger section, so there’s actually more than one floor, but the plane would have to be in really bad condition for a floor to give way. Of course, if there’s a bomb or rocket hit like has been in the news, anything can happen. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen to any of us or our family members. —Susan
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Your story does take me back to those days of childhood. Thoughts of mishaps does occur in my mind when I’m flying, but I’ve never thought about the thin floors. 🙂
Lily
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Thanks Lily. I’m glad you liked the story. Actually, I think there’s the baggage compartment below the passenger section, so there’s more than one floor. Let’s hope the plane we travel in next time won’t be in such a bad condition that the floor gives way. 🙂 —Susan
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Dear Susan – I have heard that saying – a long time ago, about a thin floor and a long way down to the next step – anyway – wonderful story and I really love reading your stories! Nan 🙂
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Thanks Nan. I don’t think I’ve heard that saying, but I’m sure someone has thought of it besides my dad. I’m glad you like my stories, and thanks for the encouragement. I enjoy your stories also. 🙂 —Susan
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Lovely detail about all the vegetables to give away, and Dad’s relief at the return is palpable – lovely last line.
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Thanks Sarah Ann. I’m glad you liked the story. Thanks for the encouragement. 🙂 —Susan
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Susan, I like the way the photo prompted a childhood memory for you, and I also like the nice clear way you conveyed it. Sometimes when I fly, if I have a window seat, I’m very conscious of the thin layer of material between me and the empty space outside – never really thought of the thin floor before, though. Ewww!
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Thanks Diana. I’m glad you liked the story. I have some lovely childhood memories. Thanks for your encouragement. I think there’s actually a baggage compartment below where the passengers sit so there’s actually more than one floor. I guess the plane would have to be in pretty bad condition for the floor to give way. Let’s hope the inspections would catch anything like that. 🙂 —Susan
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That is long road trip! I’m glad you got to fly instead, although it sounds like your dad was pretty worried about you! My dad gets pretty nervous when he flies, and will be getting on a plane next week. I think it’s the first time in years and years. Great memories detailed in your story!
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Thanks Amy. My brother must have taken old Route 66. It was “the” way to go across country in those days. I hope your dad calms down once the flight starts. My dad never flew. He would either drive or we would take the train. He “loved” the train. We took the ones with dome cars. He liked going to the lounge car and talking with other passengers. I’m glad you liked the story. I have a lot of happy memories. I saw the photo of you and Dawn. It was great that the two of you could meet when you were both in the same city. 🙂 —Susan
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Dear Susan,
I really liked that last line. Kind of brings home the entire impact of flight and the fear of traveling by air. Well etched.
Regards,
Shailaja
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Thanks Shailaja. That’s true. I’m glad you liked the story. 🙂 —Susan
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So the one dealing with the most fear wasn’t even on the flight. So ironic.
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Thanks Alice. Yes, my dad wasn’t on the flight. 🙂 —Susan
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Such a lovely story. Really captures a certain moment.
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Thanks Etienne. I’m glad you liked the story. 🙂 —Susan
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First flights and fear of flying can be challenging.
Glad there was a happy reunion.
Thanks for your visit.
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Thanks Jules. You’re right. I’m glad you liked the story. You’re welcome. I enjoy reading other stories. 🙂 —Susan
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Oh, how I remember those long road trips. Imagine driving from Connecticut to Florida–I mean all the way down to Miami. This was before super freeways/turnpikes and Disney World. Cars didn’t have AC. Dad wouldn’t ask directions and mom couldn’t read a map to save her life. She directed my father for hours with the map upside down. Then airplanes. Great invention. I like that your father had so many vegetables to give away. Sounds like my mom’s garden when they’d be jetting off to Hawaii and I stayed at the house for the cat and the garden giveaway. Loved your story. Lucy
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