Friday Fictioneers, that 100-word story challenge, has rolled around again. This week the prompt comes from a lovely photo by Janet Webb. To join the fun visit Rochelle Wiseoff-Fields’ site here:
http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/
The Gift
Each morning 8-year-old Aran, his mahogany skin warmed by the sun, trekked to the shore to play with his stash of sea-polished rocks. Eagerly, he collected new ones, always anticipating some special treasure deposited on this tiny island by his best friend, the ocean.
Today he’d found that gift. Coral? It didn’t feel like coral. Scores of tiny hollows inside formed a pattern and offered a mystery.
“What is it, Poppy?” he’d asked Grandfather, who’d traveled to distant lands.
“A wasps’ nest,” was the reply, and then, because the island had no wasps, Grandfather explained.
Aran held the delicate structure close. Here it was! His anticipated treasure from another world! His connection with people and adventures that were beyond his ocean! He would treasure this gift … keep it safe … and some day ….
~
The Happy Wordcrafter 
I like this a lot. I hope he gets to see all those exciting places. (“Reply” somehow got an exclamation mark instead of an “l”.) 🙂
janet
Oh, thank you! I’m glad you liked it, and so glad you caught my typo! I’ll fix it right now.
Perfect, a real treasure when a child finds a link with nature and the world!
The wasps nest is an odd structure if you have no concept of a wasp (actually, even if you do).
Claire
One of those magical moments of discovery – nicely captured.
Thank you, Sandra. It was one of those times when I just seemed to ‘feel’ the dream in him as I wrote it.
Aw, this is lovely. Imagination and mystery can be such great motivators. I really enjoyed this, Sandra. 🙂
Thank you. I truly enjoyed writing it.
The nests are quite fascinating – we found an empty one in my Dad’s loft and my boys were fascinated. You got the boy’s wonder and longing for adventure into your story well.
Thank you. I seemed to be able to ‘feel’ his dream as I wrote it, and that always helps.
Ah, the wonderment of discovery. I could feel the waves lapping at my feet. Well done.
Thank you. His longing seemed very real to me as I wrote it, and I think that’s what made it do-able.
the rapture of the child at finding the treasure 🙂
sweet lovely story – you captured the little boy’s delight at his new discovery brilliantly.
Nice story with genuine characters!
Thank you, and thanks for taking the time to read it and comment.
Lo ve this story. how something mundan could be a treasure just because it’s rare-
Thanks. I enjoyed writing it.
Lovely. I saw the world through the eyes of a child and it was a nice trip. Thank you.
Thank you for taking the time to read it and comment.
This made a lovely read. really like it when you say that the ocean was his best friend. The curiosity and wonder of a child so well put here.
Dear Sandra,
An island with no wasps. Take me there. Sounds idyllic to me. Smooth dialogue in a seamless story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
I’m glad this was my last read for the night – here in Oz – pleasant dreams of childhood treasures
Thanks for the comment. It makes me feel good to know the story makes a pleasant bedtime story. It’s such an important time of the day to center on pleasant thoughts and feelings.
What a lovely story, had a dreamlike quality about it.
Very enjoyable
Dee
Thank you so much. I appreciate your taking the time to read it and comment.
It goes to show how simple things to us can be treasures to others. Things you have never seen are exciting because you have no knowledge of their purpose.
Hi Sandra – First of all…your lovely, vibrant flowers made my heart smile. Your sweet story about this young boy and his unusual ocean discovery also made my heart smile. Nice work.
Thank you so much. I enjoyed writing the story very much. The flowers are some of my dad and stepmom’s tulips this year. I took several photos for them and couldn’t resist using one myself.
I like that he calls the grandfather Poppy, since that what they say in Newfoundland, where I grew up.
I had no idea. And I didn’t really even know why I used it except that it’s what came to me as I wrote, and it just seemed to fit so perfectly. Thanks for the info.
This has me dreaming of distant lands.