Friday Fictioneers: Ripples
For Madison Woods’ Friday Fictioneers Flash Fiction Challenge.
“What are those rings mummy?”
“They are ripples sweetie.”
“What are ripples?”
“It is how the water moves when you throw something in it.”
“Why does it do that?”
“Its called impact baby.”
“What is impact?”
“It is like how when Johnny hits you when you snatch his toy, and it starts to hurt and go red?”
“Yes.”
Silence.
“Mummy someone just hit the water?”
“What do you mean sweetie?”
“Ripples”
“Yes sweetie that’s right.”
“That boy just hit it and its hurting.”
“Yes sweetie he just threw something into the water.”
“Are you going to yell at him?”
“No sweetie I am not.”
“But mummy, you yell at Johnny every time he ripples me.”
“Yes I do sweetie. But Johnny was making bad ripples.”
“What are good ripples mummy? Do they hurt the same?”
“A good ripple is when Johnny hugs you when he says sorry. Does it hurt the same?”
She shook her head slowly. “Don’t think so.”
Silence.
“So is he making good ripples mummy?”
“I don’t know sweetie.”
“Ask him mummy.”
She folded her little arms and looked at her mother.
“Why?”
“Because if he’s making bad ripples someone should tell him to stop.”
The little girl let go of her mother’s hand and walked towards the little boy.
She lagged behind and smiled to herself when she heard her child speak.
“Hello, are you making good ripples?”
She folded her little arms and frowned waiting for the little boy to answer.
“Do you know what ripples are?”
Awww this is so sweet…very vivid too. I can totally see a young child doing this…very well written and made my heart smile. Well done Raina
Thanks Boomie!!
Cute story…Here’s a kid who drives the mother crazy with all her questions. Thankfully, the mother has patience.
Yes thankfully. Thanks Lora….
we all make ripples — let us hope they are good. Nicely done
Haha, oh the never ending stream of questions. I know that one well. Great story.
Thank you Kaitlin…
I love children, they are so literal and demanding – that child is definitely running for president one day. Brilliant take on it and I really enjoyed it. http://womanontheedgeofreality.com/2012/08/10/friday-fictioneers-shell-seeker/
she’s li’l miss bossy and more isn’t she? haha. Thanks Linda.
She certainly is Raina
I’m looking forward to times like this when my daughter gets a bit older. Nicely done!
Thanks Adam. Hehe…they come up with the most interesting things don’t they li’l ones…
They sure do! It’s an amazing thing.
Dear Raina,
A very well thought out and executed stream of dialog. Ripples. I like it.
Aloha,
Doug
http://ironwoodwind.wordpress.com/2012/08/10/croatan-summer/
Thank you Doug
Oh, cute! I love how you’ve brought in good ripples and bad ripples. Now to explain the butterfly effect of their ripples . . . er, perhaps when they’re a bit older!!!!
Thanks for your comment on ours.
Yea the butterfly effect would be a bit much for the li’l one…. thanks!
Nice dialogue, very convincing.
Thank you Sandra.
LOL. Too funny. Can just imagine my three year-old doing the same!
Thanks Nifti…your 3 yr old must b so cute.
What a very interesting and unique way to teach a child about the hurts and bruises in life, and how good ‘ripples’ can be a very positive thing, too. Good story, with good dialogue.
Thank you so much Joyce.
This one’s one of my favorite this week – with all those little pauses of silence – perfectly capturing the girl’s frame of mind (and something about her character, since she’s so worried the water might be hurting). Great train of thought launched by the picture!
Brian (http://pinionpost.com/2012/08/10/the-reunion/)
Thank you so much Brian am so glad you liked the story
I remember this from when my daughter was young – question after question – I had to be on my toes. Really nice dialogue.
Thank you Claire. Your daughter must have been quite entertaining to have around then
Great job of getting the child’s perspective and questions down, Raina. Just an grammar FYI…when you have “mummy”, “sweetie”, etc., that word should be separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma.
Oh, thanks for that tip Janet.