CW: Patrick’s Summertime Sadness.

This post is a collection of three separate flashes (in response to three prompts), but it can read as one short story.

***

Patrick sighed at the lake in front of him. While his friends were splashing in resort pools, he was stuck on a swamp bank.

“Patrick, come help me pitch a tent!” his father called.

Mother and Sister were unloading the car – pots, pans, and food supplies.

Prepare for lots of beans from a can. Patrick groaned. He wanted to gorge himself on burgers and fries, in places where you didn’t sweat through your clothes just by sitting.

Something buzzed by his ear and he swatted it. Mosquitoes. Lovely.

“We forgot toilet paper,” Patrick’s mom announced.

Gotta love nature! “Aghrrrr!”

***

Patrick devoured even the broccoli. Anything is better than camp food.
“Done!” He showed his empty plate to his mother, eager to return to his computer.

“You don’t leave the table until everyone is done,” his father reminded him.
Patrick gave his sister the death stare. Eat faster or your bunny might disappear.

“It’s your turn to wash the dishes tonight,” his mother chimed in.
“But whyyyyy?” Patrick could have sworn that Mother looked pleased with herself for ruining his gaming plans.

As he made his way to the sink, Patrick rolled his eyes. No rest for the wicked.

***

Next on the list of tortures – a visit to an art museum.

“We’ll go to the movies and get you both the biggest popcorn afterward,” Patrick’s father told the kids when they refused to put on their shoes.

Patrick’s and Gemma’s eyes gleamed. “Fine,” they both replied.

~At the museum~

“What is this supposed to be?” Patrick looked at a red semi-circle smear.

“Not sure…” his mother looked at Dad.

“Strawberry jam,” Gemma replied, snacking on her apple slices, one of them now covered with a red substance.

“Gemma!” Her mother hurriedly ushered her family out of the gallery.

***

“In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about a smear of jam.”
– prompt used for this CW piece.
[Source: Carrot Ranch]

“In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about the dishes.”
– prompt used for this CW piece.
[Source: Carrot Ranch]

“In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story as a love letter to nature.”
– prompt used for this CW piece.
[Source: Carrot Ranch]

***

P.S. As always, you are more than welcome to use this prompt to inspire your post. If you decide to write something, be sure to pingback to this post so that I can get an alert and check out your piece. (A post on how to do pingbacks can be found here.) If pingbacks are not your thing, feel free to simply leave a link to your piece in the comment section below. The more, the merrier!

Stay golden,

***

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