© A Mixed Bag 2014
The so-called Country Hotel was located in the center of town. Dreary, gray, depressing place, but it’s where Janice said to meet. He’d been in worse.
Dean checked in and took his luggage to his room on the fifth floor. Janice made the reservation, so she’d know where to find him.
He didn’t unpack, just took off his overcoat, laid it across the bed, and nervously looked at his wristwatch. Almost time. Would they remember him after five years?
He heard the knock. Children’s muffled voices.
He hesitated for a second, then opened it.
“Grandpa!” Eleven-year-old Aaron and nine-year-old Esther screamed simultaneously, launching into the room, embracing their grandfather.
“I appreciate this, Janice. I know you don’t have to do this.”
“Dad, they love their Grandpa and want to spend time with him.”
Thank God Janice was so forgiving and the kids were so loving.
Dean kneeled down and excitedly announced. “Guess what? Tomorrow, we’ll go on an airplane to where Grandpa lives in Florida. We’re going to have a terrific time over Spring break.”
Dean’s mistake cost him five years in prison away from his family. Now he was going to make up for lost time.
I wrote this in response to this week’s Sunday Photo Fiction. The challenge is to use the photo prompt (see above) to write a complete story of no more than 200 words. My wee missive comes in at exactly 200.
To read more stories based on this week’s prompt, visit InLinkz.com.
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Cool, sweet story. I’m intrigued by the character. Seems awfully kind-hearted for someone who’s just spent five years in prison.
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Embezzlement isn’t a violent crime Harry, and there are all sorts of reasons why an otherwise nice guy would commit such an act. Let’s say he was drowning in debt from his wife’s medical bills as she slowly died of cancer. Five years in prison gave him time to absorb the regret for what he’d done and the terrible loss of not being able to see his grandchildren. He’s out now. His daughter has a few doubts, which is why they met at a hotel rather than her home. But she trusts her Dad with her children and knows they love each other.
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This is the background I was looking for. Sounds like a great foundation for a longer piece.
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I’m not sure it would be much longer, Harry. This is the center of it all. Loss turned into redemption once step at a time.
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Well written moving piece. We often make decisions that take us down a road we didn’t intend to travel.
I like the vulnerability of your central character.
Well done.
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Thank you. I do have two grandchildren, and I sometimes wonder what would happen if I couldn’t see them for a long time. I guess this one was born out of my fears.
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A touching scene of forgiveness and a nice way to take the prompt. Most people deserve a second chamce, and a chance to reform and atone.
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Agreed. I started out the story just thinking about an older man checking into this really depressing looking place. Then I had to decide between a suicide or something more uplifting. Settled for a mix of sad and glad.
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I found it uplifting and I’m glad you took it that way.
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Thanks for the background in your comment above (or below depending on where this one fit in)
A touching story. Glad his daughter has forgiven him and the kids still lobeit
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*the kids still love him
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The kids were pretty young when Grandpa went away, so they probably don’t understand the full depth of what happened. In five years, his daughter has had time to contemplate and heal, and she knows she’d be doing her children a disservice by keeping them away from their Grandpa.
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A sensitive subject – like how you made the 2 characters meet half way – at an unfamiliar place and if they wanted to , they could leave without giving a reason. I feel the undercurrent in the words that carry the story. Very nice read.
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Thank you, Singledust.
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I enjoyed this story, James. Thanks for the bit of backstory that gave it more meaning. Good writing. 🙂 — Suzanne
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You’re welcome, Patricia.
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