© Dawn M. Miller
“Be careful not to spill, Daddy.”
Jacob gently placed a full teacup on each of the three poles at his five-year-old daughter Emily’s direction.
“Thank you, Daddy.” She ran up to him and hugged him. “I love you.”
Jacob bent down to hug her. “I love you too, Sweetheart.”
He stood, took Emily’s hand, and together they admired his work. “Do you really think the fairies will come for your tea party tonight?”
“They’re really shy, Daddy. We can’t be around or they won’t come.”
“Then how do you know…?”
“The tea will be gone, silly Daddy. They’ll leave flowers in the cups to say ‘Thank you.'”
“Okay. We’d better get going.”
They walked across the field back toward home. Jacob planned to fulfill her fantasy later that night.
It was after nine before he could get away. Halfway out to where he’d set the cups, he saw fireflies fluttering around them, but they were so big. After they left, he walked to the cups. In place of the tea, each one contained an arrangement of wildflowers.
Jacob looked at the flowers in his hand and set them on the ground. Even fairies knew not to disappoint a little girl.
I wrote this for the Sunday Photo Fiction Challenge for August 27th 2017. The idea is to use the image above as an inspiration for crafting a piece of flash fiction no more than 200 words long. My word count is exactly 200.
I had a tough time with this one mainly because I don’t think the ending comes as much of a surprise. Still, I wanted to write something family-oriented and uplifting.
To read other stories based on the prompt, go to InLinkz.com.
Very nice!!
LikeLike
Thank you, Avishek.
LikeLike
Nice!
LikeLike
Thanks.
LikeLike
Nice to have an uplifting piece of fantasy now and then. Nicely done James.
LikeLike
I found your accidental manslaughter story interestingly compelling Iain, but sometimes there has to be a counterbalance in the universe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree James, definitely could do with more happier stories in the world!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was good to read a happy factual story. 😉
LikeLike
I don’t know if fairies are factual Michael, but I guess it depends on what sort of reality you occupy. 😉
LikeLike
We all need to read a fairy story now again and this is a delight! Thank you.
Click to visit Keith’s Ramblings
LikeLike
You’re welcome and thank you, Keith.
LikeLike
I always appreciate a story that gives an insight to fairies.
LikeLike
Don’t know if it’s the official word on fairies since I made it all up. Thanks.
LikeLike
Awh this is so enchanting! Very well done
LikeLike
Thank you, Emily.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww. I loved the last line. Such a feel good story.
LikeLike
Thanks, Sheena.
LikeLike
Not only children but adults too need fairy tales to believe in miracles. A father will go to any extent to make him child happy. A nice heart-lifting story.
https://ideasolsi65.blogspot.in/2017/08/sunday-photo-fiction-august-27th-thanks.html
LikeLike
Thank you.
LikeLike
Yes I liked this, not a real ‘surprise’ but still gave a nice warm feeling and very well written
LikeLike
Thank you.
LikeLike
Sweet story
LikeLike
Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this! What a completely, wonderful story!
LikeLike
Thank you, Sascha.
LikeLiked by 1 person