PHOTO PROMPT © Na’ama Yehuda
If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.
Okay, fine. I’m a “Ken” in a Barbie world. How did that happen? Darn Rochelle and her writing prompts, anyway.
“It’s not Rochelle, Grandpa. It’s me.”
“Dani, have you flipped? You can’t leave me like this.”
“I turn Grandpa into a Ken doll.”
“No! Don’t do that. You don’t understand. You’re only seven and your sister is two. If I’m a doll, who’s going to take care of you?”
“It’s only for a little while, Grandpa. But until you change back, we get to play with you. Now go and do the laundry.”
“In that thing? I hate pink.”
I wrote this for Rochelle Wisoff-Fields’ current January 20th writing challenge. The idea is to take the photo above and use it as a prompt to write a story no more than 100 words. My story is 99 words.
I have two young granddaughters so “pink,” “Barbie,” and “unicorns” are my “normal.” That said, the prompt sucked.
Oh, you know how parents and grandparents use their hand to play “spider” with little kids? I named mine “Frank” (it would take too long to explain why). My granddaughter Dani likes to turn Frank into things like eagles, baby chicks, tables, anything. That was the main motivation for today’s story.
To read other tales based on the prompt, go to Inlinkz.
To find my latest published fiction works, to go Powered by Robots.
poweredbyrobots.com 
Ha! Don’t blame me! 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Just kidding.
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There are worse things than being turned into a Ken in a Barbie world. You could be a Ken in a Karen world, or a Karen in an even more confused one. Let us hope your granddaughters may be spared exposure to such confusions.
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I’m working on it. Thanks.
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Ah, the joys of playing with little kids. Just go with the flow, you’ll be back to doing relly laundry in a white machine soon enough and I promise you it’s not as fun!
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*real laundry
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Actually, our real washing machine broke down some months ago gushing water all over the floor. We decided to replace both the washer and dryer. They work great but the dryer turns itself on randomly. I think it’s haunted. We had the motherboard replaced but it didn’t help.
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Sounds like there’s a story or two in that experience! As you say, most likely it’s haunted. As long as he/she remembers to clean the lint filter, I want a laundry ghost!
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The laundry ghost is most likely an electrical glitch, but I have to wonder how it survived a swap out of the motherboard. I rather fancy a ghost in the house as long as it’s benign.
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Love it! Many a doting grandpa has to do this I bet.
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I wouldn’t change a thing.
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Quite right, those are magical bonding moments that must never be missed.
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Agreed.
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A great concept, and lovely dialogue between grandfather and his grandchildren
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Thank you. She is my joy.
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Yes, I’ve had to swallow my own tastes at times with my two to keep them happy, while still trying to make them sense with a little gentle persuasion!
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It’s what we do for love.
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Grandchildren and those little innocent smiles. Manipulative is the word, indeed.
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They are the best. My 2 year old little one just tried to feed me yogurt.
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Great fun. I am off to stay with my daughter tomorrow to look after my only grandchild, he is a happy little soul at 4 months.
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Have fun.
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The alternative is they could dress you up in pink… And take photos.
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Your granddaughter sounds like a girls with imagination!
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Ah yes, James. The power wielded over us by the grands. Mine are now in their late teens, the scariest of ages. Well told. 🙂
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Ha! That gal has a point, though, if laundry needs doing! 😉
That said, I refuse to take responsibility for the color of that machine … 😉 My friends had gotten sick of me saying that my apartment does not have (not can have) a washer/dryer and that there’s no laundry facilities in my NYC building. So … they got me this. And now I can no longer say that I don’t have a washing machine … 😉
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Things could be worse! Well done.
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Haha love it – mummy I’ve shrunk Grandpa 🙂 – could be a new film!
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We were watching a couple of little girls for the afternoon. I got out my old toys for them–a tea set, little dishes, etc. They actually had my husband wearing a fancy hat and enjoying a tea party with them. My manly man was having a great time 🙂
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Most of us do. Among our toys is a little Barbie tea set. My 7 year old granddaughter used to use it with me and now my 2 year old does the same.
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Let’s face it, we are all playtoys of our grandchildren. Fun story, James. Great title.
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Imagination and grandchildren are what keeps us young. You should thank Rochelle! 😉
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I do. I was just kidding with her. 😉
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I assumed. 🙂
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Ohhh poor Grandad! A clever take on the prompt, well done 🙂
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Grandad loves his babies.
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