Monday, January 7, 2013

Day 7 of the 250 Word Prompt

"A man believes himself to be possessed when his hand starts writing a message of its own volition."


Harvey was going to enjoy this.  Abby, his impulsive, arrogant granddaughter was standing in front of him, and he knew what she wanted – and he would be damned if he was going to give it to her.  He knew she must be regretting all of the jokes about his smelly farts, the rude comments about the “gross food” he ate, as well as the perhaps aptly proffered, but wholly inappropriate nickname “Snuffleupagus.”  Yes, he had heard them all, and nothing was going to save her from a fate worse than death.  It was time for her to grovel.

She had put off the discussion with the Old Windbag (another unfortunate nickname that he had heard one day after Sunday dinner), but now it was crunch time.  Her mother had stated that the University had been calling and sending emails, reminding Abby that her tuition was due.  Now she was going to have to pucker up and kiss the old man’s ass, and beg for him to – how had her mother termed it? – “assist in the furtherance of her post-secondary education.”  

And the Decrepit Fool just sat there, grinning at her, and she knew this was going to be painful.  His years of experience had finally caught up with her youth and inexperience, and he was going to make this as difficult as possible on her.  He had the money, because he never spent any of it.  

“Grandfather, I need to borrow some money for college,” she poured on the sweetness, and a smile he had not seen since she was 4 years old, and clambering up into his lap to kiss his cheek.  He tried to remember, in that moment, all the cruel behavior she had exhibited toward him over the years since; but remembered only how proud she had been to present him with the Father’s Day card when she was six, where she had misspelled “Grandpop,” adding an extra “o” in the most unlucky of places.

He would not do it!  He would not help this selfish girl.  And as he said these words to himself, and without conscious thought, Harvey reached into the middle desk drawer and pulled out the checkbook.  The unexpected possession that invaded his body at that moment was causing him to have an out-of-body experience.  As if watching the events unfold on the TV screen, he heard a familiar voice croon, “Of course, Dear.  How much do you need?”  

6 comments:

  1. Grandpoop! LOVE it. This is great! I'm a day behind yet. But I did finally post yesterday's this morning.

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  2. This is really neat! I like how you bring back the relationship between an old man and a young girl--I think you write it very well. Also, I like how you don't go down the usual path one might with this prompt--supernatural, or a ghost story. I liked how you interpret the prompt as a Grandfather's reluctance to assit his daughter, as if, when he does, he is "being possessed" and not doing it of his own free will. Love it!

    I like also how you give Harvey many different nicknames, I think that adds to the comedy of it. However, there were a few points I got lost on who was speaking, maybe make that a bit clearer. I got a bit lost in the second paragraph, and thought Abby was starting to speak, then it switched back to Harvey again. But I may be the only one who's getting choked up.

    -AM

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    1. Thanks for the comments...I can see what you mean in the second paragraph. Thanks for the insight.

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  3. Hiya

    This was great. I also love the relationship between the grandpop and granddaughter. Your writing was strong and i was instantly pulled in.

    Thanks so much for posting this.

    Angel

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