© irene waters 2016
“Mummy I want to feed the squirrel too?”
“In a minute Sebastian. It’s Louisa’s turn.”
“Mummy look at how he’s curled his tail up.”
“That’s how he got his name. It comes from two Greek words meaning shadow tail.”
“Look Mummy. He does have a shadow. Look. But Daddy doesn’t have a tail.”
“What do you mean Sebastian? Why would Daddy have a tail?”
“Cause I heard you tell Mr Donnelly…”
“Uncle Fred, Sebastian.”
“But he’s not our uncle. Okay. I heard you tell Uncle Fred that Daddy had squirrelled away and that was why we’re poor and Daddy’s gone.”
In response to Charli’s prompt where she asks us:
May 18, 2016 prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that features a squirrel. It can be about a squirrel, for a squirrel or by a squirrel. Think nutty, naturalistic, dinner or ironic. Go where the prompt leads and don’t forget to twirl with imagination.
Respond by May 24, 2016 to be included in the weekly compilation.Rules are here. All writers are welcome!
About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Is that you with the squirrel, Irene? Very cute. I like the way you have combined the literal and figurative meanings. Also appreciate the explanation of the word’s meaning.
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Yes I’m the one feeding it. Was amazed that my mother was letting me and wasn’t worrying about bites but I looked it up and squirrels don’t pass on rabies to humans but I wonder if she knew that…Glad you liked the flash Norah. Thanks for popping by.
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Ah! I thought that was you! Adorable and yet your mother looks ready to grab you out of harms way. 🙂
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Yes I was surprised she was letting me do that.She is a very safety minded person and I immediately thought rabies only to discover squirrels, although they do bite, don’t transmit. So all Mum put me in risk of was losing my finger. I guess when she was younger she was more of a risk taker.
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I didn’t know that etymology and had to go look it up and see how it morphed from Greek to Latin to French to English. It’s an old word! I think I might start calling them Shadow Tails. Love the play on meaning in your flash! A great way to fictionalize your own family photo.
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I had fun with this one Charli. Shadow tails makes them sound much more cuddly. We might start a movement.
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Out of the mouths of babes. They always seem to be able to tell a story that no one else wants to speak of. Love the photo.
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Yes children have a knack. We don’t have squirrels in Australia so for my Mum (and us ) it would have been a huge novelty.
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LOL! Irene, this flash is wonderful! Firstly, I had no idea that squirrel means ‘Shadow Tail’ but I love it…makes perfect sense! Like Charli, I’m going to start calling them that too! And I laugh because I can just imagine Mummy’s face as Sebastian recants this little bit of knowledge about daddy. I wonder if ‘Uncle Fred’ has managed to squirrel some money of his own away to help mummy and the children… And the photo is just delightful! I always love seeing ‘little you’ and in this one, your mum looks just like you! Great post my friend! 🙂 xx
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LOL. It was a bit of fun and glad you liked it Sherri. I think we are going to start a movement to call them Shadow Tails. Makes them sound softer somehow. Children will be children. Yes my Mum and I share more than a few characteristics. 🙂 xx
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Haha…I think so! 🙂 xx
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Ah, the shadow stories behind the spoken ones, intuited by little listeners.
Well done, very well done.
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Thank you Sharon.
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Oh yes lovely; great the way the drama comes out in a single line…
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Glad you enjoyed it Geoff.
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I loved this take on Charli’s prompt. I have always been partial to stories told almost exclusively through dialogue. That probably explains why I enjoy writing the occasional screenplay. Conversation teaches us so much and you have a keen grasp on the rhythmic ebb and flow that resides in even the smallest of spaces.
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I’m so glad you enjoyed this one. I certainly enjoyed writing it. I enjoy pure dialogue as well. I’d love to try a screen play but don’t know where to start. Thank you for the wonderful compliment.
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