The Rock

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“It’s cool that you don’t say stupid shit like ‘How do you feel about that’ or whatever.” She grabbed a grey rock from its shelf and examined it.

“Well,” he swiveled in his chair, “glad to hear that. But I do need you to talk to me.”

She turned the rock over in her hand, “Okay. I’ll talk. You have this like professional office with expensive leather couches and shit then there’s this ugly, little rock. Seems out of place.”

“It’s special.”

“Why?”

“My father gave it to me. He died last year. You think it’s ugly?”

“Not anymore.”

 

 

May 13 Prompt: Connection (Write a story that shows a hard place and a connection)

Flash Fiction Challenge over at Carrot Ranch

(This flash seeks a connection for this month’s 1000Speak theme. Read other posts on connecting here.)

27 thoughts on “The Rock”

  5. Brilliant! I can’t believe you just did that in 99 words. I’ve imagined the office, this kid at the therapist. It’s obviously a kid speaking like that right? I love her response at the end. It’s like wiping the slate clean. I feel as if she may actually open up after an exchange like that.

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    • Thank you! 🙂 Yes, she’s a tween/teen. I love that you are able to imagine all of that with mostly dialogue and that you can see something at the end I didn’t. Beautiful. I have the longer version in my head…

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      • You have her voice down well then. I think it’s one thing I need to work on. My dialogues tend to sound like they’re coming from the same person.
        I don’t know if you’ve ever seen that show “In Treatment.” This reminded me a bit of when the psychotherapist has sessions with Sophie, played by the talented Mia Wasikowska.
        A kid in therapy has so much potential as a story. Kids are generally smarter than adults because their intuition hasn’t been blunted and they aren’t all blocked up like many adults tend to be. They’re much more straightforward. And of course, a kid having problems is just a symptom of the system (family, society).
        I’d love to read the longer piece.

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        • Thank you, kindly. I haven’t seen that show but will definitely look it up. (I’ve never even heard of it, honestly. Is it goofy to use the cliché of living under a rock in this circumstance?)

          Interesting thought. I tend to agree about kids having intuitive sides that haven’t been scoffed at or internally shut down. I love the straightforwardness of kids (most of the time, anyway). I don’t tend to find that in many adults.

          I think I’ll post the longer piece. I’m not sure, given the reaction to this one, what people will think of it though…

          Liked by 1 person

  6. I agree with all other comments, Sarah. This is a great flash – tells so much in just 99 words. I can see the upturned nose and disdainful grimace of all that is out-of-her-worldly. I then see the face wiped clean and painted again with compassion, a connection is made. A rock did that. Solid, man! 🙂
    Just goes to show how things of seeming little import, can be the most important of all. A wonderful lesson to share. 🙂

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  8. Pingback: Hard Places « Carrot Ranch Communications

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