This week's challenge: Check out the third definition of brain (below), and use the word exactly as it appears, in no less than 33 and no more than 333 words.
The storage facility called about a single moving box left in her late father's
abandoned locker. If she didn't retrieve it, they would toss it. Julie
was tempted to say, "Go ahead." But her boyfriend was eager
to go get it, saying, “I bet it’s filled with treasure.”
So that's how they came to go through a box of ancient office supplies. A
pink disc typewriter eraser, complete with little black brush. Bottles of dried out liquid
paper. And brads. Lots of brads.
"Why would anyone need this many brads?" Shawn asked.
"He used them to fasten his cuffs in a pinch," she said
matter-of-factly.
"Really? Your dad sounds like quite a character."
"That's one word for it," Julie replied, going through file
folders. It gave her pause to see his handwriting again for the first
time in years. Dad cared more about his office life than his home life. So far, Julie was unimpressed by the paperwork that had been such a successful rival
for his affections.
Shawn saw that she was getting sad. He attempted to distract her by shooting
her with an old rubberband but it came apart in his hand. Instead he reached
in the box and found a big black gadget.
“What’s this behemoth?” he asked.
“What’s this behemoth?” he asked.
“That’s Dad’s Bowmar Brain!”
“His what?”
“You know, ‘brain,’ like calculator,” she said, taking it from Shawn.
“Believe it or not, this was once state-of-the-art. His boss gave it to
him for Christmas and he wouldn’t let me even touch it.”
Shawn continued rummaging. Julie continued reminiscing. “He was so
impressed with this thing, even though I think it only did four functions. He
told everyone it was the best present he got that year. Completely ignoring the
picture frame I made for him. I decorated it in glitter and wrote ‘Daddy’ in …”
“Macaroni,” they said in unison as Shawn produced a gaudily framed photo of a
very young Julie.
He smiled. “I told you we’d find treasure.”
Oh. That's so very sweet. And I loved the Bomar Brain! The treasure coming back around was completely awesome.
ReplyDeleteGreat twist. No matter what there are certain things that will always be found on a father's desk. Well done.
ReplyDeleteClever twist. That the brain is incidental is incidental! :)
ReplyDeleteMy husband is in the middle of the awful process as we speak at his mother's home. I absolutely dread it.
ReplyDeleteNice little story.
It's sweet to finally get a sign that were noticed in a loving way. Her moment was late in coming, but sweet nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteThis was so real. After all these years, she still feels upset at the lack of attention for her picture frame. I love the way they speak in unison near the end. And the boyfriend's last line - Treasure, indeed.
ReplyDeleteThis is great! So well written - I was completely caught up in the story! The emotions played out in a very real way.
ReplyDeleteI love the way the characters came to life in such a short span of words. You gave us a bit of history, some opinion and a great twist back to the treasure in the end. Brava!
ReplyDeleteAwwww! I like this. I had a father that was all about work and in his later, and recent years, we realized how tender hearted he really was. I really liked this!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Love the ending and the way you used the prompt as a distraction from the punchline.
ReplyDeleteWell done!
That ending was perfect! I remember helping my mom go through her dad's things after he died. We found a lot of hidden treasures. It helped distract us from the grief. Good work!
ReplyDeleteawwwwwwwwwwwww
ReplyDeletegreat ending. :) We often have stoic parents who don't show, but who do have that sentimental side.
awww, I love the ending. So sweet that dad really did care about her, more than she thought :)
ReplyDeleteGreat entry! I think you got everyone in a moment, thinking now about those 'old' things, that mean a lot more than the gadgets we have a passing fancy for these days.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad they went to retrieve the box. Very sweet!
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ReplyDeleteHey, I think I actually had a Bowmar Brain. My dad kept stuff like that too. This was a sweet little story - the idea that small trinkets can evoke large memories.
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