Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)
This is the Doctrine’s contribution to ‘the Unicorn Challenge‘
A photo-prompt bloghop hosted by jenne and ceayr, it has the simplest of rules: keep it at (or under) 250 words.
“Careful.” [concern, barbs of fear smoothed by determined practice, the woman’s voice spoke of a future too-well defined]
The man stepped down one step. The ball of his bare left foot found solidity on the wood timber. His heel, failing to find a stable surface to match, protested even as the ankle joint ratcheted like a neglected clockwork.
His compressed lips, a semaphore of mixed emotions, his only reaction, the man resisted the urge to grasp the offered forearm.
“Mom used to talk about how, as a boy, you spent your summers here.” [concern, sparkled by a temptation to see the man out of time]
“Why did you bring me here?” [concern, sufficiently applied, re-configured the aim of the simplest of questions]
Gravity, it is said, is the necessary challenger to the infant, yet becomes a thoroughly un-reliable companion to those on the other end of the suggestively-misnamed, Circle of Life.
His steps gained confidence, quickened. A sound, hidden beyond the last low-rise of grass-embroidered sand, called to him.
“Careful!” [concern, when no longer defined by one’s fears turns on its host, refusing once automatic compliance.]
Now running in the controlled-stumble of one who seeks without regard to consequences, the once-young man saw the ocean waves. Their promise of the joy of physicality came with a price to be paid on an undefined installment plan.
“Whee!” [the ultimate mashup of joy and sharing favored by the young not bound by the need for permission.]
*
About clarkscottroger
A story to be appreciated in silence interrupted only by the sound of the surf on the shore (of my imagination.)
This: “Careful!” [concern, when no longer defined by one’s fears turns on its host, refusing once automatic compliance.]” = freedom
*who on the planet does not love that song.
I see them, i see me becoming them.
very captivating – thank you
Love this strange approach to story-telling, Clark, with my favourite extract being ‘a price to be paid on an undefined installment plan’.
But I can NOT believe you chose Robbie Williams over Bobby Darin (shakes head, tuts, walks away…)
lol (don’t think it wasn’t an effort on my part to not use the song’s gold standard)
I read it, and then read it again to enjoy the full benefit of the ‘asides’.
This is my favourite sentence: ‘His compressed lips, a semaphore of mixed emotions, his only reaction, the man resisted the urge to grasp the offered forearm.’
It was a ‘semaphore’ and the helper didn’t get the message.
By the end I wanted to slap the woman.
And hurray for the final escape…
Such a good – and unusual – showing of the lack of awareness of the ‘helper’ who ‘knows best’..
And the determination of the man.
Circle of life indeed; what a true statement. I really enjoyed the end!
cool
Ache and ouch – I know.
ikr?