Reconciliation
January 31, 2018 at 3:51 pm 59 comments
For Friday Fictioneers 100-Word Challenge: 2 February 2018
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Photo Credit: Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Tara was beautiful, ambitious, and anxious to take on the world. In high school, she was voted most likely to succeed.
But to dad, Tara was a disappointment. She couldn’t wait to leave the town where the family lived for generations.
After graduation, Tara left to pursue an acting career. It felt like a tree was uprooted from its roots. “She’s dead to me,” Dad said.
One day, there was a knock on the door. It was Tara with child. There wasn’t a dry eye when dad rushed to hug her. Finally, the long lost daughter found her way home.
Entry filed under: Blogroll, friday fictioneers. Tags: 100-word challenge, fiction.
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Musings of a Random Mind 
1.
draliman | February 1, 2018 at 12:44 am
I’m glad he welcomed her back with open arms 🙂
2.
plaridel | February 1, 2018 at 10:14 am
draliman:
it was not the ending i had in mind at first, but decided to go positive at the last minute. 🙂
3.
Moon | February 1, 2018 at 1:15 am
i am happy he could gift her acceptance when she needed it the most.
Great story, Plaridel.
4.
plaridel | February 1, 2018 at 10:14 am
moon:
it would have been tragic if he didn’t.
5.
Iain Kelly | February 1, 2018 at 1:18 am
I’m so glad he could take her back. Familial bonds are stronger than passing arguments.
6.
plaridel | February 1, 2018 at 10:14 am
iain:
like they say, home is a place where you’ll always be welcome.
7.
Sandra | February 1, 2018 at 3:10 am
Lovely!
8.
plaridel | February 1, 2018 at 10:13 am
sandra:
thank you. i’m glad you liked it.
9.
Dale | February 1, 2018 at 5:40 am
Words that should never be uttered. She was courageous to come back and thankfully he was gracious enough to take her back.
10.
plaridel | February 1, 2018 at 10:13 am
dale:
i think to have the courage to come back was enough to melt her dad’s heart.
11.
Dale | February 1, 2018 at 10:19 am
Makes sense.
12.
plaridel | February 1, 2018 at 8:53 pm
dale:
yes, and like a tree that was once uprooted, hopefully, she can bloom again with her family’s help.
13.
Dale | February 2, 2018 at 4:36 am
Absolutely! Love that attitude
14.
The Urban Spaceman | February 1, 2018 at 5:53 am
Aww, happy ending! I’m glad for Tara and her child. Everybody deserves a family.
15.
plaridel | February 1, 2018 at 10:13 am
the urban spaceman:
thank you for reading. i’m glad you liked it. 🙂
16.
Christine Goodnough | February 1, 2018 at 6:29 am
I agree with the others. Actually this sounds like the synopsis for a novel, leaves me asking lots of “Why?” Hope dad didn’t start with “I told you so.”
17.
plaridel | February 1, 2018 at 10:13 am
christine:
it was story that i found difficult to tell in 100 words. so much details had to be deleted to meet the requirement.
18.
Christine Goodnough | February 1, 2018 at 11:20 am
Oh, I know about that! 🙂
19.
plaridel | February 1, 2018 at 8:50 pm
christine:
the best we can do is challenge ourselves and try our best. 🙂
20.
Susan A Eames | February 1, 2018 at 8:18 am
Phew! She must have have had her heart in her mouth when she knocked on that door. Glad this had a happy ending. 🙂
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
21.
plaridel | February 1, 2018 at 10:12 am
susan:
it took a lot of courage, but i’m happy she did. 🙂
22.
pennygadd51 | February 1, 2018 at 10:54 am
Dear Plaridel,
You tell the story well, but – grrrr and grrrr!
For a father to tell his daughter that she is dead to him – that’s awful. I mean, really awful; I know. The girl must have been completely broken to return to him.
I’m sorry. I’m not criticising your story by saying this. But the responses to the story seem to think there’s been a happy ending, and I think that’s most unlikely. It’s more likely a tragedy from which the girl never properly recovers.
23.
plaridel | February 1, 2018 at 8:49 pm
penny:
sometimes people tell something bad they don’t really mean. the same with this dad. i wish i had made it clear from the get-go.
24.
anuragbakhshi | February 2, 2018 at 1:15 am
That’s such a typically Indian story. Our movies have been filled to the brim with situations like this, which reflects our tradition of arranged marriage. Thankfully, things are changing, though not as fast as they should.
25.
plaridel | February 2, 2018 at 12:42 pm
anurag:
every parent should read kahlil gibran’s poem on children:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.
26.
anuragbakhshi | February 2, 2018 at 6:13 pm
That is so beautiful, and such a progressive way of thinking. Thank you for sharing it.
27.
plaridel | February 3, 2018 at 3:00 pm
anurag:
you’re welcome. 🙂
28.
Fatima Fakier | February 6, 2018 at 6:33 am
I grew up with Gibran, reading my mother’s books. And this is one of my favourite excerpts.
29.
plaridel | February 7, 2018 at 9:49 am
fatima:
i enjoy reading him, too. 🙂
30.
rochellewisoff | February 2, 2018 at 4:39 am
Dear Plaridel,
Too bad it took the daughter running off to bring the father to his senses. On the other hand it sounds like the daughter learned some hard lessons. And we are satisfied with a happy ending. Lovely piece.
Shalom,
Rochelle
31.
plaridel | February 2, 2018 at 12:42 pm
rochelle:
yes, it’s time to pick up the pieces and rebuild what has been broken.
32.
Keith's Ramblings | February 2, 2018 at 5:19 am
Happily, his disappointment with her was only skin deep. I like a happy ending!
Click to read my FriFic!
33.
plaridel | February 2, 2018 at 12:41 pm
keith:
like they say, blood is thicker than water.
34.
granonine | February 2, 2018 at 8:10 am
I’m glad you chose the happy ending. It doesn’t always work that way.
35.
plaridel | February 2, 2018 at 12:41 pm
linda:
don’t we always do? 🙂
36.
rgayer55 | February 2, 2018 at 8:22 am
Ah, the prodigal daughter. I’m glad he got over his hurt feelings.
37.
plaridel | February 2, 2018 at 12:41 pm
russell:
she needs his understanding now more than ever.
38.
Norma | February 3, 2018 at 5:16 am
It’s hard to accept an individuals mind irrespective of the relationship that they share. But understanding, love and compassion can always bring us together. Great story.
39.
plaridel | February 3, 2018 at 2:59 pm
norma:
i totally agree.
40.
liz young | February 3, 2018 at 8:45 am
This ending makes a lovely change from father saying ‘Never darken my door again!’
41.
plaridel | February 3, 2018 at 2:59 pm
liz:
yes, i’m glad i changed my mind. i didn’t end the story with an unhappy note.
42.
Dawn M. Miller | February 3, 2018 at 2:41 pm
Nice story. You told us so much with so few words.
43.
plaridel | February 3, 2018 at 2:59 pm
dawn:
it’s very kind of you. thank you.
44.
Fatima Fakier | February 3, 2018 at 9:27 pm
I’m glad you went for the positive ending.
45.
plaridel | February 4, 2018 at 9:21 am
fatima:
me, too. 🙂
46.
Dan Bohn | February 4, 2018 at 6:23 am
I’m happy to hear of dad’s heart softening. Well told.
47.
plaridel | February 4, 2018 at 9:20 am
dan:
home is a place where she’ll always be welcome.
48.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) | February 4, 2018 at 8:05 am
The balance between success and family is a hard one… hope that they will be happy at home.
49.
plaridel | February 4, 2018 at 9:19 am
björn:
it’ll be a challenge for sure.
50.
Clare Hempstead | February 4, 2018 at 9:34 am
Ahh, a happy ending! Glad they worked it out, but why do families allow petty grievances to become so damaging?
51.
plaridel | February 4, 2018 at 1:58 pm
clare:
good question. i guess it’s because folks don’t think alike.
52.
prior.. | February 4, 2018 at 11:12 pm
the title started ringing in my ear at the end – so nice- such reconciliation
53.
plaridel | February 5, 2018 at 9:16 pm
prior:
coming from you, it’s a great compliment. thank you.
54.
prior.. | February 5, 2018 at 9:44 pm
🙂 (awe – that was nice to read – have a great day plaridel)
55.
plaridel | February 7, 2018 at 9:50 am
prior:
hopefully, i don’t run out of what to write. 🙂
56.
prior.. | February 7, 2018 at 12:31 pm
you won’t (well I don’t think so) but you might need times of pause to let things settle and brew – ya know? but run out – nah – there is that brain of yours with a lifetime of creativity and thoughts that NEED to be tapped (it is what writers do) so stay in tune with your ebb and flow and I guess we need to learn the difference between a needed pause and writer’s block – oh I dunno…
but ideas are fueled and just keep the embers hot – not always burning high – 🙂
57.
plaridel | February 7, 2018 at 2:15 pm
prior:
ok, i take your advice to heart. 🙂
58.
amiewrites74 | February 5, 2018 at 1:50 pm
Whatever their differences, she still came back home to him when she needed support the most. Bodes well for reconciliation, I think. Great story.
59.
plaridel | February 5, 2018 at 9:16 pm
amie:
it was a good start. i’m glad you liked the story.