Happy Friday!
My dad is a general contractor and while growing up I was occasionally allowed to tag along with him to the different jobs that he was working on. These were great adventurers! The smell of paint and wood have me instantly thinking of my dad, no matter what or where I am. As I got older he branched out and started his own company and therefore I was allowed to tag along even more so because well he was the boss.
The day would first start as we stopped for gas and stalked up on convenient store breakfast goodies like chocolate milk, coffee for dad and his crew, packages and packages of donuts for everyone; white, and chocolate by the tons. (I still get giddy when eating those little cake donuts.) Then we would drive the long distance to wherever the job was, waking up with the sun, eating and drinking breakfast in the truck. (We lived in Granbury and most of his business resided an hour away in the city.)
Then we (I say we but really would be his crew and dad and I would walk around the job and he would tell me what the goals were for the day) would commence the unloading of the tools and equipment. Dad’s truck would always be loaded down with all sorts of neat looking gadgets, some of which I am still unsure of what is. But one of the things that generally had my admiration were the ladders.
Dad had and still has an array of ladders. From the standard 8 foot ladder found in most homes to the extension ladders that made my stomach quiver just by looking up at them. And some my dad’s magic played out during his maneuvering on a ladder. Some jobs are extremely high. Like gut wrenching, pee your pants high. This man can climb a ladder wearing those weird leg extension things, stilts. and I was always left standing there, mouth wide open in fear and awe and envy because I do not have that kind of talent and fearlessness that he carries around.
But I learned to conquer the ladder when I was probably about 14 years old. Though I leave the ladder climbing while wearing stilts to dad!
The June 18, 2014 challenge from Carrot Ranch Communications was to: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about getting stronger. What hard work or practice has paid off? Has the character, setting or story changed as a result?
A Ladder Away
He glanced up at the towering line of steps and gulped. His dad always climbed it with ease and now stood atop of their roof probably doing amazing things. Billy wasn’t sure what was done up there because he had never made it to the top. He never made it past the fifth step without fear gripping his body and having to climb back down with sweat slicked palms.
Today he wore gloves. Billy took a deep breath heeding his dad’s advice, “Never look down.” One step. Two… seven… finally victory was his as he patted his dad’s shoulder.
So what do you think?
~AJP
Great!
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Lovely AJ.
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Thank you!
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I love the story behind the story! What a wonderful memory of the times spent with your father. I can’t even imagine watching someone go up a ladder like that on stilts! It sounds like a circus act. Taking what you know from that experience, you were able to fictionalize the account into a son’s point of view and meet the challenge of the flash. Well done!
Another point I’d like to make about that phrase “write what you know” is that you can twist it in so many ways. For instance, you could use that experience to write about the son of a tightrope walker or a tree-faller. What you have is that sharp sense of knowing what it’s like to experience heights on the job. This is why I like fiction!
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In this instance, I wrote the Flash before connecting it with my dad. It was pure lazy coincidence. 🙂 I was trying to determine how many steps up the ladder would cause one to stop and freeze. I had two options, go to the garage and count, or call Dad. Then it made me think back to all of the times I’ve watched dad on the different ladders and then I heard him tsking me in my laziness to go look at the ladder myself.
In the end, I overcame my laziness. But it also brought light to how our memories and moments help us in our writing. I love it.
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You actually make it appear really easy together with your presentation but I to find this matter to
be really one thing which I think I might never understand.
It seems too complicated and very broad for me. I’m having a look
ahead for your subsequent post, I’ll try to get the cling of
it!
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Finally he had conquered his fears and climbed up.
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Sometimes our biggest struggles our within ourselves and it takes great strength to overcome our fears. 🙂
Your Flash was fantastic (though I couldn’t figure out how to leave a comment, I’m sorry.). Physical Therapy requires on not only a physical strength but mentally as well. You did a beautiful job at showing both!
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I identify with this entirely and well done that you managed to overcome that fear. A monumental achievement which I’ve never managed. Great story behind the flash and a wonderful flash.
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My issue with heights comes in the form of vertigo, a nasty little thing.
Thank you very much!
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That would be really hard to overcome. 🙂
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Climbing a ladder while wearing stilts! What a feat that must be. I’m pleased you managed to reach the top of the ladder. I’m not one for heights and neither care to make an attempt nor watch someone who has. The thought of falling, or a loved one falling, is just too scary.
As stories often do, your flash reminded me of a children’s story “The Kitten Who Couldn’t Get Down”. It was about a kitten who loved to climb up, but didn’t know how to get down. Mum patiently taught her to do it one step at a time. I’m glad you were able to come down too and didn’t get stuck when you finally made it up!
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Watching him work is fascinating, you completely forget the possibilities of falling because he has a grace that I would envy if he wasn’t Dad.
I have not read “The Kitten Who Couldn’t Get Down”, but I am going to look for it immediately. It sounds like a good read for my daughter, thank you.
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“The Kitten . . .” is such an old little book. I don’t know if you will find it anywhere. It is a picture book. How old is your daughter?
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I have had zero luck in finding it. 😦
She is five. 🙂
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Hi Amber,
It is a very old book. I did find it on Amazon http://goo.gl/cWJDjC I’m not saying you must purchase a copy though. Your story just reminded me of it. I used it in some research I did years and years and years ago! 🙂
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