Trifextra Weekend Challenge + Easter = Today’s post
The rules this weekend are a little different. All entries must be between 33 and 333 words and need to include the following three words in the order provided:
- cacophony
- soap
- insects
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The Waiting is the Hardest Part
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The cacophony of children could be heard throughout the mall. Melissa approached the intimidating line. “Maybe it won’t take that long,” she thought. “And I’ll be glad to have this picture when he’s older.”
She parked her stroller in the designated area and stepped into the line. It snaked back and forth through a maze leading up to the Great Rabbit. “Please make it move fast,” she thought, content that her son was distracted by all the festivity. She trudged along mindlessly until she heard the first whimper.
“Alright, buddy. Let’s see what Mommy has in her bag,” she said, trying to sound upbeat. “Ooh, look!” She pulled out the brightly-colored soap set she’d just purchased at the department store. They looked like six-legged insects. She knew they were just the thing to make bath time fun for her little man and his bug obsession.
Excitedly, he took one and examined each of its legs, antennae and wings, passing it from one hand to the other. Moving through the line, Melissa reveled in her ingenuity … until he put it in his mouth. And his face went immediately sour.
She knew she had about ten seconds before the crying started. So she tossed him his sippy cup, mercifully filled with apple juice, and began searching frantically for another distraction in her bag of tricks.
Then, she struck gold.
His orange pan. His Bear in the Big Blue House pan. He took it everywhere. He’d given it to her at lunch and must have forgotten about it. “Ta-da!” Melissa announced triumphantly.
His face broke into a huge smile that ran from one adorable cheek to the other. “Pan!” he shouted.
She handed it to him, puffed with pride at her quick action, until he asked for its accompanying ‘patula,’ which she remembered seeing on the kitchen floor as they ran out the door that morning.
“Well, crap,” she thought, surrendering her now crying child to the stupid bunny.
Click! went the camera.
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Easter 2001
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The story is fiction, but the picture is real. Thanks for serving as my inspiration today, my boy. Happy Easter to you and to your sister! Oh, and props to Tom Petty for helping me out with my title.
OldDogNewTits 
chuckling . . . as only a Gramma can do. 🙂
So frustrating for parents. LOVE the pic.
Thanks. That’s my boy. He’s just a little (lot) bigger now. 🙂
Awww what a sweet picture. This was a cute story, nicely woven around the words for the challenge.
Trifectra – About You
Thanks, K. I see you got roped into the ice breaker, too.
heheh… yes indeed I did 🙂
That is such a precious picture. Oh, look at that bottom lip. At least he has his pan with him.
I liked how you used the words in the story. Great writing, M!
Did you notice the name of my protagonist?
I did notice, but then got distracted by that lip pout!
It’s a great name for a protagonist. Not utilized enough in today’s literature, in my opinion. Thank you for working on rectifying that. 🙂
My god, I love this picture! I love this story! Your poor wee boy! That rabbit is fucking terrifying! I think I would have hit him with the pan.
Speaking of wee, the pan was small and plastic. It was no match for that gargantuan rabbit head.
I’m a bit scared of that rabbit, too. I can identify with your story.
He looks psychotically happy.
Adorable picture, and cute story! I never took the kids to see the Easter Bunny. Santa went so well, I decided not to bother 🙂
Why tempt fate, right?
A perfect picture to show to his girlfriends.
I’m saving it ’til his Rehearsal Dinner. 🙂
I have SO many pictures I plan to humiliate my son with on the advent of his wedding. Should he survive to enjoy such an event, I’ll have to whittle down to the best/worst subjects.
Put ’em up for a vote on your blog!
Muwahhhhhahah. That. Would be perfect.
Been there, done that, got the anxiety pills increased because of it.
I like the sensory words and the pay off at the end. You did great with all three words. Loved it.
Thanks, Lance. But it’s not your 33 word masterpiece. Impressive.
Fantastic, ODNT! great tale, and it’s a pity your boy couldn’t stop you from putting up that pic! Hah!
Thanks. He offered his reluctant approval. He knows everyone thinks that picture is just adorable. And, now 12, he just has to grin and bear it. 🙂
Holy crap, that is a very scary bunny… can’t blame your boy a bit for looking unhappy there but still, he’s adorable! Oh, and your story is fabulous! 🙂
Thanks, Dana.
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