#SixSentenceStories & #99Words; I’d rather be mundane

The February 21 Carrot Ranch 99-word challenge is to, in 99 words (no more, no less), write a story using the phrase, “I’d rather be…” The prompt word from Six Sentence Stories this week is “mundane”, to be used in six and only six sentences. Submit through Saturday for both prompts. The link opens tomorrow at six for Six Sentence Stories. (coincidence?) Both of these lil stories qualify for the Carrot Ranch prompt, but only the first one is a Six. But the second one came first and led to the first which was second and is a six, as well as a 99. 10-4?

Slow Burn by D. Avery

There was work here, but my daughters would rather be working in the city. They worked in the creamery for a little while before leaving, always complained, said the work was boring, mundane. 

Said the same about farm chores, and that, as far as I’m concerned, is blasphemy. 

You find the patterns, the rhythm of any task, do it well and mindfully, you bring that work to a higher level; your work raises you up! That’s how you get your wood cut and stacked, that’s what keeps your fire burning. 

I’m sad my daughters never learned to appreciate that.

My daughters! Would stomp their feet and rail that they’d rather be anywhere but here. And they went, as soon as they could. 

When they visit they plead with me to move away too, live closer to them. I can stomp my feet too! I remind them I was born here. They say they were too. Like I don’t know that!

And they harp on me about my wood stove! At least modernize, they urge. 

No. I don’t do much anymore, but I keep the fire going. For the day they know they’d rather be home than anywhere else.

Be sure to go to Carrot Ranch to read the complete Zipper Collection from last week’s challenge.