Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Open Season

PHOTO PROMPT © Douglas M. MacIlroy

When he turned forty my father left his job
Sold our house in the burbs and moved us
To the house set in vastness of an acreage

There were whispers amongst family and friends
An open season speculating breakdown or misconduct
At his old job forcing him to resign before a sacking

My parent’s lives were dissected and analysed
Martial fidelity probed, dismembered like
A lab rat to study its anatomical structure

Some wondered if he had won a large lottery
That allowed him the freedom to be reckless

He heard all this and said I just love rattling chains.


***

Word Count : 100.

Continuing with the A to Z challenge but today I am combining it with the Friday Fictioneers.

Today it is 'O' for 'Open Season'.

My challenge for April is to write poetry. My A to Z entries can be navigated to from this page - A2Z.  Please do take some time out to read and comments on the poems.

To read other stories by the Fictioneers this week click here and to read other writers doing the A2Z challenge click here

I'd love read what you think about this post...


42 comments :

  1. Anonymous7:15 am

    Would "dismembered like A deceased animal" read better as "dismembered like a lab rat"? Nice piece

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    1. Hmm a dead rat is a deceased animal anyway. But maybe it might have a better impact. I am going to try your suggestion Neil. Thanks for reading and the suggestion.

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  2. Loved this take on the photo prompt - especially that last line!

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

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    1. Thank you Susan I am glad you liked it.

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  3. Sometimes it's good to just mess with people :-)
    https://iainkellywriting.com/2018/04/18/p-is-for-prague-czech-republic/

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    1. The simple pleasures of life :-)
      Thanks for reading and commenting Iain.

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  4. I loved it. Made me smile.

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    1. Thank you Linda I am glad you liked it.

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  5. Ha.. All that guesswork... hope the father don't have to rattle any real chains in the end.

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    1. Idle minds will always speculate ;-) The father does not care about any of the opinions. Thanks for your comments Björn.

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  6. What a great take on the prompt, Subroto
    Some people are major chain rattlers.

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    1. And they derive a lot of fun from doing just that. Thanks for your comments Dale, I am glad you liked it.

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  7. Ha, the rumour mill runeth over :-)

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    1. No just runneth, it overfloweth :-) Thanks for commenting Alistair.

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  8. Anonymous2:21 am

    The nosey, cynical others!
    Wonderfully written, Subroto.
    Best wishes,
    Moon

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    1. Nosy parkers indeed! Thanks for your comments Moon, I am glad you liked it.

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  9. He sound like an OK kind of guy. :)

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    1. He is better than OK :-)
      Thanks for commenting Sandra

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  10. I liked the father's attitude. Just let people talk all they want...one must simply sit back and watch the fun! :)

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    1. That is the attitude one should have :-) Thanks for reading and commenting Shilpa.

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  11. Ah, people love to gossip! Nicely told story

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    1. Thanks Lynn I am glad you liked it.

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  12. You have constructed this story nicely, Subroto. I like the way you find so many things for neighbours and family to gossip about.

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    1. Thank you Penny I am glad you liked it.

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  13. Very authentic. All them gossips always at it. :-)

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    1. Them gossips never stop :-) Thanks for your comments Lisa.

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  14. People will always analyse your life whatever you do. Loved the father's attitude to all the speculation over his simple decision.

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    1. Thanks Fatima I am glad you liked it.

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  15. Great last line summed it up nicely.

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  16. Anonymous6:01 am

    Wonderfully lucid.

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  17. Anonymous6:32 am

    Really like the voice behind this - the matter of fact reporting of the examination of their lives, and the 'just because' response of dad. I hope the move was a good one for all.

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    1. Thanks Sarah I am glad you liked it. I leave it to the reader to imagine how the move must have been :-)

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  18. Proof of that old saying, "The only exercise some people get is running folks down and jumping to conclusions." :)

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    1. Ha! ha! That's a great saying. Thanks for your comments Christine.

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  19. Great story, and rattling chains with that crowd you describe is a good thing to do.

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    1. Some people live to rattle the chains :-) Thanks for reading and commenting Gabriele.

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  20. Great take. I like his devil my care attitude and his disdain for those with nothing better to do than pry into his life and privacy

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    1. He does display that attitude. Thanks for reading and commenting Michael.

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  21. Dear Subroto,

    If a person has the means and the motivation, why not rattle a few chains? Loved your take on the prompt. Well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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    1. Chains are there to rattle :-) Thanks for your comments Rochelle, I am glad you liked it.

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