Thanks to Ted Strutz for this week’s great photo prompt.
To get involved in the challenge of writing a 1oow story from a weekly prompt, click here
To read other contributions, click on the Blue Froggy
Thanks to everyone who read my story last week and commented. I’m sorry I didn’t reply or get round everyone else’s stories – put it down to a combination of intermittent internet coverage and deadlines to meet. All your comments were appreciated 🙂
Genre: Fiction (apart from the bit about the knitting!)
Repeat, Repeat
We laughed when the waves swirled round Great-Aunt Julia’s feet, carrying her knitting away while she dozed.
Great-Aunt Julia dozed everywhere. It was all she did, apart from telling us a million times that she made jet-fighters during the war.
Years later I saw a documentary about an aircraft factory and the women who worked there while the men were on the battlefields. I felt immensely proud, and ashamed for not understanding sooner.
I still visit that beach – a small half-moon of sand near the pier – and remember the tide coming in around Great-Aunt Julia. I’ve told my children all about her, a million times … or so they say!
©Siobhán McNamara
Sweet
Thanks Neil
Convinced me it was a real person. Well done.
That’s good to know! Thanks Iain 🙂
Love this Siobhan!
Thank you!
What a lovely story! Typical – kids not appreciating the older generation till later…
Thank you Dale, It seems we don’t appreciate the wisdom of others until we start to acquire it for ourselves
ahhhh – great aunt julia
🙂
Great indeed 🙂
🙂
It must have been difficult to adjust after stepping into work to meet a nations need – then to walk away when no longer needed. So many handled this challenge – well told.
That’s a good point Michael, it must have been really tough for them afterwards
Awww, that was a lovely story. I could feel the affection.
Thanks Sandra 🙂
What a wonderful story. Unsung the women heroes who held down the homefront. My Great Gram was a translator, and her daughter, My Gran was a courier. I am immensely proud of their legacy to duty.
The women really stepped up to the plate, didn’t they? It’s lovely that you have such empowered women in your family 🙂
I love this historical take. My mom could have been Great Aunt Julia, but she had a baby to care for. The Great Generation.
Thanks Granonine, I’m glad you enjoyed it. Caring for the next generation while the world was at war must have been a terrifying prospect
Great story, touching.
Thanks Trent 🙂
It’s interesting that we always want more story after those that could provide “more” are gone. You captured that well.
That’s true, we don’t realise how much of the story we never heard until it is too late
Lovely sympathetic tale
Thank you Michael 🙂
Lovely story, made me smile 🙂
I’m glad it made you smile 🙂
A good family story, Siobhan, with interesting possibilities. My great-aunt was a transcriber during the war.
Thanks Kent. The women really were the unsung heroes of the war effort.
Dear Siobhán,
Such a lovely tale. It’s a pity we don’t see what we had until it’s gone. I still wish I’d known my grandfather better.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks Rochelle, We never really value the wealth of knowledge of our elders until it’s too late.
Lovely story. It is horrible that we don’t appreciate people when they are with us. There so many interesting stories lost when they go.
Thank you, it really is sad how many stories we let die without realising
i guess she didn’t sleep on her job. she deserved some latitude. 🙂
That’s true, she’d earned the right to rest her tired eyes
And history repeats itself… Great little story!
Thanks Jessie, every generation of youth thinks they know best
I liked your story, Siobhan.
Thanks Ted, I liked your photo 🙂
Awww…I love this!
Thanks Dawn 🙂