Joshua parked in front of the iron gate, irritated at this sign, just one of many from his absentee father. He was never there when he needed him. Where was he when he was six and skinned his knee riding his first bike? When he brought home his report card? When he needed help getting into college?

His father wasn't there when his mother died. Where was the hand of the older man when he needed comfort, standing at the grave of his closest family on a deceptively bright and sunny day? Where was he when the accident took his legs and changed his life forever?

Now that he needed a new kidney, he wasn't moving, no matter how his father barred the gates against him. He read the sign again, 'No Parking Anytime,' and set the brake on his wheelchair.

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Anglea almost 11 years ago

Unexpected twist, I didn't see that one coming

ericjkrause almost 11 years ago

Ol' Pop will have to notice him now, eh?

ganymeder (joined over 13 years ago)
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Author Catherine Russell shares her life with her high school sweetheart, their son, and two ferocious puppies in the Wilds of Ohio while writing short stories, editing her novel, and learning more about the craft every day. Her work has been published in Flash Me magazine, Metro Fiction, Beyond Centauri, and the ‘Best of Friday Flash – Volume One‘ and the ‘Best of Friday Flash – Volume Two‘ anthologies.

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Slice of life

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