Tuesday, August 20, 2019

WEP August Challenge: Red Wheelbarrow



It's time for another WEP/IWSG Challenge! This month the theme is Red Wheelbarrow.

My piece this month is short. It's also true. This theme hit me harder than expected since both of my parents are gone now. Still, it felt cathartic to write it.



Fragments of Childhood

Patches of rust covered the red wheelbarrow, betraying its age and hinting at the amount of use it had seen in those years. The wooden handles threatened to leave you with splinters in your palms if you weren’t careful.

That old wheelbarrow carried many things. It transported logs to and from the woodpile in the backyard. It carried gardening tools and plants in the springtime. The dirt dug into my knees and got under my fingernails as I helped my parents plant peas, onions, tomatoes, and various other things. We pulled weeds. Then, when we were finished, we piled the dirt-caked gardening tools back into the wheelbarrow so they could be cleaned and put back into the garage.

I can’t even begin to count all the things that wheelbarrow carried over the years. I can recall my favorite thing, though. After the work was done, I’d beg my dad to let me ride in the wheelbarrow. “Please!” I begged. “Just for a little bit.”

My dad almost always gave in and let me take a short ride around the yard. He pushed the wheelbarrow while my mom watched me throw my arms up in the air. The setting summer sun illuminated the grass, casting long shadows between the trees. It all seemed so magical. Surreal.

That rusty red wheelbarrow carried lots of things, all of them fragments of my childhood.

It’s long gone now.

Word Count: 235
FCA

24 comments:

  1. Ah, memories become even more poignant when a loved one passes. A beautiful little true story, LG. I enjoyed it immensely. Thanks for sharing with us.

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  2. Those images capture those memories perfectly. I can almost see that innocent child gardening with loved parents. Interesting how a writing prompt can connect us to what resonates deeply.

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  3. How charming! A wonderful memory and a lovely tribute to your parents.

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  4. Poignant and lovely.
    I have had similar memories.

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  5. Oh I enjoyed that!
    I bought a red (slightly rusted) wheelbarrow to help on a renovation project but I smiled at your description of taking tools back to be rinsed off - I often imagined the tools enjoying the rinse I gave them.

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  6. Beautifully written. My family had a wheelbarrow back when we lived in New Mexico, although I can't for the life of me remember if it was red or green.

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  7. Lovely! I have those wheelbarrow ride memories too - and we made sure our kids have their rides as well! :)

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  8. Hi,
    What a beautiful memory. I have many memories of my parents stored in my treasure trove deep in my heart. Reading one of yours had me remembering a story with my father. And yes these type of memories are very cathartic and helpful.
    All the best.
    Shalom aleichem,
    Pat G

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  9. What a sweet memory and a perfect piece of flash fiction for this month's theme.

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  10. A lot of memories and emotion packed into a short piece - well done!

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  11. This was so beautiful and heartfelt and your detailed description brought it all alive.

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  12. Beautiful and touching. You captured those memories so well.

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  13. The little things can sure bring back great memories. You sure brought them to life.

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  14. Lovely memories. It's so nice to make something meaningful from an 'ordinary' item.

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  15. Hi LG - great little tale ... bringing back many memories to me too - and the care of the tools, so they lasted a long time ... loved it - thank you ... cheers Hilary

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  16. Short, sweet and beautiful with a poignant touch. Thanks so much for stirring the childhood memories, LG.

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  17. I remember wheel barrow rides. We had a Radio Flyer red wagon too, but preferred the wheel barrow. It carries so many things, especially childhood memories. Your memories are very sweet, and I appreciate you sharing them with us here.

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  18. Wonderful memories. Made me think of my father and his wheelbarrow. Thank you!

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  19. Aww, I really enjoyed your short, nostalgic piece. I have similar memories of helping my grandparents in the garden. I'm sorry that neither of your parents are here anymore, but I'm glad you have special memories such as these to treasure.

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  20. What wonderful, and yet sad memories. Such nostalgia.

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  21. A nostalgic tale, that reveals even the darkest of times there is a spot of sunshine on the horizon. Well done.

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  22. Amazing how those old red wheelbarrows can elicit memories. Lovely piece.

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  23. Heartfelt and evocative - a lovely read, Laura!

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