{This is a response to the Friday Fictioneer’s prompt this week. As a Floridian, I could hardly resist a prompt about citrus! Though it may cause confusion to non-Americans, I use the word “hood” in describing a part of the car. Around here, that means the front metal cover over the engine compartment. The “crease” I mention is where you would normally see the windshield wipers. Thanks for reading and thanks for the prompt!}
Between the car’s front windshield and hood, in the crease, Eddie lined up the grapefruit, one by one.
“Look Eddie! The sunrise!”
Eddie ignored his brother.
Tan, reclining against the car’s bumper, arms crossed, surveyed the horizon with something like hope.
Eddie’s brows furrowed. He sorted. By size. Then, by color.
Abruptly, he nodded.
“Go home.”
Eddie jiggled the handle.
Tan sighed. He loaded the grapefruit into Mom’s tattered old sewing bag, patterned with signposts from around the globe.
“Go home,” Eddie insisted.
Tan gazed once more at the glistening sky, before turning the key.
“Anywhere, but there,” he muttered.
Having been raised, in part, in Florida’s citrus capitol, this picture made me smile. To read another story involving citrus, try The Next Best Thing to Snow.
I love this original take, Andrea.
Thanks, Dale!
I wonder what awaits him at home?
I thought they were grapefruit too until I saw the image name when I downloaded it!
I saw the image name, too, draliman, so I truly have no excuse! I just thought, ted stultz must be really proud of this photo!😊. I guess, like anything else, once I saw grapefruit, i couldn’t unsee them.
I had to go back up and look at the photo…yes, they’re eggs, but I love your Florida citrus story…guess it’s always best to write about what you know…and you certainly know citrus…a lovely, colorful tale. 🙂
Thanks doodletllc!
I wonder how long he’ll go on being dutiful
Good question, Neil.
Eggs, fruit – it still works. Dread to think what awaits them at home.
Whatever it’s like, home doesn’t match Tan’s expectations, about how his life might have been.
Dear Andrea,
Umm…they’re actually eggs in a carton. But I’m glad you thought they were citrus and couldn’t resist. Love the way Eddie lined of the grapefruit when it seems the story is really about a not so great home life. Did I get that right?
Shalom,
Rochelle
Wow–guess i need my eyes checked. 😊 yes i was thinking along the lines of an older brother with travel ambitions who got saddled with the dubious honor of caring for his differently-abled sibling when their mother died or left the picture.
I was thinking that Mom was the not good situation waiting for them at home.