Photography Douglas M. MacIlroy
I didn’t like our neighbor, he frightened me.
“Get to know him,” my Grandmother had advised me and that’s why I was standing here and watched this cruel man holding a tiny bird.
“I am feeding it to the cat,” he said and roared with laughter.
I hated being little and today I hated it more than ever.
“How did it go?” Granny asked me when we sat down for dinner.
“I will never like him,” I firmly announced.
“Grandma, can I please, not like him?”
She smiled, “I don’t like him either,” she said and then we ate.
Word count: 99
Friday Fictioneers are held by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Today’s photo brought back memories.
The happy Quitter! 
Gran was right not to let her prejudices guide the youngster, but it’s good to know they eel the same way.
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Note to Gram, never ignore a kid’s instinct. I was holding my breath.
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My first thought was . . .hmm, the narrator is a cat.
Bon Appetit!
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This made my tummy churn. Very authentic voice. And very believable story.
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Thank you!
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That makes three of us! I love how you wrote the story. It felt very true-to-life.
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What a nice comment. Thank you!
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Granfma was spot on! She made the child verify before forming an opinion. Good one.
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Thank you !
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I like the way you have the little girl ask “Grandma, can I please, not like him?” That’s very true to life! Actually, the whole story is true to life. Well done!
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Thank you for stopping by!
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He certainly doesn’t sound very likeable. I’m glad grandma make sure the child had the opportunity to come to their own decision, and then respected it.
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A warped and ugly soul. The child was wise and I’m surprised the granny didn’t let her off the hook sooner.
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Perhaps Granny wanted to see her judgement?
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Oh, this made me shudder. You presented a very creepy character in the neighbor.
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Sorry!
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Don’t be, it was the result of good writing.
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PS- If someone did that to me now, well they wouldn’t dare……
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🙂
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I had a neighbor that told me every time I walked my poodle Patsy by his house that he was going to snatch and turn her into a hot dog and eat her. He terrified me.
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What a terrible thing to say to a little girl. What a bitter and miserable man he must have been.
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NO — Stay away from that creep. I think he can do worse things (though he might love his cat)
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Dear Bridget,
Smart grandmother to not force her opinions on the girl. Well written. It made me smile.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you, Rochelle.
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And children are usually a good judge of character .. Not a nice Neighbour.. Great write.
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Thank you, Sue!
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❤
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What’s to like about him? Smart Grandmother allowing her to form her own opinion… even if it could have been dangerous!
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Sometimes it’s good to know why we don’t like something or somebody.
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Yes, definitely. As long as it’s not dangerous!
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Ugh – I had a neighbour like that once … only he was a child, which made him that much creepier. I sometimes wonder what kind of monster he grew into.
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Creepy children mostly grow into even creepier adults. Let’s just assume he might have changed. Today is dream day!
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Did Grandma not like him because Granddaughter didn’t like him? Otherwise, why send the little girl over in the first place?
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Grandmother wanted the little girl to form an own opinion, that’s what great teachers do. They let you go out in the world and make your own mistakes, they don’t dictate what you feel or think. They let you come to your own conclusions!
“Great minds think alike,” would be a better statement for the little girl and her Grandmother.
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Seems like the guy might be potentially dangerous, though. He makes my “spider sense” tingle.
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“Spider sense” I like that. 🙂
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I don’t like him either, but I do like Grandmother.
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Me too 🙂
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Nobody likes him
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I suppose he doesn’t like himself.
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Some people are just not likeable. A valuable lesson.
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