“Dad, please. The asteroid’s passed, and we’re still alive, okay?”
The tent flap remained zippered tight as clenched teeth. I guessed the etiquette was the same as doors – you waited to be invited in.
“Dad?”
His voice was clear and stronger than it had been for years. “Go away. I’m armed.”
“It’s me – Josh. Open up.”
Silence.
You expect your parents to grow old gracefully or, at worst, to become a little forgetful. Not to blossom into survivalist delusion.
“Dad? Civilisation has collapsed. There’s only you and me. Let me in. Feed me.”
“Josh?”
Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here.
Neil MacDonald Author 
Wow. A delusion that would prefer to see the end of the world. Glad the son knew how to get through to him. Good story.
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Thanks, Al
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🙂
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Dear Neil,
Josh is nothing if not resourceful. You set the tone and created the scene so seamlessly I felt as if I were there.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle
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Such a really kind way of dealing with an ever present problem today. I really liked the gentleness that came through from the son.
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thanks, Sandra
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A difficult topic, that affects so many of us, handled with a deft touch.
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thanks so much
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Everything is different when dementia packs heat. Nicely told.
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Thanks
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Very creative. I enjoyed reading your take on the prompt.
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Thanks so much
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Nice reverse psychology. Needs to be careful though that he doesn’t say something that sets his Dad off on a survivalist killing spree! Nice take.
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I don’t think he’s thought further than disarming his dad
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I guess if his dad is disarmed, it will be harder to go on a survivalist killing spree!
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It will also make is own survival a great deal more likely
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What a story…It takes a lot of patience and kindness in these kinds of situations.
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Yes it does.
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What everyone said…That was a touching story as so much anger could have been there instead of the tenderness displayed.
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Thanks, Dale
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Nice apocalyptic tone, Neil. I like the zipper as “clenched teeth” line. Superb! Ending’s great, everything.
Well done, sir!
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Thanks, William
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This is sadly beautiful.
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Thanks so much
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I agree with Rochelle, I felt like I was there too.
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Thanks so much
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This was spot on, one could just see it happening. – 🙂
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Thanks, Michael
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I really like this. Not sure I saw the dementia element, just that his Dad had gone into full survivalist mode. (Maybe he’ll open the zipper, and it won’t be Josh after all.) Just…joshing…
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Well, from the author of the pre-eminent survivalist fantasy book, I take that a compliment
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Nice bit of psychology from Josh there – otherwise he mght never have got Dad to open that zip! How the roles reverse as our parents age and we become the carers, not the cared for. Nicely doen Neil
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Thanks, Lynn
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My pleasure 🙂
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Josh shouldn’t be so snooty about his dad – he went into the woods with him, didn’t he?
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I think he went into the woods to find him
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If you are in delusion, it’s better to affirm than to confront I guess… love the patience of the son.
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Thanks, Bjorn
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Very cool story. Josh really knows how to think on his feet.
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Thanks so much
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I really liked this. I feel for both of them. And I loved the line, “Feed me.” Way to go! I’m going to remember that as a possible way to roll back the decades should I ever be in a similar situation (whether involving a tent or not).
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I can’t guarantee it works. I made it up
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A lot of unanswered questions in this wee tale. Very well done.
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Thanks Alicia. I’m assuming unanswered questions is good
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Oh, yes. VERY good.
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Dear Neil,
I read the last line as Dad no longer knowing his son. Shocked into full blown dementia. This tale was plausible, powerful and perceptive.
Yours,
Doug
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Yes, Dad is dementing. But at the end he does remember his son
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You made it all very real. In liked the ease with the story moved, tricky though such delusions. Great work.
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Thanks, Neel
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Ah, that did it – the parenting instinct. I hope Josh gets his dad back.
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Perhaps for fleeting moments
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Gosh, that went to a dark place. Good piece.
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Thanks, Laurie
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What is the etiquette to gain entrance to a tent? This sets the situation nicely. Loved the resourcefulness of the son. A dark topic handled very deftly.
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Thanks so much
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My dad had dementia. I can relate.
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Josh has a task on his hands but appears to know how to handle it. Sympathetically delivered
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Thanks, Michael
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That comment on old people is so true and pretty bad when it is your parent.
Btw, was it just his imagination or the reality?
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Thanks. No it’s imagination. My father is sharp as a pin
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Sounds like night shift on the Altzheimer’s ward I used to work in. We had a gentleman vet who had flown sorties in WWII at Pearl Harbor. Occasionally, I got the opportunity to relive that history with him by being his co-pilot/ bombadeer. Learned more in those sorties over the picnic table than I ever did in History class.
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That sounds great!
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It was! Also, very sad.
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The end of the world as he knows it. Nicely captured.
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Thanks, Honie
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Nice take. Loved it.
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Thanks, Indira
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Nice turn around there at the ned, you got me.
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end..not ned…sheesh!
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Thanks, Dawn
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It’ so sad to see a parent becoming someone so different to the one you know. Josh seems to understand how to deal with him. Sympathetically done.
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Thanks, Clare
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I loved the fact that the father reacted to his child’s demand to be fed 🙂
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I’m pleased that worked for you, Dahlia
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I hope Josh survives 😉
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So long as he disarms Dad he will
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Awesome story. Sad and so reflective of how difficult neurological conditions are for family. Great flow and the dialogue is very natural. Good luck to Josh and Dad!
Happy trails!
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Thanks so much
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Well told Neil. I saw it all.
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Thanks, Thom, there’s no finer compliment than that
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That is scary. He really needs to get hold of the gun. Survivalists scare the daylights out of me. They don’t trust anyone. It would be even worse if one was delusional. I knew one woman whose own violent husband with Alzheimer’s tried to shoot her. She escaped and had to have him hospitalized for life in a special nursing home for violent patients. Good writing, Neil. —- Suzanne
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Thanks, Suzanne
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