Each Sunday my good friend Alastair offers up one of his excellent photographs as a prompt for writing a short fictional piece. Be sure to check out this fun activity, click here for more information.
Photo Credit: Copyright © Alastair Forbes, 2013
Simple is as Simple does.
“I just want to leave, daddy!” the little girl said. “I’m not having any fun!”
“But honey, you’ve hardly ridden any of the rides.” The dad was concerned to see the unhappy look on his daughter’s face. He had been so sure, when he picked her up at her mother’s house for his “weekend time”, that she’d love to go to the carnival. Didn’t kids like these things any more?
“I don’t care. I just want to leave and go some other place. It’s noisy and all the rides are scary with people screaming. They’re rude and they keep bumping into us on the ground.” His daughter’s small hand held tightly onto his while tugging him in the direction of the exit.
“Well, wait a minute,” Her dad tried again. “Let’s go by the food stands, they have yummy treats to eat there. That’s always fun at carnivals.” He patted his substantial stomach while deciding there was always room for one more corn dog!
“No daddy, my tummy still hurts from the last ride and we can buy treats everywhere. I just want to go.”
The dad looked and felt very frustrated as they slowly maneuvered their way through the noisy throng of indifferent people who, now that he noticed it, all seemed to be running around in hyper mode; looking for the next great thrilling ride, or fat engorged snack or cheap plastic prize to be awarded for winning a “fixed” game.
When they reached the exit the dad turned to his daughter and impatiently asked “So where do you want to go?”
The little girl answered quietly. “Could we go to the park, just the two of us, walk around, feed the squirrels and maybe you could push me on the swing. Doesn’t that sound like fun, Daddy?”
*******
Is there a loss of pleasure in “simple things” today? Are we perhaps so inundated with the never ending media of thriller type videos, movies, TV shows, books and of course real life activities, it has become difficult to go to a simple and happier place!
The Why About This 
Hmm. Thanks, Penny, for questioning this. I feel that I have been busy in family commitment, ministry, earning my living expenses, and my wordpress friends
>
Busy is good, Yoshiko, but take time for you as you can dear friend.
Thank you, Penny 🙂
Hi Penny,
After a little mistake here which led me to another blog, I am right here at your site… Oopss…
I Love the little story and how that little girl tries to get accomplish her wishes… You are right when you say that the little/tiny things are really the ones that count… have you seen Citizen Kane”?…
Well I guess that if you do you must remember the word “Rosebud”…
At the end of the day, the little thins are those that give our life a deeper sense and straight direction… Happiness is of course involved here…
Sending you many hugs and thanks for stopping by at my blog too…
I fell flattered by your great comment my friend;
Aquileana 🙂
Hi Aquileana, thank you! Of course “Citizen Kane” is a bit of an icon, well, most certainly the word “rosebud” referencing the points being made here! My pleasure to encourage others to read your words and know of you! 🙂 xo
My pleasure to do the same for you…
Love your spirit & your writing is wise & stunning at the same time… 🙂
Hugs to you, Penny;
Aquileana 😉
Oh – don’t have to ask me twice. The park it is!
xo 🙂 🙂 xo
Absolutely! 🙂 xo
Beautiful. We forget that there is pleasure in small, simple things also.
Alas, we do, and we should remember. Simple things move us forward!
Great question Penny. I remember when I was a kid, we were outside all the time until dusk. The world of cyber technology has seemed to trump a lot of simple pleasures; the days when childhood obesity was rarely heard of. 🙂
Yeah, that really bothers me. If people cannot control their own lifestyle habits they should at least take responsibility for the children they are raising! Sorry, I’ll get off my podium now, 😉
It almost seems like a role reversal, with the “big kid” acting spoilt and finding nature boring!
Hello Steve, thank you very kindly for your visit here. I think you may be right. In fact, I think there may be an epidemic of this sort of thing going on right now! 🙂
Nature is so restorative and I worry for the children today who never get out and experience it. Our generation was blessed with knowing this intuitively at a very early age.
Yes, we were and we must do what we can to help those who haven’t had this blessing, Just one of our “jobs” that we are happy to do! 🙂
Simple things have lost their pleasure as they do not result in adrenalin high. Most of us have become adrenalin addicts.
Loved this read.
Thank you. I agree with you 100%!
Firstly I think this is a great idea as a source of inspiration – let’s nut ignore what is around us.
Secondly I really like this story, I think you have captured a feeling that we think children no longer need, space to be young.
Without knocking progress I believe that you are correct; we are sold the idea of ‘bigger, better, more’ when all we really need is the space to grow. (Rant over!)
Thanks Penny,
Take care, Chris.
Hello Chris. Thank you.(I like your rant) The reality of it breaks my heart. Children just need unconditional love and a guide, so simple and yet today, so very difficult to accomplish!
Thank you so very much for commenting on this important subject Chris, I am appreciative – and do take care of you too!
Wonderful!
🙂 thanks Barb!
🙂 Thanks to you I wrote my first Alastair’s Photo Fiction!
This is great Barb. Alastair is a really cool guy and his Photo Fiction is a lot of fun too! Glad you decided to join in! 🙂
I say that too, the best times with my dad were the quiet talking times! Sitting together in harmony!
Hi Ute, yes, harmony. What a lovely sound that word makes and represents dear friend! I’m so glad you have those wonderful memories to think on! 🙂
The simple things are all that a child needs and you expressed this perfectly in your story. All children really want is to spend that special time with their parents during which they feel loved and the focus of their attention.
Hello Colline. You are correct. Sadly missing for many children today!
The best weekend times I spent with my lovely dad were the quiet times, just him and me walking and talking. This evokes some brilliant memories (although he never pushed me to go to the fair!).
Does sound like you have some wonderful memories of your father Freya! 🙂 xx
Oh I really, really do 🙂
AnElephantCant quite believe the truth
Of this great story that he has just read
The world is a better place
With a smile on a face
Penny once again hits the nail on the head
Thank you. No brainer for us (you and I), I think, on this subject. Watching the little ones who find creativity so easily, they just need the love and direction (sadly missing today)!
Sometimes going to the park, just sitting there is so much more fun than going on rides. Relaxation is better than hoping your last meal won’t do a runner.
One of the problems is the the places of relaxation seem to be getting less and less.
Great story Penny, and thank you for taking part 🙂
I was glad to have the time to write a story for your photo this week Alastair! 🙂
Thank you, I know your time is very limited at the moment, so I appreciate that.