Day: March 30, 2018

SoCS — Parenthood

Fandango8 Comments

My wife and I were bundled up one night last winter in our bungalow by the lake when she told me the news that she had a bun in the oven. Let me be abundently clear when I tell you that I was thrilled. Yes, my wife and I would shortly be bringing our first little bundle of joy into our family.

Of course, I admitted to my honeybuns that I was worried. This would be our first child and I was worried that I might bungle things, being a new dad and all. But she assured me that I was not a bungler and that I would handle the responsibilities of being a new father quite well. She was not at all concerned about me bungling things.

And with that, we bunched up next to one another and cuddled, as we sat there in front of the warmth of the fire savoring our future together with our new baby.

Written for the Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt from Linda G. Hill. The challenge is to find a word that contains “bun” or use it as a word all by itself.

Either Way

Fandango10 Comments

D6C24017-E5D3-41DD-87C6-95412B07D8CCHow do you pronounce the word “either”? Do you use the hard ē, as in ee-ther, or the hard ī as in eye-ther?

And what about “neither”? Rhymes with nee-ther? Or nigh-ther?

I was raised to pronounce both words with the hard ē sound, and that’s how I still pronounce them: ee-ther and nee-ther.

The reason I’m asking is because I’ve noticed lately that a lot of people who use either of those words, particularly on some TV shows that I watch, are pronouncing them using the hard ī, saying “eye-ther” or “nigh-ther.”

I Googled the pronunciation of both words and found out that, whichever way someone chooses to pronounce these words, they shouldn’t have trouble being understood. Both pronunciations are correct. However, the way people say these words depends on their upbringing, their region and their preference. It seems that the British are more likely to use eye-ther as the pronunciation, and the Americans use ee-ther.”

I think there are two possible explanations for why I’m hearing the hard ī pronunciation more frequently than the hard ē pronunciation.

First, a lot of actors on American TV shows are actually British, Canadian, or Australian (or even New Zealanders), who are playing Americans but use the British way of saying either or neither.

Second, every American seems to think that speaking with a British accent makes the person talking sound more refined and intelligent than their American counterparts.

Or maybe there’s a third reason. It’s me. Maybe I’m the one who is saying these words wrong.

So are you a hard ē or a hard ī person?

Betrayed

Fandango8 Comments

D5830554-DD0D-4317-A27B-B60D9B9E9F2DI feel betrayed…

By those who deny climate change.
By those who deny science.
By those who deny evolution.
By those who don’t care about the environment.
By those who put God and the Bible before the U.S. Constitution.
By those who put party over country.
By those who cast a blind eye at poverty, racism, sexism, homophobia, intolerance, and injustice in America.
By those who believe they should have domain over the healthcare and bodies of others.
By those who believe war is always the best answer.
By those who believe there should be no restrictions on the purchase of military-style assault weapons by anyone at any time.
By those who cheat, lie, and deceive in order to achieve their own unenlightened self-interests.
By those who don’t know the difference between facts and opinions.
By those who hack into computers and steal other people’s personal information and identities.
By those who show little regard for human life.
By those who mistreat animals.
By most politicians.
By the current President of the United States.

Written for today’s one-word prompt, “betrayed.”

Friday Fictioneers — The Book Club

Fandango14 Comments

img_0987Marvin pictured his wife Martha and her close knit group of lady friends seated around the white wrought iron table at her weekly book club teas.

He smiled, knowing that, rather than talking about books, they spent their time gossiping about the latest news of the townsfolk. The juicier the scandal the more boisterous their voices.

Martha loved her weekly teas and now, months after her passing, Marvin just couldn’t bring himself to pack up and store his wife’s beloved garden set.

Instead, he would take his coffee out to the yard and sit at her table remembering his Martha.

(100 words)

Written for this week’s Friday Fictioneers prompt from Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Photo credit: Fatima Fakier Deria.

Butch

Fandango11 Comments

D6412E13-9A86-4B52-BB14-C573C2BFF151When I was a very young boy, my father gave me a nickname. He called me “Butch.” It was wishful thinking on his part.

Back when he started calling me Butch, the name didn’t have the same connotation it has today. Back then it meant manly and masculine.

But the meaning of the word has evolved considerably over time. These days, according to the Urban Dictionary, Butch means an especially masculine lesbian who is often the dominant partner in a lesbian relationship.

While I know my father didn’t think of me as a masculine, dominant lesbian, I think he was a bit disappointed that I wasn’t more manly. I was the nerdy, studious type of kid, more likely to be on the debate team than on the football team. I was not very coordinated. I was skinny, wore glasses, had braces on my teeth, and pimples on my face. I was more of a Sheldon than a Butch, which also meant that I was more likely to be beaten up than to beat up another.

I even think there was a time when my father worried that I was gay. I wasn’t, but I have no doubt that it had crossed his mind.

Eventually my father stopped calling me Butch. In fact, I think he even stopped calling me by my given name, as well. He basically just stopped speaking to me at all.