Flash fiction heavyweight Dick Waters is the winner of our weekly Flash Fiction competition. Congratulations to Dick, and thanks to everyone who participated – excellent entries!
The winning entry is rewarded with a special feature here today and a place in our collection of winners which will be published as an e-book at year end.
Without further ado, here’s the winning entry:
A Veteran’s Legacy
by Dick C. Waters
“Daddy, I can’t see.”
“I’m sorry honey. Let me lift you up onto my shoulders.”
“Bill, please be careful…you need to be careful.”
“Daddy, what’s today?”
“Today is Veterans’ Day.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s the day we honor those men and women who serve, or served, in the military.”
“Like those men marching?”
“Yes honey, like those men.”
“They look like the picture of Grandpa.”
“Yes they do. Do you remember the trip we took…the one where we saw all those white crosses?”
“Yeah. I remember how pretty they looked, but you were crying.”
“I know sweetie…I was thinking about Grandpa’s cross.”
“Daddy look, there’s the American flag. Why are some people taking their hats off, and why are you saluting it?”
“We’re paying respect for what it stands for.”
“What does it stand for?”
“Honey, you ask some tough questions. I’ll answer that later.”
“Daddy, look at all those men wearing different clothes.”
“Those are all the different branches of the service; each one has a different uniform.”
“Daddy that one looks like the one you’re wearing.”
“Yes, he’s a Marine.”
“Does he fight in a war?”
“I don’t know…possibly.”
“Will he lose a leg too?”
“I doubt it honey. Remember your question about the flag?”
“Ah huh.”
“Honey, look around you…everything you see, people risked their lives for, and for your right to ask all these questions.”
“Daddy, will there be future veterans?”
“Honey, I hope so.”
“I’m sorry honey. Let me lift you up onto my shoulders.”
“Bill, please be careful…you need to be careful.”
“Daddy, what’s today?”
“Today is Veterans’ Day.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s the day we honor those men and women who serve, or served, in the military.”
“Like those men marching?”
“Yes honey, like those men.”
“They look like the picture of Grandpa.”
“Yes they do. Do you remember the trip we took…the one where we saw all those white crosses?”
“Yeah. I remember how pretty they looked, but you were crying.”
“I know sweetie…I was thinking about Grandpa’s cross.”
“Daddy look, there’s the American flag. Why are some people taking their hats off, and why are you saluting it?”
“We’re paying respect for what it stands for.”
“What does it stand for?”
“Honey, you ask some tough questions. I’ll answer that later.”
“Daddy, look at all those men wearing different clothes.”
“Those are all the different branches of the service; each one has a different uniform.”
“Daddy that one looks like the one you’re wearing.”
“Yes, he’s a Marine.”
“Does he fight in a war?”
“I don’t know…possibly.”
“Will he lose a leg too?”
“I doubt it honey. Remember your question about the flag?”
“Ah huh.”
“Honey, look around you…everything you see, people risked their lives for, and for your right to ask all these questions.”
“Daddy, will there be future veterans?”
“Honey, I hope so.”
This had just the right touch.
Thank you Yvonne. Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.
Dick