Paul's Uncle Dave...A Short Story

The Weekly Writing Prompt Returns!

 

It's time (again...) to take part in a wonderful mental exercise--participating in the weekly writing prompt! Thanks for Nicole and Carrie and Tena and Leanne for posting the picture. Here are the rules (again...):

 

1) Use the photo and the 5 words provided in your story
2) Keep your word count 500 words or less.
3) You have until next Tuesday to link up your post.
4) Link you story on Nicole's, Carrie's, Tena's, or Leanne's blogs using the inLinkz link.
5) Have fun, don’t stress, let those creative juices flow.

 

Here are this week's words:

Laugh

Saw

Lord

Degree

Binge

 

"And remember, this is an exhibition, not a competition, so please... no wagering."

Paul's Uncle Dave

"Hey Paul!" Mary said to her son as she put away the dishes and he tried in vain to conquer at least one more level on his video game. "Did I ever tell you about your Uncle Dave?"

"Huh?" Paul said, the latest electronic binge still evident in his eyes.

"Paul, can you pause that game and come here? I have something to tell you." The 12-year old reluctantly paused the game on his iPad and slowly walked into the kitchen.

"So, who's Uncle Dave?" Paul asked as he flopped on a stool.

"He's your father's youngest brother. I don't think you've ever met him. He moved to away when you were just a baby." The mother's words met the bored child's ears. "Let me show you something." She dried her hands on a towel then left the room. Paul considered returning to his game, but thought better of it.

"Here he is." She placed several photographs down on the kitchen counter. Paul looked at the top picture and saw a tall blond man smiling back at him. The shirtless man's eyes sparkled in the grainy shot. Paul began to peruse the other pictures. "Where is he?"

"Oh, he's still in Thailand," she said picking up a few of the photographs. "The day after he graduated from UCLA with his degree in...what was it? Philosophy, I think, he caught a flight to Asia and he hasn't been back."

"Where's Thailand?"

"It's by China. Go get your iPad and I'll show you." An interested Paul shuffled off the stool and retrieved the device. "Here, let me look it up for you." A few finger swipes and a map of the southeast Asia country shown on the screen.

Mary handed over the iPad and her son began to laugh. "What?"

"It's nothing. I just remembered a story he told us once a few years ago. He called on your father's 35th birthday--I think that's the last time we've heard from him...Anyway, he said that when he first got to Thailand, he lived in a hut by the ocean. I think there's a picture of it in there." Paul searched the stack of photos.

"He lived here?" The boy showed the picture to his mother.

"Yeah, that's the one." Mary took the picture. "He said that when he first arrived a local boy called him Lord Ken."

"Why," he chucked.

"He said Dave looked like his sister's Ken doll."

"Yeah, he kind of does. Mom?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think I'll ever meet him?"

"I don't know, son...Maybe."

Word Count: 427