Day Seven: Give and Take
Today’s Prompt: Write a post based on the contrast between two things — whether people, objects, emotions, places, or something else.
Bringing together two different things — from the abstract and the inanimate to the living and breathing — creates a natural source of tension, and conflict drives writing forward. It makes your reader want to continue to the next sentence, to the next page. So, focus on your two starkly different siblings, or your competing love for tacos and macarons, or whether thoughts are more powerful than words, or…you get the idea.
Today’s twist: write your post in the form of a dialogue. You can create a strong opposition between the two speakers — a lovers’ quarrel or a fierce political debate, for example. Or you could aim to highlight the difference in tone and style between the two different speakers — your call!
“Paul, I don’t use the expression ‘getting old’, and please stop talking to me like that in front of your shop, for your employees could hear it,” said Robert. “I am 90 years young. Getting old is not my choice and I will be here for some more years.”
“Father, it is not your choice but nature’s design,” said Paul, looking down with contempt. “You are taking risks, and I am very concerned about your safety and health,” said Robert.
“You are arrogant. Do you think I can not take care of myself?” asked Paul. “Don’t treat me as if I am an invalid and useless man.” Paul raised his voice, and Robert realized that he was losing control.
“Father, I only want the best for you”, said Robert. “I am only asking you to work less and to stop driving your car. I will help you when you need me.” Robert was wrongly making a desperate plea to convince a proud man.
“My son, if you are lucky to be alive at my age, you will understand what is the meaning of getting old. You call people ‘old’ when you think they are not worth living,” murmured Paul, not anymore looking at Robert’s eyes. He gesticulated with his hands nervously, emphasizing the power of his conviction.
Robert was touched and afraid of what to say.
“The day you doubt my ability to take care of this business, to make my own decisions, to drive freely and to do what I want, will be the day that you are placing my body in a tomb.”
Paul spoke with so much force, that passers-by started paying attention to their conversation.
That is how Robert knew his father for as long as he lived. A strong-willed, determined and resilient self-made businessman, who would never take no for an answer, not even from death.
I wrote this piece inspired by my 87 years young father; a businessman who is planning to live 150 years…
I made this photo in Porto, Portugal, during a recent leisure trip.
Sights & Insights 
A wonderful comparison for this assignment! Well done! Your dialogue and thoughts flowed well together and were fun to read. Your photo is a wonderful addition to the piece.
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Hi Kanne, thank you for taking time to visit and comment. I very much appreciated your kind and encouraging words.
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I absolutely LOVE the photo. And your dialogue SINGS in this piece. Makes me want to hear the rest of the father’s life story, or at least of chunk of the “good” stuff.
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Hey badfish, you da man! I may continue this story as I have plenty of material from conversations with my parents.
Thank you so much.
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Cool.
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Great job! I’m having problems getting mine to be a good dialogue story. You made yours flow like reading a book.
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Thank you so much for your kind comment. Glad you liked it. I will head to your blog to read yours too. Cheers.
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Yay for your father!! Honestly, I thought the photo was from a web archive–it is beautiful. I love it!
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Wow! Thank you! I used a sepia filter to make it look ‘old’! 😉
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This is wonderful. And fits the fab photo perfectly. So many of us assume old age equals senility. We forget that these people raised us and taught us how to be adults in the first place! This was great Lucile, you write beautifully. X
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Fabulous are always the comments you make here, my dear! Very true what you said and that’s the worse thing a younger person can do to an elderly person. They feel like losing their dignity.
Thank you so much for your supportive and encouraging words.
xxx
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My pleasure x
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The photo is so dramatic & befitting! Your father sounds very interesting.
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Thanks for visiting and for your kind comments.
By the way, it is not a photo of my father; but he’s indeed a very interesting man!
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Well done! I could hear my Mum speaking with my beloved grand Dad, who almost made it up to 150 actually! Now I know where you are getting your energy from 🙂 Super well written, the love radiates till here. You really have a special gift in paying a tribute to love ! XXX
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Amazing to hear that about your grand dad. So, expect to get there to my friend! I am afraid I might to…
You always make me feel special with such lovely and encouraging comments.
I try to do my best and to share what I believe in, and I am happy that we share the same values.
Heartfelt thanks for being a fantastic friend.
xxx
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❤ ❤ ❤ !
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My parents are 86 and 85 and still going strong, so I can identify. Thankfully, they can still do everything they want to do, so we haven’t had to have a conversation like this or even think about it. 🙂
Well done, Lucile.
janet
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That is fantastic, Janet! We share the same experience, fortunately. But I am sure that the way I described, is very close to how my father would react.
Thank you so much for your considerate comment.
Lucile
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I absolutely love the black and white photo to go with your dialogue! My parents are 71 and 73yr. young and starting to deal with frustrations that sometimes go along with age and it’s limitations. Your story definitely hits home with my family at the moment, as my father has had surgery and trying to recover. Great assignment and you get A+++
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Thanks, Schuttzie, your comments are always very appreciative and encouraging. I am grateful beyond measure.
I do understand what you’re going through and it’s not easy. My mother, who is 83yr young, had some health issues last year, and was very frustrated with the restrictions imposed by the doctors. I wish him a smooth and speedy recovery and lots of patience and strength to you.
Cheers.
Lucile
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Thank you so much for your well wishes! It is difficult to help them out and not step on their toes or make them feel useless. It is a journey for us both 🙂 Have a great day, Lucile!
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I agree with the father we should be saying 90 years young . When we stop doing is when we get old.
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Exactly, that’s what I hear my father saying.
Thanks for visiting and commenting. Appreciated.
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It was a great story
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Thank you! 😀
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Inspiring and very well written! Attitude is everything. It reminds me of a Norwegian businessman who was still in business when he was 90+. Whenever the topic of age came up, he would phrase his answer: “IF I die…” (not WHEN)… Thank you for yet another great post 🙂
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Thank you so much for visiting and supporting my ramblings.
Interesting story of this Norwegian man. I loved what he said. Thanks for sharing.
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The dialogue was good. Seemed natural. I like the theme as well. 🙂
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Thanks for reading and for your lovely comment, Deborah.
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