Another Wednesday another photo prompt from Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Thanks to Sandra Crook for providing this color photo from somewhere in France, I presume. Here is my 100-word contribution tucked amidst all the other wonderful Friday Fictioneer tales.
“Orange,” the old man said.
The seven-year-old boy handed him a mosaic tile.
“This is green. I said orange.”
“But Grandpa, how can you tell?”
“Orange tiles are thick. Green are textured like sandstone.Try again.”
The boy desperately wanted to look under his blindfold, but Grandfather would get angry.
Carefully, he ran his small fingers over the tiles. “This one!”
“Yellow!” Grandfather raised his voice. “Feel the glaze!”
Tears welled in the child’s eyes. They had been working for hours.
Grandpa lifted his red-tipped cane and gently tapped the boy’s head.”No crying! One can see with more than his eyes.”
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Up From the Ashes 
This evoked so many emotions Alicia. I wasn’t sure at the end who to feel sorry for.
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Thanks for reading and commenting. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be a blind artist, nor what it would be like to learn from such a strict but loving teacher.
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Me neither but a very interesting thought.
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One can see with more than his eyes – what a lovely line
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Thank you, Neil. I truly believe that to be true.
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I love where you went with this.
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Thanks, Dawn. The roof on the gazebo (?) is quite striking.
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Dear Alicia,
Unique and beautifully written. Love it.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle. Being a blind artist would be challenging. I’m sure you can relate to such an idea.
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Nice take Alicia, and a good lesson to learn.
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I think so. Thanks for reading”The Lesson.”
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How true, we can see so much more if we use our senses. I loved this I can feel the knock on the head. Well done.
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I like using my sense of smell. I have a good schnoz for scenting things out. Thanks so much for reading and commenting!
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Your welcome but go steady with the cane … my bonce still hurts *rubs head*
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That was wonderful! Hmmm… wonder why he is teaching him to see with his hands…
(by the way, you are missing an ‘h’ for the “he ran his small hands…”)
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(he ran is small fingers over the tiles – I don’t see a missing “h” anywhere! Have I gone blind myself?)
Grandpa is trying to teach him to use all his senses. I’m imagining that Grandfather has been blind all his life. Perhaps that didn’t come through in 100 words. Maybe not kindly all the time but . . . . Thanks for reading and commenting
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Sorry… I thought it was his small fingers not is small fingers!
I figured Grandpa was blind and teaching him…
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Jimminy Christmas! You’re right. I didn’t even see the error when I cut and pasted the line. My face is red. I’ve fixed it. THANKS! for your patience with this tired old girl.
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Nice
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Thanks!
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There are many ways to perceive things, other than with our eyes. Great lesson.
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Thanks. I truly believe that.
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Truly an unique take and emotively written. Great write.
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Thanks so much. I always love it when you leave a comment. Good or bad. It keeps me on the straight and narrow.
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A strict teacher, but a valuable lesson. Nice one!
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Our elders are often like that – a combo of bitter and sweet. Thanks for stopping by!
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A strict but still gentle teacher. In the future the child will be grateful for this. And what a great idea, to make us see through a blind man’s sense of touch.
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Thanks so much for appreciating that idea. I’ve often marvelled at deaf people who write or perform music and blind people who paint.
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I really love the lesson tucked into this.
Brilliantly done.
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Thank you! What a nice thing to say.
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Nice story with a great message.
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Thanks very much.
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Beautiful lesson! How easily we sighted people forget our sense of touch. Because of my husband’s work schedule, I sometimes grab a shirt out of my drawer in the dark. There are several I know by touch of the fabric.
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What a lovely example of what I meant to portray in my story. Thanks so very much for stopping by and leaving a comment. Welcome.
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Lovely. Almost reads like a parable.
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I hadn’t considered that, Sandra, thanks for the kind comment.
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What a lovely last line, we all need to feel deeper.
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I agree. We need to use all our senses to “see” the world. Thanks!
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Sounds like a difficult lesson for Grandpa to have to learn, and now he has the best of intentions in passing it down — although his grandson may not understand that, not right away. Nicely written.
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Yes, all of that is true. Thanks so much for reading and leaving a reply. I appreciate it.
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I love this! Teachable moments make the best stories. Well done.
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Thank you, Honie. I’d hoped this wasn’t too preachy.
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Wonderful response to the prompt, Alicia. I sensed what was coming, but the delivery was great!
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Thanks very much. I didn’t know how to portray the end without making it too in your face.
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Oh, such a poignant piece, heartfelt. Love the way you fully show the relationship between them.
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Thanks, Poppy. I’d hoped the love between Grandson and Grandfather would show through.
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This was great. Some lessons take a lot of learning and the child is struggling but, Grandpa seems genuine and sympathetic
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Thanks, Michael. I think Granpa really loves his grandson and wants him to learn. I appreciate your comments. Alicia
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Beautiful. A hard and exhausting lesson for the little boy but such a valuable one. Perhaps we need more blind grandfathers in our world…..
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Maybe! Thanks so much for reading my story. Alicia
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It might be harsh but sometimes it’s the only way to show your love. I hope the little boy will understand.
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That’s certainly the way my father taught me – tough love all around. I understood when I was MUCH older. Thanks, Bjorn.
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There’s a tough life lesson to learn! Fingers crossed the grandson can do it – the talent will serve him well. Wonderful take on the prompt – very well written and original
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Thanks, Lynn, you always say such kind things. I appreciated it (I would appreciate any critiques also – news can’t alway be good ; -) )
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Haha! Very true. I thought it was beautifully written, the only thing I wondered was exactly why grandad was doing – I was intrigued by the context I suppose. Is there something about the society that means he wants to equip his grandson with the ability to look below the surface of things? Of course, impossible to include all that in 100 words – just interesting. 🙂
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Granddad was merely teaching “life lessons” to his grandson. Look, listen, learn. Hard to get across that Granddad had been blind his whole life and learned how to maneuver through the world with that disability. There’s nothing odd about the society. So glad you asked. Alicia
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A creative and lovely story, Alicia. The blind are sometimes given other senses that are stronger. Good writing. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thank you so much. Alicia
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