Christmas

Christmas, Second Season of the Year

Christmas 2023/24

Boxing Day 2023

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Yesterday was Christmas Day.

Late in the afternoon one arm of the GrandChildren arrived for an hour, leaving behind them an interesting scene.

With GrandChildren coming and going we always have toys lying around. One day after they left I absentmindedly lined up the three or four plastic ducks we had along the top of our flat screen telly, there they stayed.

This quickly developed into ‘He collects Ducks’, in the space of 18 months through various gifts many characterful ducks have taken up residence, too many now to all fit along the top of our FlatScreen TV, but there they do still live – this ‘custom’ has moved down a generation and two too.

Numbers of ducks fast expanded, interesting to see these ducks now developing social and family groups, grandparents, parents, children, friends. Grandchildren interpreting life through play.

On this flash visit the grandchildren created a duckling choir performing to their families and friends.

I transferred the scene onto blankets representing pond, bank and floating stage, a picture memory for them of their inventive game.

On the Pond: a Duckling Carol Concert

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Writing and Images on Tread Doodle & Scrawl authored, drawn or taken by me, ©️ Dominic Barton

Shot

First published at Friday Flash Fiction, a site where most story entries are restricted to just 100 words. I enjoy creating a storyline, then seriously editing my work down to 100 words, a great discipline in retaining integrity whilst cutting out the added extra. Not all writers choose this route, my friend Margaret said tonight, ‘Why use one word when 10 will do’.

Water lapped at my waist as I nudged silently through the reeds. Dawn was fast approaching and my tummy rumbled in anticipation of breakfast. First I had a mission to complete.

Reaching Hide Zero I sunk deeper, camouflaged I lay in wait. Rays of sun broke the horizon. Holding my breath, I waited, poised, ready.

Movement ahead, I tensed, lifted my arms to position, nestled my eye into the crosshair sites. They rose, I shot. Another award-winning photograph, Canadian Geese Take Flight, caught between reedy silhouette and orange sunrise.