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Grandpa’s Tool Shed #flashfiction

This week at the Carrot Ranch, Charli Mills challenged writers to In 99 words (no more, no less), write about tools. Whose tools are they and how do they fit into the story? What kind of tools? Go where the prompt leads!

Charli, of course wrote about writer’s tools and provided a multitude of links to great resources for learning about them. She also wrote about tools for dealing with snow, but I can only imagine using them. My experience with snow is very limited.

I drew upon my memories of childhood for my response. I hope you like it.

Grandpa’s Tool Shed

Jacob worked tirelessly alongside Grandpa. He loved the sweet scent of sawdust curls and the heady smell of fresh paint. He loved that ash from Grandpa’s cigarette fell unchecked into the shavings. He especially liked using Grandpa’s real tools. The plastic bench at Kindy was only a toy.

Jacob’s visits decreased but Grandpa never forgot. He left the house, the shed and all his tools to Jacob. Standing in the dark empty shed, Jacob tried to conjure the smells of Grandpa. There was nothing else to do. He rolled up his sleeves and started planing sawdust curls — in memory.

Thank you blog post

Thank you for reading. I appreciate your feedback. Please share your thoughts.

Comments

53 responses to “Grandpa’s Tool Shed #flashfiction”

  1. artfromperry Avatar

    Dang, I could write a book about tools! Thanks for the inspiration. ✍️💙✍️

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Norah Avatar

      You’re welcome.

      Like

  2. dgkaye Avatar

    A sweet little nostalgic story Norah. 🙂 x

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Norah Avatar

      Thank you, Debby. 💖

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Hugh W. Roberts Avatar

    What a lovely piece full of memories and what memories are all about, Norah. From the past, right to the present, the memories were king of the story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Norah Avatar

      Thank you, Hugh. I appreciate the way you’ve summed up my story.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Grandpa’s Tool Shed #flashfiction — Norah Colvin | Chel Owens Avatar

    […] Grandpa’s Tool Shed #flashfiction — Norah Colvin […]

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  5. Jennie Avatar

    I love this, Norah!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Norah Avatar

      Thank you, Jennie.💖

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Jennie Avatar

        You’re welcome, Norah!

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Liz H Avatar

    That final olfactory image of fresh wood shavings: a little bit of heaven!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Norah Avatar

      I’m pleased you think so, Liz. Thank you.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Chel Owens Avatar

    I believe this is my favorite of yours (so far), Norah. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Chel Owens Avatar

      Would you mind if I reposted it?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Norah Avatar

        I’d be honoured. Thank you so much, Chelsea. And apologies for taking so long to get back to you. I’ve been busy with other things.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Chel Owens Avatar

          I figured I could go ahead, and just take it down if you minded.

          Liked by 1 person

          1. Norah Avatar

            Good thinking! 🙂

            Liked by 1 person

    2. Norah Avatar

      Aw, that’s so kind. Thank you, Chelsea.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Annika Perry Avatar

    Norah, a wonderful short story with so much emotional history traversing the generations in just a few words. Well done – this is a joy to read and absorb!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Norah Avatar

      Thank you so much for your wonderful comment, Annika. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  9. calmkate Avatar

    such a heartwarming story Norah! My father was super mechanical minded so no fragrant smells amongst the oil and grease … but I did learn how to rebuild my own motorbike 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Norah Avatar

      You’re so clever to rebuild your own motorbike, Kate. I’m not much good at anything with my hands, though I’m usually pretty good at solving problems. (Causing them too, some might say. 🤣)

      Liked by 1 person

      1. calmkate Avatar

        lol useful to have a competent father about 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Norah Avatar

          That’s for sure, Kate.

          Liked by 1 person

  10. Tool Time « Carrot Ranch Literary Community Avatar

    […] Grandpa’s Toolshed by Norah Colvin […]

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  11. Charli Mills Avatar

    You created a beautiful heritage in 99 words, Norah. Well done!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Norah Avatar

      Thank you, Charli.

      Like

  12. Jim Borden Avatar

    such a heartwarming story; how nice for Jacob to have those memories.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Norah Avatar

      Thanks, Jim. I think so too.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. robbiesinspiration Avatar

    This is a lovely piece of flash fiction, Norah.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Norah Avatar

      Thank you, Robbie.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Jacqui Murray Avatar

    I can see how healing that would be, for the sad memory.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Norah Avatar

      I think so. 💖 Happy Thanksgiving.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. beth Avatar

    aw, this gave me chills

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Susan Scott Avatar

    My comment disappeared off the face of the earth Norah! I loved this story thank you … wise messages in them too .. beautifully written. My original comment was longer –

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Norah Avatar

      I’m so sorry your comment disappeared, Susan. I know you would have shared positive thoughts and wisdom, so I thank you for it anyway. I’m pleased you enjoyed the story and found it worthy of a longer comment. Thank you. 💖

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Susan Scott Avatar

        You were the one who said ‘There was nothing else to do’ which evokes imaginatively a situation we each may face, at some stage. And his action thereafter, in honour of his memory. Altogether a lovely piece of writing Norah …

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Norah Avatar

          Thank you, Susan. I’m extra appreciative that you can back to share again. 💖

          Liked by 1 person

  17. Anne Goodwin is bringing Matilda Windsor home Avatar

    I too love those smells, both in real life and in your lovely story. I don’t think my grandad had a tool shed, but he did smell of smoke!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Norah Avatar

      Thank you, Anne. I enjoyed thinking about the smells of the toolshed. My grandad didn’t have a tool shed either and I don’t remember spending that kind of time with him. But Dad worked with wood (and other materials) quite a bit and I was always fascinated by the plane and loved the smell of fresh-cut timber. Hub is a carpenter so I still get to experience it at times.

      Like

      1. Anne Goodwin is bringing Matilda Windsor home Avatar

        Didn’t know that about your hub. Actually, my granddad was a joiner, but a small cog in big projects in ship building. Years ago, I actually went to a woodwork class and made my own bed.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Norah Avatar

          How clever of you to make your own bed. I’m impressed. Hub is actually a carpenter/joiner too. I didn’t put his full title in because I don’t think the joiner part is used so often here. Or maybe I just hadn’t heard of it before. Of course, there are joinery workshops. Or were – before Ikea. Many of them have closed over the years with all the ready-made assemble-it-yourself furniture available now.

          Like

  18. CarolCooks2 Avatar

    Thank you, Norah, for the memories…I can smell the sawdust a great use of the prompt word 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Norah Avatar

      Thank you for your lovely comment, Carol. I always enjoyed/enjoy the smell of sawdust. There’s nothing to match the smell of fresh-cut timber.

      Like

      1. CarolCooks2 Avatar

        Absolutely, Norah.. I can smell the sawdust now… also all the butchers used to use it on their floors.. an abiding memory,.. X

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Norah Avatar

          That’s right, Carol, they did. And butcher shops had their own smells too. We miss it all now with everything sanitised and sealed in plastic.

          Liked by 1 person

          1. CarolCooks2 Avatar

            I certainly do this post has revived so many memories for me, Norah …Thank you 🙂 xx

            Liked by 1 person

  19. petespringerauthor Avatar
    petespringerauthor

    Super job on the prompt, Norah. This one appeals to the senses and touches the heart. I’d say you accomplished a lot in 99 words.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Norah Avatar

      Thank you, Pete. I really appreciate your words. I tried.

      Liked by 1 person

  20. D. Avery @shiftnshake Avatar

    It’s a great take on the prompt Norah. So much of memory is smell. I love that he started right in making sawdust. I can smell the fresh planed wood. I hope he doesn’t smoke though.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Norah Avatar

      Thanks, D. I enjoyed writing this one. I didn’t think about word count and just wrote at first, then cut it way back. I don’t think Jacob took up smoking. The younger generation are much more sensible about that.

      Like

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