This week at the Carrot Ranch, Charli Mills challenged writes to In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story using the phrase, “I’d rather be…” You fill in what comes next. What would a character(s) rather be doing and why? How can you use the phrase as a literary device? Go where the prompt leads!
This is my response. I hope you like it.
I’d rather be …
‘I’d rather be dead!’
She ran into the street in a downpour of tears, yanking at the sweater as if it crawled with monsters.
‘Don’t worry. She’ll be back,’ said Dad.
‘I only suggested —’
‘I know. But teenagers like to choose what they wear.’
‘She always did. Even a toddler — so dramatic.’
‘Like someone I know. Would you have worn your mother’s old sweater at her age?’
‘I did and was grateful for it.’
‘You were poor. We can afford to buy her a sweater.’
‘There’s nothing wrong with hand-me-downs.’
‘But The Bay City Rollers? Really?’
‘Well —’
Thank you for reading. I appreciate your feedback. Please share your thoughts.
Note: The collection of stories made in response to the previous prompt Zippers can be read at the Carrot Ranch here.
Norah Colvin 
I’m with the teenager on this one Norah! Hahahaha!
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I am too, Gloria. 😅
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Is the challenge still on?
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There’s a new challenge every week.
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Pingback: I’d Rather Be… Collection « Carrot Ranch Literary Community
I had hand-me-downs until I grew taller than my sister…
Certain ‘savings’ aspects are generational. But… 😉
FYI I know a Mom who spent money on a sports letter jacket for her child – that once the child moved didn’t want anymore. Now the Mom wears it!
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Children can be fickle. I’m pleased mum got the benefits. 🙂
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Ha! The Bay City Rollers… that is a lot for a teen to bear. In the 70s there were indoor roller skating rinks where that band was played a lot. Did you have those roller rinks?
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There was a rink reasonably close to me (20 mins by bus maybe) when I was a teenager. That was long before the Bay City Rollers came onto the scene. I don’t know if it still existed then anyway. I never rocked and rolled but I sometimes watched after I’ve collected my week’s books from the library. 😉😊
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You are better off for the books.
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Definitely!
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That’s not prudence, that’s child abuse! The Rollers… one has to ask about the sanity of the adult who kept a Rollers pullover.
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😅😅😅 I’m inclined to agree. I think that was the whole point. Who would want to wear one? Any time?
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I think hypothermia has its pluses when that is the option…
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I think so too! 😅😅😅
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Hi Norah, my parents didn’t have a lot of money when I was a girl, but my mother always tried to buy us girls new clothes. I think as the last female child in her family, she was very against hand-me-downs.
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I think I agree with your mum, Robbie. I always tried to have new things for my children.
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at some point, that Bay City Rollers sweater will come back into fashion as “vintage”
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That was my thinking. 🙂
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Well done, Norah!
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Thank you, Jennie.
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You’re welcome, Norah!
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Fabulous, Norah, you had me oscillating between siding with the mother and siding with the teenager until that killer penultimate line.
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And who did you side with then, Anne? 😅
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Definitely the daughter. Those clothes were terrible even the first time around.
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Oh, I know! 🙂
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Perfect! I love it.
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Thanks, Darlene.
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Good humor ending – but thought there was a violent flash fiction on our hands when I first read the ran in the street bit and monsters crawling! Well
Done with that “pow”!
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I hope you weren’t disappointed, Yvette. I try to keep my stories ‘safe’ on my blog. My first short stories weren’t always so.
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No disappointment at all! The opposite A was delight! I don’t like horror and dark and gloomy – just my preference – anyhow – I think my eyes opened wide when I read the opening screaming 👀 and was like – huh???
But then sat back and enjoyed the direction you took – quite clever
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Thank you, Yvette. I don’t like horror and dark and gloomy either. There’s too much in life without having to write or read it.
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😊
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Oh, you are going back in time with the Bay City Rollers. Fashion produces all sorts of emotions.
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It sure does. They were a big hit in their time but I was never a fan.
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I couldn’t tell you one song they played, but their name does stick with me.
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It obviously stuck with me too, though I was past the teeny-bopper stage when they arrived on it.
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Complicated story. Well done.
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Thanks, Jacqui. Not too complicated, I hope.
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I had so many ideas where it could go from the ending. That’s a wonderful gift to readers.
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Thank you, Jacqui. That’s quite a compliment.
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Another good one, Norah. And oh, the Bay City Rollers – haven’t thought of them in a long time!
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I haven’t either. I’m not sure why I did for this but they just popped into my head. I was never a fan. They were after my time.
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I kind of remember them when I was about 12 or so…
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(She clears her throat) I was quite a bit older than tha. 😅
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