‘Wassup? You look like someone’s shrink-wrapped your brain.’
‘It’s this prompt; I’ve to write about a shard.’
‘I hate that word.’
‘Shard? Why?’
‘Reminds me when I broke Grandpa’s urn. Mum went bonkers.’
‘How’d you…?’
“Used it as a wicket…’
‘Morgan, you didn’t?’
‘Yeah. It shattered. Mum goes mental, Dad tries to rescue me. Told me to collect the shards to stick it back together.’
‘What happened?’
‘Mum said I’d about as much chance of remaking the urn as I had of remaking a potato from a bag of crisps.’
‘She a one, your mum.’
‘Tell me about it.’
This was written in response to Charli Mills’ latest prompt at the Carrot Ranch
January 24, 2019, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about shards. You can write about the pieces, the item they once were, or who picks them up and why. Go where the prompt leads.
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About TanGental
My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline.
I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy.
I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere.
These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
TanGental 
Something I dread with my cricketer chef… Though I have no expensive vases. Just lots of windows!
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It’s a matter of time before there’s a bit of informal defenestration….
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Mind you… A TV screen and lampshade have been victim already….
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Ha!
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Haha, that’s great!
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😀🤔💜
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I think most kids make experiences like that… when even not always with urns… lol.
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👏😂
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Hello Geoffle,
Naturally, I relate to this one and can see it from both the Mum and kid’s point of view. I remember the horror when my brother and I broke our mother’s mixing bowl. We were fighting over who got the bowl and evidently we both missed out and Mum wasn’t happy. Had this feeling that we’d broken her world. Things were so easily replaced back then. I’ve broken the same bowl here and but I’ve picked up a stash from the op shop over the years and it’s not a huge drama.
I was visiting another blog reading about their trip to London and thought of you and Dickhead travel and also your walks with dog around London. That, btw, reminded me that we haven’t done our shared posts about walking around London and following that itinerary. I’m going to get onto that. By Friday, everybody else will be out of the house and back where they belong. Geoff went back to work today. J goes back tomorrow and A on Friday. A managed to get an extra two days off to allow the year 7 kids the run of the school. She goes into her second year of high school.J switches campuses so tomorrow, they have the run of the senior campus before the year 11 and 12s return on Thursday. He is now getting into the serious end of school and it’s time for the lot of us to wake up and make sure he’s knuckling down and we’re organized too. This is a tough job for a creative Mum but sometimes I actually get ahead of the pack using my heavy compensation strategies. Anyway, he;s a link to her blog: https://stacyaldermanwriter.wordpress.com/2018/11/11/final-thoughts-on-london/
Best wishes,
Ro
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Thank you as ever Ro. Yes there is that post isn’t there! I’d clean forgotten too. Bet you’ll be glad of a little breathing space when they’re back! Though having them around is also great. Ha! No win, eh? Off to have a read…
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Yes, definitely more mixed feelings about them going back now that they’re older. There were a few times when they were smaller when I sped away on that first day back at school leaving clouds of dust in my wake. Miss is off to saty with my Mum for a couple of days before she goes back. She’s planning a trip to the dance shop, finger nails. It seems she’s created an elaborate web and Mum seems to be quite willing to succumb. She’ll deal with the fallout later.
Best wishes,
Ro
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Haha! This is perfect! I’m not getting anywhere with the prompt this week. You’ve given me hope that I can do it if I keep trying.
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There’s an idea in there somewhere. Keep digging
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I found it! Just published my flash for this week!
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Seeen it. Chester rules ok!
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Love it, Geoff. Mum sure is a one. When I thought of you and the prompt, I thought of London’s Shard. 🙂
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I did wonder if I could bring it Pianos and paper napkins in but the link defeated me.
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I like what you’ve done anyway. 🙂
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😀 At my convent boarding school after lights out (but it was broad daylight as it was summer) a friend and I were playing parachutes with a bed cover and we accidentally smashed a Madonna & Child which was on the mantelpiece. We were appalled and thought we were going to hell! We took the bits along to the Headmistress, who had an office not far away, clad in our little dressing gowns and slippers, and confessed. Her mouth twitched several times and I could see the shoulders of the secretary nun in the corner shaking. They obviously thought it was hilarious and very kindly reassured us and sent us back to bed 🙂
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But still, I can tell it haunts you to this day.
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You are probably more right than you know!
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I’m sure following Root’s fine team taking the Windies by Storm helps
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I think imagining making a potato out of a bag of chips would make a good way to fall asleep!
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Or reading this post….
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LOL
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Great analogy — can’t remake a potato from a bag of chips! Urns with ashes are just family mishaps waiting to happen.
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True. Never trust an urn. Like the old joke. What’s a Grecian Urn? About 2 pounds an hour…
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. . . leaving one with a yearn to earn a new urn. Such fun!
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I agree. You need to Urn your luck
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