PHOTO PROMPT © Rowena Curtin
“Daddy built this place to last,” May says, as her eyes travel from red brick foundation to ramrod straight walls, to sturdy metal roof. Double “i” windows stand guard, protecting the home’s inhabitants against gusts and sprays.
“What’re we gonna do with Ralph?” asks Will. Ralph’s a twelve-year-old beagle Daddy found wandering on the pier as a puppy. Ralph’s curled in a tight ball on the wooden steps.
“Mrs. Jonas says she’ll take him.”
“Do you have the boxes? Angels of Mercy will be here at one to take what’s left.”
May and Ralph have decided to keep the Siren.
[100 words]
Note: The Siren is a day-sailer with a retractable centerboard keel.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the lively host of Friday Fictioneers.
Tao Talk 
Good one! Loved it! :-) <3 <3
LikeLiked by 1 person
Carol Anne, very happy you enjoyed the story, thank you.
LikeLike
I’m all hung up on the pup! Poor thing, curled into a tight ball as if he knows his life is about to change dramatically.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know :(
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting story, but I would have sold the boat and kept the dog. :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Barbara :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
A bequest not entirely welcome I’m guessing, though the boat may be fun
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Neil. I’m glad there is some ambiguity in the story :)
LikeLike
I too would have kept the dog rather than the boat. (K)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, K!
LikeLiked by 1 person
No…don’t get rid of Ralph…the hell with the boat.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL. I’m bowled over with surprise that so many want to protect poor Ralph.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Whenever there is a pet involved…oh yes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think Mrs. Jonas will take excellent care of Ralph, and it will likely help her with her own grief at the loss of May & Will’s father, aka her gentleman friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
For sure, it’s heart-breaking to leave the dog behind. Perhaps, Will and May simply can’t take the poor doggie. I kind of get the sense that Will’s and May’s departure from the house isn’t exactly voluntary but forced by external circumstances.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We only know snippets of what’s going on, and anything is possible. Once the story is released into the wild it is up to the reader to make of it what they will. Thanks for reading and your comment, Christian :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Poor Ralph. I can’t get past that. Dogs bond. They become family. Good writing triggers emotion!
LikeLiked by 1 person
T, I think you and a lot of others are worried about poor Ralph. Maybe there will be a follow up story to give an update :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Painful decisions. Excellent story telling Li
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much, Sadje.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re most welcome
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad Ralph found a home. Well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, and me also, Athling. In my imagination Mr. Jonas was Daddy’s lady friend and had already spent a lot of time with Ralph.
LikeLike
Hopefully, May and Will will read all these comments and decide to keep Ralph!
LikeLiked by 1 person
lol! Maybe they can share custody ;)
LikeLike
Dear Lisa,
My heart hurt for Ralph. I hate to see a pup left behind. Nicely written story, though
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rochelle, I feel sorry for the poor pooch also. He doesn’t know what happened but he knows his beloved human is gone :( Thank you.
Shalom,
Lisa
LikeLike
I feel for poor Will and May. It’s a tough call to have to sort out and dispose of a parent’s belongings and pets. It’s good that Mrs Jonas is there for Ralph.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hear you, Margaret. Thank you for reading and your kind comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awwww … poor lil doggie. I suppose that’s the
damage that is left behind when out time if over.
I hope he’s loved by someone. Teary eyed … Izzy 🐕🦺
LikeLiked by 1 person
Isadora, I’m glad you’re looking out for Ralph. Thank you for reading and your comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome … 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
alas, nothing’s built to last. but such is life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A well-done, but sad story, Lisa. Nothing is forever, even when young pups become old dogs. Reality! :-)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks much, Bill, and I agree <3
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very realistic story. So may of us can feel this one way or another. Good job!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Someone :)
LikeLike
Ralph’s gotta stay!
Fun read, Li!
LikeLiked by 1 person
haha! I’m about to bring Ralph home myself :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s always rough, especially on the dogs. As the home for two dogs of deceased people, I have an idea of how hard it is on them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think dogs are creatures of habit as much if not more than their humans are. When my mom went to assisted living, then passed away, last year my sister took Hailey, her shih tzu (sp?)
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are, but they also adjust well if they’re loved and treated right. I’m sorry for your loss. It’s better when family keeps the dog. It’s an easier transition than sending them off to a stranger.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nobbin, how did you come to have two grieving dogs living with you? In my mind Mrs. Jonas is a loving and familiar friend of the man who passed, so it’s hoped Ralph will grieve in comfort with her.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The first person to whom we sold a puppy died, so he came back and brought his half-sister along. An older friend wanted another female, so she went to live with him. Then, he had a stroke leaving us with his three dogs. One died within a few weeks. She was old and refused to eat within a few days of coming to stay with us. When he died, the two remaining dogs stayed with us. One went back to her original owner. The one from us stayed with us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you can officially call your place a pet shelter, Nobbin <3
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think so. I’m working on a post about how we came to have all these dogs. It’s going up in pieces on Medium, but I think I’ll do one post on WP.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“All Pooches Great and Small”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Poor Ralph. I’m happy that Mrs. Jonas is going to take him. Maybe they will be very good company for each other.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope so also, Adele. Thank you for reading and your comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh this is lovely, and sad but moving on too. A passing of the torch.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good way of putting it, Laurie. Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess they were thinking about their need to travel the seas rather than Ralph… And Angel of Mercy? Interesting.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Angels of Mercy is a (fictional, at least as far as I know) non-profit thrift organization that picks up donated items to sell in their shops to help the needy. I didn’t want to use G**dw*ll because I don’t care for their way of doing business. Thanks for reading and your comment, Brit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh… okay. Thanks for the explanation. 👍
LikeLiked by 1 person