PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz
Miss, Right?
“Mom and Dad, I want you to meet her! She’s my everything!”
Chip, our thirty-five-year-old son, chose video games over partnering up years ago. His proclamation fills me with glazed confusion peppered with hope.
“Where’d you meet her?,” my wife asks.
“Gaming chat room six months ago. She’s sorta been staying in the basement with me.”
Martha and I exchange glances, afraid to speak.
Chip thumps down the basement steps, returns shortly with a toddler with blonde hair and shell-shocked eyes.
“This is Billy. Mary is hitching back to the shelter in NYC to get their stuff.”
Billy starts screaming.
[100 words]
Note: I named the kid Billy after Mr. Bill, who I think this doll is supposed to be?
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the springy host of Friday Fictioneers.
Tao Talk 
Took me a couple of readings to realise the new girlfriend is Mary? And this is her son… Oy… every parent’s nightmare, even if their child is 35!
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You got it right, and thanks for taking the time to re-read to get it straight. I am on the fence about whether this is a good thing or a bad thing and so gave it that title.
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Let’s be positive about it! 😉
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:)
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That DOES look like a chill Mr. Bill, doesn’t it?😄
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lol! The “O” mouth gave it away even though it’s been probably 40-50 years since seeing those skits.
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I’m locking the basement door!!
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LOL! To keep them out? Maybe Chip, Mary, and Billy will all be staying at the shelter soon? ;)
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I think maybe to stop them from gaining access in the first place. Very funny story!
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:) Glad it made you smile, Randy.
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A bit concerning for the parents!
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Sadje, I have a feeling their worlds are being turned upside down!
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I think that you’re right. It’s not only that parents are being handed extra responsibility but also the son maybe making wrong decisions that can impact all their lives
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Lots to consider for sure.
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👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
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Why do I get the feeling he hasn’t thought this through?
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When you live in a gaming world, you don’t have time to think about such things. Thanks for reading, Neil :)
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What a nightmare of something that should be so normal and natural.
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Athling, thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts on the situation. I would be shocked and horrified, at least at first, and probably beyond.
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Hmm, just when we had accepted him being a mushroom for the rest of his life, he decides there needs to be more fungus in the basement… Actually, it is very possible Mary is a better human being than Chip…
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Trent, I have to agree with you. Mary is the X factor aside from knowing she likes to chat in video games, has a child, and was staying in a homeless shelter. Maybe Mary is a sunflower that pulls Chip out of the basement and into the world of sunshine.
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Too little info to tell, but there is always a hope she can bring him out of his cave, or, as you said, a sunflower that will introduce him to the world of sunshine.
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Lots of young people (at least in my experience) meet in similar online situations. Honestly, it’s not unusual for a single mother to be in a shelter in NYC. Lots of working families are in shelters too. There’s not enough affordable housing. I say, give it a chance. (K)
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I’m with you, Kerfe.
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This will not turn out well.
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Thanks for reading and your take on the situation, James.
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Very strange and interesting take, Lisa. Emphasis on the strange. But I enjoyed it!
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Nancy, thanks so much for reading and your impressions and glad you enjoyed it :)
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It was quite inventive. Kudos to you!
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Well…at least Chip is doing more than playing video games now!
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Yes!
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“Martha and I exchange glances, afraid to speak.”…this brought a laugh, Lisa….I could so picture those exchanged looks lol 🤭
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LOL! Glad that tickled you :)
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😁
a wonderful day your way, Lisa 💫
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At least Chip found someone he can relate to. And hopefully the toddler finds a loving home. Bitter-sweet story, Lisa.
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Joy, thank you for your empathy for Billy. He seems to have gotten lost in the shuffle :( Maybe “grandma” will take him under her wing?
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I wanted to feel happy for Chip and think maybe he has found a sense of happiness. But a thirty five year old living in the basement is odd. Mary has found a way out of the homeless shelter, who can blame her. A win win situation or else a sense of desperation all round.
Your story balances on the edge of possibilities, between happiness and horror, as the screaming child indicates something is amiss.
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James, I like how you are seeing the angles in the story. Thanks for reading and your thoughtful comment.
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oops, I hit the send too early.
“I wanted to feel happy for Chip…….
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Congratulations, Mom and Dad. You’re grandparents. ;)
Dear Lisa,
This sounds a lot like one of our sons. “Hey, I made some great matzo ball soup. Oh yeah I’m engaged….”
Hard to know how to feel. I relate to your story
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, to me it feels like one of those things that, at first look, is a disaster, but in retrospect is one of the best things that could have happened. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on the situation and glad you can relate to it.
Shalom,
Lisa
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Oh, that doesn’t seem to be the sort of news Mum and Dad would want to hear. You’ve shown the situation very well. Their silence speaks volumes.
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Margaret, it’s a twisty biscuit of a situation for sure. Mum and Dad are probably very comfortable with how things *were*.
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i wonder what would be the end game for this relationship. happily ever after? i suppose not.
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Plaridel it is a situation that makes one wonder. Thanks for reading.
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I did note a familial resemblance with Mr. Bill… I enjoyed the story very much. You packed a lot in there, Lisa!
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Thanks much, Steve!
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My pleasure!
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Scary,creepy story but nicely done!
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Thanks for reading and your comment, R.M.!
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Because FF stories can be really, REALLY dark, I was concerned that the manchild son was planning to “marry” a toddler at first! I’m thankful that’s not the case, even fictionally.
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Maybe the story he told his parents is a lie? I really hope not. Thanks for being disturbed by that possibility.
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The child screaming was a little concerning. Are we sure the Nokia coming back?
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Dawn, I’m not sure if the kids’ mom is coming back or not. Maybe this is her MO and that’s why the kid is screaming? So many possibilities!
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Nokia? That is suposed to say mom!
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With parents that perceptive, it’s not a wonder that he got away with spending his life playing video games.
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Nobbin I wondered if anyone would mention the enabling behavior of the parents. You’re the first :)
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I am the weird one. I take pride in thinking differently. 😁
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:) As well you should!
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What a shocking story, Lisa. Well done.
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Thanks, Bill!
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Welllllll, I think things are about to change in a big way… There’s a lot more story here. But who is going to change and in what ways? Nicely told!
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“Someone” (Angela?) Best comment yet. Thanks!
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Ooooooo
This could be so much darker simply with intent. Very creepy. I prefer to believe the moment is alive and really coming back… still worrisome though. Big change from living at home boy to insta family still living at home
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Laurie, I agree, it could turn darker real easily. Sometimes these clusterf*ck moments in a family need to happen to get some movement going. Billy is the one I’m most worried about.
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