Despite the bad blood between them, Edwina would not deny her kids the Christmas tradition of going to Gramma’s for dinner- not even if she had to bite her tongue and sit on her hands the whole time they were there..
So here they were merging onto the exit ramp minutes from her mom’s house, six kids in various states of undress sandwiched into the tightly packed Land Rover looking more like an ill fitting jigsaw puzzle than the picture of the well manicured family she had hoped to present to her mother.
“OK, kids. Five minutes till Gramma’s. Get your shoes on, shirts tucked in and get ready to behave. You know the drill..”
“Hey Mom? I can’t find my shoes.” Little Charlie chirped from the way back amidst the store bought cookies and kid wrapped presents for Gramma.
“Keep looking, they gotta be there somewhere.” Edwina countered blandly eyes fixed on the road.
‘Oh no they don’t.” Chris, the eldest, chuckled from the passenger’s seat as he queued up a picture on his phone, and debated on whether or not to share it with his mother now, or just enjoy the bedlam that was about to ensue..

Word Count: 199
Photo prompt Courtesy of Friday Fictioneers
Humph, siblings, who’d have them. That said in memory of my tormenting brother.
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Seems they enjoy tormenting their youngers!!
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Indeed. I could write a book about my brother’s antics. 🙂 Even so, we are close.
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Haha, good one – hopefully Gramma is okay with no shoes for one dinner! 🙂
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I hope so too Iain!
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I guess he’ll figure out that if he shows the picture he’s in trouble too
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He’s probably weighing that out as we speak…
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If he’s anything like my brother, he saw the shoes on the porch and didn’t tell his little brother so he could enjoy the mayhem. (haha) With Iain, hope Gramma can let it slide for Christmas. 🙂
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Well of course he did.. What are older brothers for???
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I can guess what Chris is going to get for Christmas! Fun story.
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Hahahaha I bet you’re right!!
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Lovely story, Violet. And so true-to-life!
I bet you could trim it down to the 100-words the challenge challenges us to!
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Thanks for stopping in Officer… I mean Dale… I promise not to mix up the count requirements on your beat again.
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Uh huh! That’s what this challenge is all about! Teaches us to cut the fluff and get to the nitty gritty! I challenge you 😉 But Hey, up to you!
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Charlie left his shoes at home. It is difficult to manage six kids and take them somewhere.
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Yes it is, especially when at least one of them is a prankster..
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Chris being eldest could have saved the day. Good realistic portrayl of siblings at work.
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Huh!! and ruin his chances for watching mom have a meltdown??
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That sounds like kids.
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Dear Violet,
Bedlam is the perfect title when six kids are crammed into a land rover. Officer Purple here, I walk the same beat as Dale. I echo her comments. 😉 I hope we all make it to Grandma’s in one piece. You set the scene well.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thought it was Sunday there for a minute Rochelle. I’m a rebel, but only when it counts… No pun intended….
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Pun should always be intended. 😉
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That was perfect. So made me smile. I’m an only, so I never went through all that. But my kids…
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Thanks for the smile. But yours made me laugh!!
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Did he just throw them out of the window? Kids can do that, especially siblings for want of a good laugh!!
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I think he just saw them left behind and photographed them instead of make sure his brother put them on as a good big brother should have done…
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Kids, who would have them!
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AH! My brother from a different mother!! Great minds you know….
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At least, presumably, they’re on the wall at home and haven’t been flung out a window somewhere en route… or have they? 🙂
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Hmmmmmm. Chris ain’t talkin so far…..
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The line up with the photo is perfect! I love it.
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Thanks Alice.
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That will make a hilarious Christmas memory. . . . . . . .someday. . . . .
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Hopefully no one will take it too seriously. Thanks for the visit
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A great take on the prompt, I enjoyed how this story unfolded.
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Thank you Michael
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perhaps if he’s wearing black socks, grandma won’t notice he doesn’t have shoes. 🙂
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I like the way you’re thinking…
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He could always go bare feet, although I am quite sure, shoes or no shoes, bedlam is quite unavoidable 😀 An entertaining write
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Thank you dahlia and welcome. I love your name. It has always been one of my favorites.
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Thank you Violet! 🙂
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Very enjoyable read!
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Thank you Lisa for stopping in..
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Been there “not even if she had to bite her tongue and sit on her hands the whole time they were there”
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Ooooooo me too!!!!!
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Ha!!
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Poor Edwina! Hope grandma will be kind to her this time 🙂
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I am thinking this will not set well with Gramma…. Thanks for reading.
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I think so too 🙂
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Ha! Siblings… gotta love ’em. I was the one who played tricks on my sister, not the other way around. 😉
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Aha!! The instigator! Thanks for stopping by
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Yep, you got me!
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My vote is to sit back and enjoy! Great story Violet!
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I agree!!
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Something tells me that the kids will soon learn that coming to Grandma isn’t so great after all.
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I think they are already employing the diversionary tactics!!
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Six kids in a car? Someone give this woman a medal. Grandma might not be so understanding it seems.
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Six kids period would put me over the top!!!
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