Writing Prompt 65: Radio Flyer
Dolly was my best friend. She had long brown hair tied into two plaits, wide eyes and a big smile.
She often wore a blue dress, a simple A-line shape with a round neck and long sleeves. Tiny flowers scattered across the fabric. At least, I think that's what I remember. Dolly had flexible limbs, a soft comforting body and I loved her. Often holding her by the hand, I dragged Dolly everywhere I went. To the shops, to playschool, to the loo, to the bath, to my bed.
One day, my mum, looking at Dolly who had become grey with dust and dirt, explained that Dolly needed a wash. She carefully removed Dolly's dress revealing a body that was somewhat cleaner than her arms and legs. She put both Dolly and her dress in the wash. I watched Dolly sink into a thick, bubbly lather through the glass door of the washing machine.
But. Tragedy. Dolly came apart at the end of the wash cycle during the fastest spin. When my mum pulled her out of the machine, Dolly's head fell away from her body. My powerful love for Dolly had worn her away at the seams.
When we're very young, the unpredictable nature of the world around us can trigger difficult behaviours. We might tantrum in the most public place — I once had a tantrum in a shoe shop when my mum, rightly, refused to buy me the black patent leather school shoes I wanted.
Or in our curiosity about our world, we might find ourselves in danger — I fell into a deep pond in the garden of my granny's house when I was less than two years old. I was so busy looking at the fish I didn't realise how far forward I was leaning.
This week, use the photograph above to explore the theme of childhood through either your experiences, your parents or someone you know of but have never met before.
You could write a series of short stories, or some poetry or a scene from a novel you're writing.
Or you could take a character and explore their back story from when they were very young.
Or if none of the above interest you just write from where you are now. It's up to you.
Until next time.
Radio Flyer 2019. Photo by Tanya Clarke
