Friday Fictioneers — When Bambi’s Mother Died

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‘That boy of yours is a regular faucet. Tell him to man himself up.’

‘He’s your boy, too.’

‘No, he’s a cry baby. He can’t be mine.’

‘Are you accusing me of having slept around?’

‘Just shut him up, will you?’

‘I asked you a question.’

‘Be a good girl. Make me a cup of tea.’

‘You’re so much your father’s son.’

‘I just want some quiet.’

‘And a repressed son, who keeps his emotions under wrap.’

‘A thirty-year-old crying over Disney movies?’

‘Sensitivity is good.’

‘Not if you drown in your own tears.’

‘Sadly, your tap jammed years ago.’

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Friday Fictioneers: 100 word stories
Photo Prompt: image © Madison Woods

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Author: Sarah Potter Writes

Sarah is a British eccentric who writes offbeat fiction, haiku and tanka poetry. When stuck for words, she sketches or paints instead. She's into nature conservation, sustainability, gardening, dogs, natural health, and reading. Her sociability is something that happens in short bursts with long breathing spaces in between.

36 thoughts on “Friday Fictioneers — When Bambi’s Mother Died”

    1. Family dynamics — it’s a wonder so many people do manage to live in harmony, considering all the baggage they often bring with them into relationships!
      PS Mister tells me that it took living with a psychiatric nurse to sort him out!

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  7. Dear Sarah,

    Beautiful use of the prompt! I used to tell my sons that it took more courage to cry than to bottle it up. I also have a friend who is one of the most masculine guys I know who weeps unashamedly when something touches him. You hit the nail on the head with this father and son. The father’s the one who needs to let go.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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    1. Dear Rochelle,
      Thank you. Yes, I told my son the same thing. Repression of such emotions seems all wrong. My mother always complains about people who fail to keep a stiff upper lip during funerals, as she’d never dream of crying in public. I think it’s partly a generational thing, especially amongst the British.
      I wonder if the sort of men are are confident about their masculinity have less qualms about crying than men who are lacking in confidence and don’t want to show themselves up as weak.
      All best wishes
      Sarah

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  8. Nice Sarah, well observed. And good comment rochellewisoff ^^. Why should crying be limited to females and children? Plenty of tears around from the old ones in Jersey (CI) today on the 70th anniversary of their Liberation.

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  10. I think 30 is a little old to be crying at Bambi’s mother’s death, much less even watching it – unless you’re watching with your own children – or unless mom has infantilized him, which it seems to me she has done and pop has simply sat by the sidelines allowing it to happen. A few years of family therapy might help – though I tend to doubt a positive outcome of any consequence.

    Randy

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  12. This is deeper than just a fictionalized short story. I hope the father develops an understanding for his son. This sometimes is the way of fathers, thankfully not mine! My father would cry at movies, reading books and watching Vietnam on the news. Not a lot of tears, just you could look over and see his eyes filled up. I like how you told this, very straight forward, Sarah.

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    1. Thanks — straightforward telling for a non-straightforward situation.
      You were very lucky to have a father who didn’t bottle up his emotions, Reocochran. I never saw my father cry, although he might have in private, who knows? I know he was quite strict, but more so to me than my younger brother.

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      1. I was the oldest so maybe this is why we tend to have been the one who had to be held accountable? It makes me sad you never saw your father cry. Take care, Robin

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      2. Have you seen the film “Maleficent”, starring Angelina Jolie? It’s is very clever reworking of the Sleeping Beauty story and left me with slightly wet eyes at the end. Would recommend it.

        Liked by 2 people

  14. I can’t bear to watch the clip, I can’t bear that part where Bambi’s mother cries! I remember my dad taking me to watch Born Free and looking across at him while he had his hand held up to one side of his face to try and disguise a falling tear or two. Hubby is confident and self-assurred but I’ve seen him tear up more than once when watching films and I love that. Loved your flash Sarah, so clever how you developed the characters and brought in the tension, blame and acrimony with choice words and dialogue. All too common in families, sadly. xxxx

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    1. Oh, dear, Born Free. We all got through plenty of hankies watching that one.
      Yes, all that tension, blame and acrimony is much too common in families, as I can remember from my days in psychiatric nursing, where I often had to help treat the fallout from those sort of situations.
      xxxx
      PS I’ve just emailed you, Sherri, but no hurry to respond 🙂

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  15. Authentic and forceful dialogue here, Sarah. (I don’t think I’d ever have made something so good with that particular photo prompt.) As you can see from the comments, this flash fiction really hits home, and in more ways than one. I’ve never seen my father cry (although we are not close). I’ve only seldom seen my husband, either; although, thankfully, he has never disparaged anyone of either sex for crying.

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    1. Thank you, Leigh. Perhaps it is (or was, in my case) not being close to our fathers that turned us both into tomboys as kids. What do you reckon? Some psychologists should do a study on it!

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