Tom wasn’t sure whether to lay the blame on fatigue
from working the night shift or just the usual morning hassles getting Justin
up and ready for school, but they were both going to be late today.
Somehow, he’d forgotten they were doing construction on
the 405 and the crowded bypass ensured there was no way he’d get his brother
dropped off and get to his first class at the community college on time.
Things had been a helluva lot easier before his folks had
gotten themselves creamed by that drunk driver last summer, leaving him and
Justin to fend for themselves. Now, instead of a football scholarship to State
and a chance to make something of himself, Tom had been forced to put his life
on hold for the sake of his brother.
The Universe’s sense of irony was not lost on him as
John Lennon’s tune, “Beautiful Boy”, came across on the truck's stereo reminding him life really IS what
happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.
This story was written for the weekly Five Sentence Fiction prompt: Detour.
Another sad tale beautifully written as always. you must come over to reravelling and read mine I've done light and funny!
ReplyDeleteThis resonates with me. We all get curve balls thrown at us and it's how we deal with those that really defines us. Thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteDuty can be painful, necessary, but painful. Enjoyed this.
ReplyDeleteThat one hits home for many of us, I feel. Great feeling in that piece, congratulations, job well done.
ReplyDeleteSad and very life-like.
ReplyDeleteWell done.
Too bad there was no detour off the 405.
JzB
Good stuff. I really liked the turn in he third sentence. Sometimes you have to be the one that shoulders the burden.
ReplyDeleteLife is full of twists and turns, it's how you deal with them that counts. This shows that so well.
ReplyDeleteVery touching and beautifully expressed. You managed to give us a fully-realized protagonist, which can be tough in these short pieces. Yes, quite a detour, but I have a feeling this young man is still going to make something wonderful of himself. Very interesting use of the prompt.
ReplyDeleteI thought that was a finely crafted story. Well done.
ReplyDelete