Summary: Some more Pinecone Challenges for my pet squirrel to chew over. Each chapter has a lyric prompt and had to be no more than 500 words.
Word Count: 7354 Rating: T
Disclaimer: All publicly recognisable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Pinecone Challenges – The Squirrel’s Stash #2
I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now.
My Back Pages by Bob Dylan
The leather had aged over the years and it felt smooth to the touch as he ran his hand over it. Discovering it was like running into an old friend on the street. He smiled at the analogy, as it was an unexpected delight mixed with the question of how much had changed since the last time he’d written in its pages.
Adam ran a finger lightly over the embossing that ran across the cover and he smiled again as he recalled his father’s face. It was a birthday gift and had seemed so very expensive and extravagant at the time. A leather journal was a luxury for a boy and yet his father had seen fit to spend hard-earned coin on it. The busy father was not too busy to notice his son’s penchant for words and had actively encouraged his boy to pursue his own writing.
His thoughts turned inward again as he recalled many nights trying to learn to read by the light of the lantern. Fortunately it had come relatively easily as the words seemed to leap off the page at him and pull him into other worlds. He had a voracious appetite for books, but they were few and far between as they had travelled west. His father had traded old ones for new ones where he could find them. Adam clearly recalled his first glimpse at an actual library with the shelves lined with books as far as he could see. It felt like he had stepped into Heaven for a moment as he spun on his heel and surveyed the room. He could easily recall the smell of leather and paper and closed his eyes to savour the memory a little more deeply.
It had been many years ago he had begun to build his own collection of books and he had felt like the richest king as he recalled building an actual shelf to store them on. Treasure meant many things to many people, but he could not imagine a greater treasure than the written word.
Adam opened his eyes and stared again at the small journal. It was like a gold nugget that had been lost and now it was found again. As far as he knew, not another person had ever read the words contained within it. He almost laughed out loud as he modified that thought. Joe probably had. The kid had been caught more than once snooping where he shouldn’t be and earned his older brother’s wrath.
I wonder what Joe would have made of this?
Adam thumbed through the pages and rolled his eyes at his own thoughts and some of the things he had thought worthy to be recorded.
I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now.
“Thanks, Pa,” he whispered to the empty room.
It was a gift from a man who knew him better than he knew himself. He spent the next few hours reading, remembering and finding himself again.
I enjoyed all of these in the forum, but it’s nice to have them together in one place where library readers can also enjoy. Every bit is a testament to your word skills and character insights which makes it really hard to pick a favorite, but you know I have great fondness for the way you write Roy Coffee, and I especially loved the conversation with his old friend Ben Cartwright. 🙂
I think that’s one of my favourites too as Roy is such a great character to write. I’m glad you’ve enjoyed reading them all again.
This gives a glimpse of what Paul really goes through. I love Jake’s relaxed manner about life.
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment on each one. These are such fun to write and some of them are bubbling away as possible extended stories. I’m glad you have enjoyed them.
I enjoyed this…Adam doing what he has to for his little brother, ignoring his own need for sleep. But then keeping Joe sleeping would bring a bit of peace.
Happy to see these here! Remembered most of them as I was reading through — fun stuff! I still want to know about Hoss’s broken arm … ??
Thanks as always for writing and posting!
I’m still waiting for him to tell me the story. He’s been very sheepish about it! As soon as I get the scoop, I will write the rest of the story.
Love how Roy’s calm eventually gets to the root of the problem with Morgan. A dangerous situation diffused.
Sad existence for a man but maybe now he’ll get some help to find himself again.
Adam is blessed to have two paths to follow, but that doesn’t make it any easier to choose.
Oh I do love this one. Ben and Roy sharing crazy and insane memories. Perfect use of the quote.
Oh, so funny. That’s Joe. All his lies are always wishes. No wonder he never saw lying as wrong.
Candy and Joe are a dangerous combination. They get each other into trouble or get each other out of it. The problem…it could go either way. *smirk*
Great use of the prompt. Marie certainly was balancing on that wire until Ben tipped her life to the side of love.
Love the sentimentality here. “Like running into an old friend.” Warm memories fill the heart.