Keepsake – Six Sentence Story

Joe tossed the letter into the box not as a keepsake but as one of those things he didn’t have time to sort through at the moment. More than two decades later while cleaning the basement he noticed the box and went through its contents. He found his father’s letter at the bottom. Reading it for the first time he realized his father was not scolding him in spite of their disagreements but rather offering him assistance should he need anything during that tense period when he decided to move away from the family home.

Having a rebellious son now of his own Joe understood what must have been going through his father’s mind. Although he and his family reconciled shortly after his move, it wasn’t until he read his father’s letter that he began wondering just how much of his past was lived under misconceptions of what was actually going on.

Denise offers the prompt word “keepsake” to be used in this week’s Six Sentence Stories.

GirlieOnTheEdge Denise Farley's six-sentence-stories icon
GirlieOnTheEdge Denise Farley’s six-sentence-stories icon

Author: Frank Hubeny

I enjoy walking, poetry and short prose as well as taking pictures with my phone.

44 thoughts on “Keepsake – Six Sentence Story”

  1. ‘..he began wondering just how much of his past was lived under misconceptions of what was actually going on.’ Probably most of it, if my own experience is anything to gauge it upon. 😉 Perceptive Six, Frank.

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  6. It was good the family reconciled and good that Joe eventually got around to reading that letter – proof (if he had any lingering doubts) that his father cared for him.
    Love the photo of the two trees shedding their summer coats!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Wonderful story, Frank. It resonates on some level with everyone. Youth’s inexperience often clouds what our older selves see quite clearly with age and experience.
    Serendipitous he discovered the letter at a point in life it would be helpful?
    In my mind’s eye, the photo of the trees, limbs seemingly intertwining, one having shed it’s leaves, the other in process, is a perfect metaphor for your Six.

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  16. Coming to the realization of that whole continuing to learn and to grow throughout one’s life helps immensely to understand those things that lead to a person acting or not acting in a certain way and of course becoming a parent oneself enables one to see differently. Beautiful story, Frank.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It does happen too often.

      I like the idea of close neighbors exchanging cups when one of them move as keepsakes for each other. I am going to have to try that.

      Like

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