11 April 2026, Freewriters Community Daily Writing Prompt Day 3070: a funny tradition
“OK, so Pop-Pop, what Cousin Vanna did in making those not-great chips great … isn't that kinda what we just do?”
66-year-old Thomas Stepforth smiled at his nine-year-old grandson Vertran.
“Yes, traditionally, our people received a lot of not-great things from people who thought they owned us or who thought they were better and deserved all good things … and we made of what we were given the best things on earth to enjoy, so that others who think themselves better have to come to us for the best things.”
“Yeah, because there is nothing in any store sold by any big brand that tastes as good as what Cousin Vanna just did,” Vertran said.
“But here is another tradition: God gave us access to His earth and the things of this earth equally to anyone else, so, since 1865 in particular in this country, we have been free to create our own things and thus have no need to accept the leftovers of people who are not as creative as we are. Consider this, Vertran: before our ancestor, named Thomas Setter but renaming himself Stepforth in answer to the Voice that told him to take himself and his grandchildren to freedom, who did the work to raise the hogs that he was given the scraps of to eat?”
“He and those enslaved with him,” Vertran said.
“Doesn't it make sense that when he and his grandchildren made it to freedom, that if he raised a hog, he and his should eat the best from it?”
“Of course,” Vertran said.
“So, then, Vertran, there will always be people who will make you pay for their leftovers that they got from you – in the case of those chips and puffs and granola that fell off the back of the truck that the Ludlows picked up, those were made of the scraps of an industrial process that produced better food to be sold in the areas of Lofton County where richer people live. The scraps, though, are sent down to the poorer rural areas, where the potatoes were grown. So, people who live here in Tinyville and the little towns like it grow the potatoes, pay for the chips, and eat the scraps of what they made possible, every day.”
“That's not a good tradition, at all,” Vertran said. “There are some really evil people in this world.”
“There are,” Mr. Stepforth said. “But to be free means that you grow your own potatoes and season them yourself, and enjoy without interference – and can also mean, build a company to give the farmers someone else to sell to, season everything right, and everyone enjoy the best together. Capt. Ludlow next door sort of backed into doing this with the Ludlow Bubbly, but consider how many freedom-minded people he ended up choosing as business partners as he, stumbling but yet seriously moving away from the legacy of a racist family for the sake of his own grandchildren, came in our direction.”
Vertran considered this and started laughing.
“He basically did what Thomas Setter did, and we grabbed him and his grandkids up and helped them get free!”
“Yep,” Mr. Stepforth said. “The two hurricanes have delayed our plans somewhat, but in a little while, everyone connected with the Ludlow Bubbly will be free from the evil cycle for good if they choose not to go back, and I will facilitate that.”
“Which is kinda what we have always done, too,” Vertran said.
“Since 1855 or so,” Mr. Stepforth said. “'If anyone wishes to step forth into freedom, Stepforth will help him' – our ancestor manned an Underground Railroad station for ten years, and then devoted the rest of his life teaching those freed to read, write, find jobs, start and invest in businesses – it is what we do, and, the Lord will not let me discriminate against a recovering racist in doing it.”
“Well, I guess not because God saves sinners of all kinds,” Vertran said.
“Yep – former arrogant billionaires and recovering racists alike,” Mr. Stepforth said.
Vertran considered this, and then smiled.
“God does have a way of kinda getting all kinds of people to stop acting a fool and come to Christ and sit down together and be loved and loving to each other. You would think the disciples were never going to figure it out, but, they did.”
Mr. Stepforth smiled and rubbed his hand through Vertran's woolly hair.
“His disciples always do, grandson. It's a funny tradition in the eyes of world, taking those who were enemies and making them brothers and sisters in Christ – but God sticks with it, and if we are wise, we just go with His program.”