16 October 2026, Freewriters Community Daily Writing Prompt Day 3258: going through the archway

“OK, so did going through the Arc of Triumph in Paris make you more triumphant, Dad? Because if it did, we need to get up on that.”

Nine-year-old Milton Trent, having nothing to do while waiting for best friend nine-year-old George Ludlow to be de-skunked, happened to notice his father, Sgt. Vincent Trent, looking through some photos of his time in military service.

Sgt. Trent laughed.

“Going through the archway definitely did not,” he said. “I did the things I was expected to do in the great city of Paris, but I was miserable, and was taking the pictures for someone else who would love them. Now, though, I do feel kind of triumphant.”

“So, what happened?” Milton said.

“This was my first major deployment after marrying your mother, and I was homesick and lovesick,” Sgt. Trent said. “I took the pictures so that I could send something home every day and say, 'Still wish I was there.'”

“Awwwwwwwww!” Milton's elder sister eleven-year-old Velma said.

“Ain't it the truth,” Milton's younger sister eight-year-old Gracie said.

“Yeah, there is no place like home, and home is where the heart is,” Sgt. Trent said as he reached his arms out for his children. “Your mother and I had no idea how much we would have to go through to be together and back together, but now, I look back on the foundation of love we built then while separated from each other, and YEAH, God gave our family the victory!”

“Yeah!” Velma, Milton, and Gracie said as they snuggled in their father's embrace.

“Yeah!” Mrs. Melissa Trent said, and joined the embrace.

“OK, but do we get to go to Paris and drive under the Arc of Triumph and celebrate?” Milton said from somewhere in the middle.

“Put it down for after Covid!” Sgt. Trent said.

“Yeah!” Velma, Milton, and Gracie said.