21 July 2026, Freewriters Community Daily Writing Prompt Day 3171: not so tolerant now

“So, it's nice but it is weird; dumb people keep calling both our houses, but we mainly hear your grandfather's voice booming across the neighborhood laughing merrily instead of telling people right off the piano. This is great, but, what changed?”

Eleven-year-old Velma Trent had questions, and eleven-year-old Eleanor, ten-year-old Glendella, and ten-year-old Andrew Ludlow her friends had answers.

“Well, Upgrade Papa laughed my biological grandfather henceforth known as Grumps clear off the piano, and that was effective, so … .” Glendella said.

Velma considered this.

“Indeed – in so many ways,” she said.

“So, Papa is really efficient,” Andrew said. “He's not going to waste time cussing you out or even talking earthquakes to you if a laugh will work.”

“And, the other thing is that Papa has also realized he doesn't need to entertain stupid people,” Eleanor said, “and he can entertain himself better than turning them into jelly with that voice.”

“Yeah, I see this over here now too,” Velma said. “Dad is keeping a book to see if he has already told the same person the same thing twice, and if he has, he's just blocking. That's kind of what Grandma Jubilee, his mom, is also doing, with a twist.”

“What's the twist?” Eleanor said.

“She said to Dad this morning that she had to stop talking to people because she was getting old and is not so tolerant now of foolishness. So, Dad asked her when she ever was, and she said he had a point, but the difference is, the people for whom she didn't think it might be easier to just either go call and have folks picked up just get them with the shotgun are no longer here.”

“Yeah, that's a twist,” Andrew said, “but we all know that if Papa ever stops laughing at people, they will be in the same bad situation.”

“Yep, and then there's the other Ludlow twist,” Eleanor said. “Don't mess up and get Edwina on the phone.”

“Yep,” Velma said. “Anytime someone who is eight is telling you they need to learn some curse words and call you back, you have messed up in your ife.”