27 July 2026, Freewriters Community Daily Writing Prompt Day 3177: with a flourish
“So, I'm going to ask him – so, Mr. Stepforth, you're a whole billionaire. Why don't you do more things with a flourish?”
Thomas Stepforth Sr. smiled down at the most forward grandchild of Capt. R.E. Ludlow: eight-year-old Edwina, all fashionable in her yellow sun dress and matching sun hat and sleek sunglasses, her abundant dark pin curls bouncing as merrily as the cornrows of her best friend, Mr. Stepforth's eight-year-old granddaughter Gracie Trent.
“One thing we can always count on you for, Edwina: a good question and not being afraid to ask it!” he said.
“Well, yeah, because, I need to know these things,” she said.
“I already told you what he is going to say, Eddie,” Gracie said.
“Yeah, but, I want to hear it from him,” she said.
“OK,” Mr. Stepforth said. “Flourishes are highly fashionable, but wealth is about choices – I have enough money so that I can choose to make flourishes, or not, and it doesn't affect how I live either way.”
“Yep, that is basically what you said he would say, Gracie,” Edwina said.
“I know my grandfather,” Gracie said.
“The other thing I'll add for both of you: you are young and fashion means more to you because fashion is a way to express yourself and find people of like mind. Fashion is a signal. I'm old and married and got kids and grandkids and tons of things to do and people to see and work with and have company with – AND, I enjoy my own company quite a lot too. I'm past the stage of needing to signal so much.”
Edwina and Gracie looked at each other.
“So … fashion is like language?” Edwina said.
“Yes,” Mr. Stepforth said. “I literally see you coming, Edwina: bold, fearless, loud, taking up space, and beautiful. Meanwhile, Gracie is just as beautiful, but she doesn't dress up quite the same way because Gracie just gets on in the world through sheer gravity. You're going to find her and talk to her and hang onto her, period: she just doesn't dress in a way that would stop that, so there's all these warm tones she likes.”
Gracie looked down at her deep turquoise sundress and matching sandals, which set off her own mahogany glow.
“Ain't it the truth, Papa,” she said. “Huggability colors are important when you have like eight best friends.”
“Fashion is language,” Mr. Stepforth said. “So: as a wealthy man, I can talk about my wealth, or not – I just usually choose not to.”
“OK – I still think you should invest in a few dozen of those exclusive Italian suits because I think you would look good in them,” Edwina said, “and then those big Fedora-type hats you can tip with a flourish, but if you don't need to, I guess you don't have to, because everyone doesn't need to know how much money you have anyway.”
“Exactly – the less people know, the more I can leave Gracie, so y'all can afford to stay fashionable together,” Mr. Stepforth said.
“Sounds like a good plan to me!” Edwina said.
“Ain't it the truth, Papa, ain't it the truth,” Gracie said.