4 July 2026, Freewriters Community Daily Writing Prompt Day 3154: cry more

“Some people just don't know when to quit, Gracie.”

“Ain't it the truth, Velma, ain't it the truth.”

Eleven-year-old Velma and eight-year-old Gracie Trent were eating popcorn on the Trent porch, because Mrs. Glendella Ludlow had called Capt. R.E. Ludlow about her granddaughter Glendella Ludlow, now that Big Glendella had realized that Baby Glendella was about to be a rich little girl by being adopted to the family of the captain, because he was about to sell the Ludlow Bubbly.

Capt. Ludlow, upon realizing who was on the phone, had covered the receiver and said softly to Mrs. Thalia Ludlow, “Get Baby Glendella out of the house.”

So Mrs. Ludlow had said aloud, “Who wants to go with me to pick out fruit at the Golson's Farmers' Market?”

All eight little Ludlows, including ten-year-old Glendella, came streaming from all over the house and yard shouting “ME!” and they were soon into the van and down the road while Capt. Ludlow came out onto his back porch and slowly began to pace it as he heard Big Glendella's sob story out.

The Trent girls made their comment when they heard clearly, from two yards over, the captain's basso profondo rumbling imperative:

“Cry more, Big Glendella. Emerald Creek is not yet full!”

“She definitely shoulda quit while she was ahead,” Gracie said, “because, see, look: there he goes telling her and the neighborhood all about herself.”

“But, see, I think some people get into these situations because they need this,” Velma said. “God already knows they aren't sorry, so then He makes sure they are by having them get on the wrong end of people like our grandparents and the Ludlow grandparents.”

“Ain't it the truth,” Gracie said. “Another reminder to live right, since we actually live with and around all these folks.”

“Basically,” Velma said.