8 July 2026, Freewriters Community Daily Writing Prompt Day 3158: relinquish power

When it happened, it was swift and quiet.

A couple of signatures on a couple of lines, and Capt. R.E. Ludlow and Sgt. Vincent Trent were no longer majority owners of the Ludlow Bubbly, including the old Ludlow Winery. Both families, just like that, were out of the beverage business their families had been in for generations.

“Well, I came back because there was a legal option at last,” Sgt. Trent said, “but still, well out.”

All the little Ludlows and Trents there were – 11 in all – just as suddenly got the rest of their lives off to a well-financed start.

None of them knew all the details.

“Now we can get to what we want out of the deal: grandfather one-on-one basketbaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllllll!” eight-year-old Edwina Ludlow was saying.

“Yeah, Vanna has been popping the popcorn for tonight,” Edwina's best friend eight-year-old Gracie Trent was saying. “I do hope your grandfather has been practicing, because y'all already know my grandfather is Lord Airstepper!”

“Listen, we Lockdown Ludlow fans do not even understand the meaning of the word fear,” ten-year-old Andrew Ludlow said. “That one year West Point won the championship – yeah, that was Papa's team!”

“Both of them are college champions, so, this should be good,” eleven-year-old Velma Trent said.

“Yeah, they both have good records,” eleven-year-old Eleanor Ludlow said. “I do think your grandfather is more mobile, but Papa will make up for that with his slight height advantage.”

“Yeah, and I've gone into the garage wall enough times so Papa knows what moves not to make – we got this!” nine-year-old George Ludlow said.

Meanwhile, “Lockdown” Ludlow was contemplating his life … the most unlikely business run in Lofton County for decades had been his … and it was now over, with an exit as a multi-millionaire. Tarquin Ludlow IV and the workers in the Ludlow Bubbly now would continue the run … and they would, in style.

As for the captain and the sergeant …

“We didn't get in it to stay in it, so it is no thing to relinquish power so we can add power back to the business of our big families,” Sgt. Trent explained.

Capt. Ludlow just went and got into his athletic clothes …

“This is happening! This is actually happening!” seven-year-old Amanda Ludlow said.

“And I have your game plan all blueprinted, Papa,” six-year-old Grayson Ludlow said as he handed his grandfather all the arcs he had drawn to his drawing of the hoop, in white crayon on blue construction paper. “We like Gracie's grandfather, but, still beat him.”

“Don't embarrass us!” Edwina said.

“Yeah, and if he says dumb stuff like you can't guard me, tag me in, and I'll slap his ball across the street!” five-year-old Lil' Robert Ludlow said. “I got plenty of practice, and he's not that much taller than George!”

Mr. Thomas Stepforth, also known as Lord Airstepper, calmly laced up. He knew “Lockdown Ludlow” could play and play well … the muscle memory being shown when he casually did shoot-arounds with his grandchildren said that, and so did a lot of stories of pickup basketball that the captain had played to the end of his Army career without serious injury.

“Capt. Ludlow is only six-feet-three – not as short as I am in basketball terms, but still short. The thing is, he apparently never knew it – solid shooter, lockdown defender, and Lil' Robert gets that vertical and habit of rejecting the ball a mile from his grandfather!” Mr. Stepforth said.

“Yeah, but, you got this,” nine-year-old Milton Trent said to him.

“Of course, grandson,” Mr. Stepforth said. “I humbled players nine and ten inches taller and dozens of pounds heavier, so I'm not going to be worried about Lockdown Ludlow. At our ages, we win if we don't hurt each other too much!”

“Yeah, but you never think about all that when you are beating me and Tom and Melvin at the same time!” Milton said.

“Yeah, because y'all don't bother to learn the game,” Mr. Stepforth said, “and, I love seeing my grandsons doing basketball ballet!”

“You're mean, Pop-Pop – go put all that on Lockdown Ludlow, though!” Milton said.