^{Image created in Canva by me utilizing it's free bckgrnd and image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay}

The Ink Well is engaged this month in the Fast and Furious Festival. That means a month of fun, excitement, and learning. Day 5 of the Festival deals with bringing it all together as we explore a long-awaited reunion. I'm excited to learn from a different perspective how to accomplish the task of unifying a story to bring it together to conclusion.

If you'd like to join in this festival, then check it out for Day 5 here

Day 5 Prompt - BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER

Task 1

This is Lee. He was reported missing at the age of fifteen. He has been missing for more than thirty years.

Lee has been found and he is going to meet his parents for the first time in thirty years. Your story is going to be about their reunion. Think about the setting and how you could describe it to convey how Lee or his parents are feeling. Try to include some dialogue that tells us a little about the characters of Lee, his mum and his dad.

Make a few notes about the story arc - we have three characters. Do they want to see each other? Is the long time apart an obstacle or is there another obstacle for one of the characters? How will you use the reunion to resolve the conflict created by the obstacle?). Source of directions taken from The Ink Well Fast and Furious Festival - Day 5 Post.

Nothing about the ride was ordinary. How could it be?

Lee glanced out the window, then turned to beckon his attendant to stop the car.

"Are you ill, Lee?"

"Just a bit queasy. I need to get my bearings. Give me a few moments."

"Take all the time you need."

Stepping outside the black vehicle, Lee walked a few steps in the direction towards the woods just off the road. The highway and surrounding area looked and felt unfamiliar.

His head held back, he took in a deep breath, and gazed upward at the cloudy sky. The action stretched his neck and helped calm his stomach. He reached in his pocket and retrieved a single pack of antacid for extra protection.

"I'm returning to a place I hadn't seen in 30 years. I'm meeting people I haven't seen for 30 years. I'm experiencing feelings now I haven't felt in 30 years. I'm coming home." His escort wasn't within hearing distance, so he didn't feel embarrassed saying this out loud.

Settled now in his stomach, but not his mind, he returned to the car. He continued on his journey down the long stretch of modern highway. He knew what was behind him. He didn't know what was ahead.

What should have been the familiar was gone.

Silence fell over the conversation, so he allowed the window to hold his head as various thoughts rushed forth.

Something familiar pushed its way to the forefront. There was an old saying that you can never go home again. The saying didn't start out that way. It was taken and adapted from the novel by Thomas Wolfe's "You Can't Go Home Again".

This mindset, however, kept Lee company for as long as he could remember. But it didn't decrease the yearning. Although hidden, the years cultivated it until the feeling was so strong that he couldn't deny it any longer.

Below the overpass, he could see a small boat park with several small boats tied to a dock. He looked until he could no longer see the park, then lowered his head.

Lee arrived at the designated neutral location.

The seating in the lobby was perfect. He stood waiting for his parents. His hand trembled as he straightened his bright yellow name tag several times.

He requested the doorman telephone his parents' room.

"No pressure, Hal. Remember," Cecile said adamantly while putting the final touches on her hair. She tried to pin it back the way it used to look.

"Yes, yes. I understand Cecile. I just thought."

"Don't think. You'll mess things up. Just follow my lead."

They quickly gave each other the final once-over approval, then headed down the elevator.

"Let's just play it by ear. We lived the last 30 years from afar. Our Lee lived it in real time," Cecile whispered as they approached.

"As always, you're right, honey."

Lee looked up suddenly to find his parents standing in front of him. Their name tags flashing in his face.

"Hello Son." Their wide grins took him off guard. He quickly recovered.

"Hello." He extended his hand. They accepted it, with his dad holding a strong grip for a few moments.

"How long will you be in town?" Dad tried to strike a light tone.

Lee hadn't thought that far ahead. He stammered, "Two days. Then I need to return. Work you see."

"We understand," his mom said quickly.

They talked for another hour, then Lee stood up. His parents followed.

"Your rod is still in it's rack in the shed. If you'd like, we can take the boat out and see if your luck has improved." His dad immediately stopped after receiving a nudged from his mom.

^{Image by dimitrisvetsikas1969 from Pixabay}

"What dad means is we know you loved to go out on the boat fishing."

Lee just stared at them both. He couldn't help looking at their hair, now gray. "So this is what I'll look like when I'm your age?"

His remark caught his parents by surprise. They didn't expect the ease with which it was spoken.

Mom tried to contain herself. However, she let out a snicker; then outright laughter. "That's our Lee. We didn't expect anything less."

"Son, our home has and always will be open for you to return. When you're ready, we'll be here." In that instance, warmth was injected into the unspoken blanket that smothered them as dad's serious tone and outstretched arm were accepted.

Lee cast a long look towards his parents and thought about the old adage. Then without a response, as if a putty knife had just scraped off each layer of untruth and exposed the true foundation beneath, he lifted them both up from the floor. First one, then the other experienced his embrace. His strong arms wrapped around their small frames.

He whispered in each of their ears, "soon".

The Day 5 Task took me the an hour to complete. It's truly a parent's worst nightmare for this happen in their family. I can only imagine the emotions and thoughts that have overshadowed this day when Lee and his parents finally meet after 30 years. I approached this Day 5 assignment by attempting to find something in their past they could connect with that might rekindle old ties and serve as a starting point to rebuild only if all parties agree to move forward.

Here are my notes I weaved the story around:

• Reunion to occur at undisclosed location
• Mother: excited
• Father: anxious
• Lee: skeptical
• Obstacle: negative conditioning
• Conflict resolution: Lee is reassured by parents that the negative condition is false.