Home alone with two boys this week, and so far we’re all fed, no-one dead, so I’m counting it a success! There’s still time for it to go horribly wrong though…
On a more reliable front, this week’s FF picture comes from Dee Lovering via Rochelle. I hope you enjoy my offering, your feedback is encouraged.
The Crazy All-Weather Ice Cream Man
Georg knew people laughed; it wasn’t as though they were subtle about it. Youths would shove each other over, pull down scarves or shout through fur-lined collars.
“Chocolate cone with raspberry sauce and sprinkles please,” or “Extra ice in my lemonade, buddy.”
He wasted a lot of stock when they scampered off through the snow, laughing.
But Georg came anyway. On good days, she walked past, he might even hear her voice, chattering to her friends about the crazy all-weather ice cream man; on the best days, she bought something and he could search her face for his own reflection.
elmowrites 
I love your sweet story. He’s so painfully shy.
He has his reasons for not approaching her.
My first thought was that he was shy. The second was that she’s his daughter and doesn’t know it. Nicely done either way.
janet
Bang on, Janet! I thought the last couple of words could give it away, but maybe it was a bit subtle. I did have a longer version that made the relationship more clear, so perhaps I went too far the other way. Glad you spotted it!
I love the hope that reverberates through this peace. 🙂 Quite beautiful.
Leo @ I Rhyme Without Reason
Thanks Leo, I’m glad it didn’t feel too much like a downer. Georg is smiling.
Intriguing end. Nice one.
Thanks, ansumani!
OK. I’m thinking love lost to another, but he bides his time. Nicely written.
It’s not what I intended (see tags and/or comment to Janet if you want to know) but if it worked for you, I’m happy.
Huh. Forgot about looking at the tags for a clue. Still, nicely done. I like your take better! 🙂 Thanks for straightening me out!
Jen, This is sweet and subtle. I love all you say in the unwritten words here and want to throttle those insensitive imps. On the other hand, I wonder if he might do better to start peddling hot cocoa in the winter time.
Best wishes with the two little ones.
Cheers!
MG
Kids will be kids, I guess. They don’t see the reasons, only the oddity. So glad you liked it MG. And you’re right about the cocoa. I’ll tell him!
Good work. I was pleasantly surprised by the ending. His daughter, I assume?
Indeed. And parental love is a powerful thing; I can’t imagine being permanently separated from them.
I had a similar lost-relationship thought when I saw this picture, but didn’t know how to put it into words. Thanks for doing a splendid job of writing it down!
🙂 I don’t think this is the first time we’ve shared thinking, Alicia. Glad you liked it.
Unrequited love…it hurts so good! Wonderfully written with such tenderness.
And so much more for a parent, I would think.
You nailed it, Jen. As soon as I read the last line, I thought of a father doing anything he can to be near the daughter he never knew. There is a lot of questions here, like why he can’t introduce himself, but I think it works much better not being spelled out. Great job.
-David
Thanks David, delighted to see it made sense to some people. This wasn’t the place to explain whys or wherefores, but he does have his reasons
Nothing like high fructose corn syrup and saturated fat to bring a broken family together. ha ha
I couldn’t resist.
Tracey
haha, we all do what we must
Had to laugh at your “home alone” musings. 🙂
Gotta laugh or you’d cry… 😉
Such a beautifully poignant story. I like to imagine that for whatever reasons, he signed away his rights to her but never stayed completely away, waiting for that moment when all would no longer be silent.
Spot on, Dale; I think so too. Glad you liked it.
Lovely. I got the unknown father angle – artfully done.
Cheers Bilbo, glad some did
Unrequited love, like a wound that won’t heal.
Good piece Jennifer.
Especially for a parent. I can’t imagine it. Thanks, Mick
Dear Jennifer,
A sweet story in more ways than one. I love the last line…search her face for his own reflection…magnificently subtle.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you, Rochelle. I changed that last line from something slightly less subtle and I’m interested to see how mny people got it … and liked it.
The revelation in the last line makes this story so sweet and sad. Nice one.
Thank you, Snow.
What a lovely tale
Rosey Pinkerton’s blog
Glad you liked it, Rosey
Wow, I got it too (even before reading Janet’s comment). Usually, these things fly over my head. A bittersweet tale.
🙂 Maybe your head’s a little higher this week! Thanks for the vote of confidence.
I didn’t get it before I read the comments. I was too fascinated by how he seems to have given up his own personality to be close to her.
Yes, he does, doesn’t he? Love will do that to a man, i suppose.
OMG, I want to hear more. I want the who story
LOL, always leave them wanting more, right?
I guess love is crazy. Superbly done!
Thank you, joyfulness
Sweet as the ice cream and bitter as the cold.
Excellent.
ooh, what a lovely description. Thanks!
Took a few readings to get it and the extra level of meaning it achieves. Very poignant and raises questions that maybe are better not answered. Super job!
Thank you for giving me the multiple readings, Perry. I’m glad they paid off.
That’s lovely – a lost daughter?
Indeed she is.
I felt so badly for him! I really enjoyed this.
I love making people feel – cheers W-O-P
I’ll support both Janet and the subtle author by confirming having
found the relationship clearly hinted to.
Dark yet so realistic; well done, Tay.
Thank you, Tay. I’m glad people saw it.
Oh, poor Georg. You’ve implied so much in this little snippet, and Georg’s love for his daughter is clear – I hope he speaks and she accepts him. I want it to end that way.
He may have his reasons for not speaking, Margaret, but I’m glad you felt for him!