Happy New Year! As I approach a ‘big’ birthday at the end of the year, I have decided to try to develop 40 healthy habits which fit into my life and improve my health, mentally or physically, my relationships or my impact on the world. I hope more frequent Friday Fiction contributions can be one of them.
The photographer this week is Jan Wayne Fields, and other FF stories can be found at https://rochellewisoff.com/
“The ball just won’t go in for me,” Melanie whined.
Mrs Mwanna stopped tidying her desk to look at the four-foot-nothing bundle of potential and frustration on her couch. “Maybe netball’s not the right fit for you,” she said, gently. “You’ll find your groove.”
“I don’t fit anywhere!”
Mrs Mwanna straightened the pens in a pot. Lined up neatly; soldiers on parade. Too many, really, she mused. I should probably get rid of a few.
A grunt of despair brought her attention back to her young friend.
“You are too special,” she said, “Too important. There’s nothing tidy about scissors.”
elmowrites 
I just had my big birthday at the end of last year, right in the middle of a lockdown! Hopefully you will be able to celebrate more. I liked the analogy of your story 🙂
I think we’ll all get at least one lockdown birthday in before this thing is over. My husband is still keeping his big one on ice from April…
I felt a sense of menace here, but I’m sure that’s me rather than your intention
No menace intended, but I always support a reader’s version!
Congratulations on your “big” birthday, but I hate to tell you you’re just a whippersnapper yet. I’ve passed the big birthday that allowed me to start getting my Social Security, so I’m chuckling at yours. Glad to know you’re healthy and doing well. Happy 2021.
janet
Thank you! Still a year away, but I’m not someone who gets worried about birthdays, big or otherwise. I just thought it would be a nice motivator to improve a few things. Happy 2021 to you too – I hope it’s a good one, one way or the other.
I love ‘bundle of potential and frustration’.
And, dear Elmo, when you’ve had as many ‘big’ birthdays as I’ve had, you stop caring.
Stay young, it’s more fun!
Thank you, I liked that line too.
Everyone has a groove, it’s just a matter of finding it and fitting in.
My big birthdays used to be every ten years, then five, now every one’s a big’un!
My story!
… and occasionally jumping out of it to surprise people!
Happy Early birthday! Finding your groove is just simply HARD! After my accident, when I was rebuilding and relearning life someone said something to me that stuck…forget who. “Find something you enjoy…then, find a way to get paid for it.” Well, I’ve found what I enjoy…sometimes, I actually get paid for it, sometimes not. Still, I enjoy it. Well, several things actually. hehe! Love your plans for the year. A new year always seems to beg us to do something new, eh!
That sounds like good advice but hard to follow. Melanie is so many things and has huge potential, but it’s hard to see that when you’re a child.
Lovely to see you on here again, Jen. And to hear that you’ll try to make it more often. Loved your story.
Thanks Sandra. I keep hoping I’ll be a more regular contributor. Maybe 2021 is the year; I love FF.
Dear Jenn,
As the old saying goes, ‘every pot finds its own lid.’ Melanie will find here. How nice she has someone like Mrs Mwanna to encourage her.
I’m so pleased to see you hear and glad that it could be more often. Good story.
Shalom and Happy New Year,
Rochelle
Fingers crossed, Rochelle. FF is one of my favourite pot-lids 😉
😘😃
I guess I’m sort of with Neil; I didn’t feel menace, but I did wonder why she was thinking about scissors! 😀 Good luck with your plans — that’s an awful lot of habits to develop.
In my head the scissors are sticking out above the regimented pens. Something don’t fit, but it doesn’t make them less valuable.
I think you and Neil have been mingling with tannelle’s blood-thirsty muse!
I’m sure Melanie will find her niche 🙂
I believe she will. One day, I might even get chance to write it for her.
Something tells me that Mrs Mwanna is getting tired of Melanie.
Oh no! I’m sorry it read that way to you, Mrs Mwanna is Melanie’s biggest fan.. and vice versa.
Oops. My bad.
We all have a niche, or two. Encouraging story. My big birthday was during lockdown (add 20 years to yours) and I’ve decided to ignore it until I can celebrate properly with loved ones! It’s a good idea to come up with goals for a more healthy and happy lifestyle though. Happy birthday!
My husband has the same attitude to his lockdown milestone. I wonder if we will be ‘out’ again before I reach mine…
I hope that you are! =)
as long as she doesn’t stop looking, she’ll evantually find her own groove. 🙂
I agree. Thanks for visiting!
Yes everything has its place, including misfit toys. Your story made me think a little bit well done.
Ah, the misfit toys of this world. Thank you!
I’m trying not to think about the “big” birthday. Where has the time gone? Remember you’re as old as you feel!
Gosh, the big birthday thing has struck a lot of chords. I really couldn’t care less, I just think it’s a nice chance to make some positive changes and take note of some good things I already do.
That’s the spirit!
Happy birthday! Seems her young friend may be a fish out of water.
I suspect a lot of kids are.