Friday Fictioneers : The football scarf gets a Viking funeral

PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz

PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz

 

Each member of the family added something to the chair – Den chose Grandad’s overcoat, Sooky his battered tobacco tin, Hannah the ‘lucky’ football scarf with its clumped and tatty fringing. The last few pieces were tied on with lengths of Grandad’s jute twine that he saved ‘in case’.

‘The ice in’t thick enough to hold it,’ warned Frankie.

But the chair stood proud as the match was struck. Soon flames blackened the scarf, the overcoat, blistered the tin, until finally the ice gave way, swallowing it all with a hiss and gulp.

In the chill dark, they whispered, ‘Love you, Grandad.’

 

Written for Rochelle Wisoff-Field’s Friday Fictioneers. See the photo and join other wonderfully talented writers to create a tale. See here to join in.

 

57 thoughts on “Friday Fictioneers : The football scarf gets a Viking funeral”

  5. Great send off for Grandpa, did he have some connection to the vikings? Not quite the same as being set adrift on a boat, but I picture Grandpa spending a lot of time in his favourite chair! Nice one Lynn.

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  6. Lovely idea, and a great image too, of how a burning chair piled with mementos would look both noble and somewhat silly at the same time, until it crashed through the ice — what a dramatic send-off for dear old Grandpa!

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      1. When we don’t have a body (as sometimes happens with war) we make a bundle. In each bundle is placed special things that remind us of the person. Each person speaks of what the item means to them and to the deceased. Then, the item is placed in the bundle. after everyone does so, the bundle is sewn shut by the dearest relative (or Eldest there, in case of no living relatives). The bundle is either buried or burned according to that tribes custom. My second husband was buried such.

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      2. What a very touching tradition. Such a wonderful way for loved ones to gather and talk about the person they’ve lost, to make a tribute to them. Thank you for sharing that with me

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    1. Ah, thank you so much! I remember my own grandma doing the same. She saved used wrapping paper too – I remember receiving presents with last years tape marks on the paper! Thank you

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      1. Nice memories. My mother saves tinfoil, my mother-in-law washed and reused plastic bags.

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  21. Nicely written Lynn. I loved how you did his ‘Viking’ funeral pyre for Grandma and to pay her tribute/remember her by. Cleverly done 🙂

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