I seem to have made up for going over the word limit on my last two Friday Fictioneer stories by coming in under the 100-word limit by 7-words! Thanks to our fairy blog mother, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, we have a pair of tape covered boots to write about this week.
Dad seemed to be held together with duct tape.
The old man used the silver strips to repair his straw hat, reinforce his raincoat,
patch his bicycle tires and the toes of his rubber boots.
When I caught him using it to anchor his glasses to his face
I hid the tape in the back of a drawer he never, ever used.
Or so I’d thought before the police called.
“Arrested? Why?”
“It’s bloody strange, mate. The booking officer wrote:
Unlawful possession of wild raccoon taped to bicycle seat.
No headlamp on bike.
(93-words)
That’s great!! Loved the visual! 😂
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Thanks, Courtney. And thanks for a fun picture!
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A good laugh is had by all… Great write. I can just picture it.
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Oh, good! I’m glad you found this funny. I was trying to avoid murder and mayhem. Thanks, Jelli
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I guess I’m reading too much between the lines, but is dad suffering from memory disorder or something? Loved the last line, Alicia. Now, I can’t unsee the raccoon taped to the bicycle.
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Yes, Varad, Dad is going downhill fast. Thanks for reading between the lines. I actually read something like this in a police report. “Unlawful possession of a wild raccoon, no headlamp on bicycle. I just added the tape. Alicia.
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You can tape almost anything together. Good on Dad
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My friend’s father duct-taped his wife’s prosthetic breast together when it fell apart. My friend was appalled and paid for a new one. Wish I could have worked that into my extra 7-words. Thanks, Neil.
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Haha, a nice chuckle. Eccentric he may be, but in our throw away culture, he has the right idea – except maybe for the raccoon.
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Thanks, Iain. This pretty much describes my dad before he passed, minus the raccoon. Growing up during the depression, he rarely threw anything away. He did duct tape his hat together and reglue his shoes and … He was a truly dear man. No dementia involved.
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The pictures this created in my mind had me laughing, great tape. Unlawful possession of a wild raccoon taped to a bike is brilliant, surreal even if the reason for it being there is sad and serious.
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Thanks very much, Michael. There might be some strange logistics involved. Thank goodness we only have so many available words!
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At least Dad hasn’t been drawn into the “throw-away” culture.
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Ha! Seems as if he’s fighting it tooth and nail. Thank, you, Ali.
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Ha! Ha! We throw things far too early and really need to learn for our father’s generation. Not tape but araldite was my father’s go to thing for fixing things that fell apart. Nice one.
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My dad used plenty of Gorilla Glue, too. Thanks for reading.
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Dear Lish,
I guess Dad was able to buy more duct tape? Or was it that he lost his glasses? Oh Magoo, you’ve done it again. Fun story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks for reading, Rochelle. I think Dad found the tape.
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Hilarious!☺☺☺
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Thanks.
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Absolutely brilliant I was hoping for a smile and then along came your tale!
My FriFic tale is called Jim and Jan!
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So happy I could oblige! Thanks, Keith.
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The stuff is damn useful – never thought to use it on a raccoon though! Nice tale Lish
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Do you know the saying, “If you can’t fix it, duck it” referring to duct tape? Apparently, it works well on raccoons too. Thanks for commenting, Lynn.
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Ha! It’s flexible stuff – saved the day on many an occasion, I’m sure 🙂
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Nice story, Alicia. Never underestimate the persistence of a dad. I bet he went through every drawer to find that reel of tape! I loved the voice you found for the police officer!
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Thanks, Penny. Going on the light side was fun.
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Marvellous stuff that tape, and a marvellous story to go with it,
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Thanks, Mike.
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Very fun read.
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Oh, goody. That’s what I was going for.
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Wonderfully funny 🙂
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I’m so glad you saw the humor in this. It was meant to be that way. Thanks.
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LOL! OMG. I visualize this a little too well.
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Maybe, in our old age, we will both be stapping raccoons to our bikes. Thanks for seeing the humor in my tale. Alicia
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Ha ha – that was a great read. I loved the image of a raccoon strapped to his bike!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thanks, Susan. Poor little fellow may end up with some bald spots.
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Glad it wasn’t a skunk!
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Oh! Perhaps that’s next! (Ssshhhh, don’t suggest that to Dad.)
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The duct tape has replaced all skilled workers like the cobbler, the locksmith, the tailor etc and we keep finding new uses for the duct tape and instant glues. Great imagery with lot to read between the lines.
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An all-purpose “tool” for sure! Thanks for reading Y.S.
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I couldn’t stop laughing, I know the feeling, give someone duct tape and they just have to use it for everything. It’s as if they are addicted.
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I finally gave my dad a roll with candy corn printed on it. It was still in the garage, unopened, when he passed away. Ah, well. Thanks for reading, James.
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All the other uses for duct tape are perfectly reasonable – why use it for that poor raccoon?
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No worries, the raccoon is fine and Dad is back home, sans tape. Thanks, Liz
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No one can keep a man from his tape!
This was funny… though, I do feel for the racoon – troublesome creature, or not!
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No harm, no foul. The raccoon is fine now. Dad is safe. Thanks for seeing the humor. Cheers!
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😀
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Haha! Dad seems very interesting. Dad actually do have a thing with duct tape no? My dad keeps ‘fixing’ everything with it. 😅
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That and Gorilla Glue! Do you think we’ll be like that when we grow old? Maybe it’s just a guy thing. Thanks for reading.
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So imaginative….loved the ending!
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Thank you! I appreciate your stopping by and leaving a comment. Cheers! Alicia
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Duct tape addiction is serious… but there is so much fun you can do… have you seen the prom dresses made from duct tape? — but I feel sorry for the raccoon.
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Yes, I have seen the prom dresses. Very imaginative. I don’t think any harm came to the raccoon, he wasn’t taped very securely. Thanks, Bjorn.
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Love your story – especially the quirky ending – a racoon ! Made me smile – well done.
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Thanks so much. It was enjoyable to go on the light side and not kill anyone.
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Funny and sad and funny. Great writing, Alicia. Maybe it shows my age, but I can sympathize with Dad. It’s not only reparing things, it’s also: the things we love get worn the most and then they break. We know we’ll never get a hat, boots, bike just as good and comfy as the broken ones, so tape it is.
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I think you’re so right about that. I have things I’ve repaired a million times because I’ll never find another like it. And sometimes I wish I’d bought ten of something I’ll never find again for the same reason. Thanks for noticing that, Gabi.
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This is the most clever story I’ve read so far. Funny – really funny.
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What a lovely thing to say. Thanks, Nan. I’m glad I made you smile.
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Oh so funny. Nothing like a taped racoon to make me laugh and set me up for the day!
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Oh, goody! I’m glad I started your day out right. Alicia
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Okay, so no headlamp would be the offence? I imagine the raccoon was just to make the seat more comfortable, Dad’s getting on and not wanting to waste anything. A great thrifty story.
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Ha! I hadn’t thought of that. I’m sure that’s what Dad had in mind. Thanks.
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Oh dear! Hilarious.
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So glad you saw the humor. Alicia
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