She stared at the clouds. This was one of her most favourite things they did together. They’d make sandwiches and tea, lay out the chequered red cloth on the grass and stare at the clouds.
They would then make up little stories about the different shapes. It was best on a cloudy day. They could make it as real or as crazy as they wanted. They would just get lost in all the silliness.
But the rule was to match a true story with a fairytale or a children’s rhyme/story. Pick a cloud or two that resembled some part of the fairytale and then spin the story.
There was once a cloud shaped like an animal. It became the Big Bad Wolf which was really her Aunty who had a mean streak in her. She had thrown the blame on her when her cousins and her used to get into a fight. Yes, they were the three little pigs and Mum would be the Woodcutter coming to save the day.
The cloud that resembled coins stacked high became the story of Scrooge which was really her grandfather. Having come up during the war in poverty, he was very careful with his money to the point of stingy. Not trusting anyone and when he passed on they found money hidden everywhere in his room which was always under lock and key.
Mum shared many of her memories this way. The cloud that looked a lot like a lit match inspired The Little Match Girl which was about Mum growing up in poverty.
The clouds that looked like a mermaid on the rock was about how she had dared love someone outside of her own race and religion. How she endured the meanness of the family for love.
She had always loved these stories even as a little girl. How a familiar fairytale took on a different life of its own. Sometimes a happily ever after and sometimes a work in progress.
She too would tweak her stories to fit the things that had happened in school. It was their way of disconnecting from things that were beyond their control but wanted to talk about without giving it too much energy.
As she stared out the aeroplane window, she wished Mum was with her. It was the perfect view for Cloud Fairytales. She missed Mum every single day. The last 1 year, 5 months, 4 days.
She could already see the perfect cloud for her story for today. She whispered to nobody or maybe Mum was listening from wherever.
“Look Mum! That’s Cinderella in her big beautiful pumpkin. She is off to marry the prince. You see that cloud there, doesn’t it look just like the glass slipper? Yes, the prince found his princess and they cannot wait to spend the rest of their lives together. The only thing missing is You. I wish you were here in this pumpkin with me today”
And she discretely wiped her tears away.
Check out @mariannewest and @freewritehouse to find out more.
This is my submission for the 200 Day Party Challenge where we need to write one freewrite every single day for 50 days. Read other stories centred around clouds here!!
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