The sea was churning back and forth in George’s stomach. His eyes were turning green, and he didn’t know which way to turn. Whether he could crawl out from beneath the burden of destiny, this pre-ordained future he had no say in. He didn’t want to sit still, drink tea and become a stodgy portrait. Rather, he liked painting rainbows and digging in his veggie patch. Was mesmerised by the magic of watching beans grow. Imagined what it was like to be a tree. No, when George grows up, he wants to dance and he might even want to sing.
….
100 words.
This story took off with a life of it’s own and I had no intention of writing about little Prince George and his life’s choices. I noticed the chip in the prompt and thought of the number of times I’ve been told that I’m “a chip off the old block”. That I’m very much like my dad. It annoyed me at times, especially when my Dad did his Masters of Creative Writing and pursued a life long goal of writing a book, which as anyone who has been following my blog for more than a week, knows is my goal and I’ve been working hard towards it for the last 10 years. I also look a lot like my Dad, but unlike me, he doesn’t like appearing online and so I can’t share a photo. He’s a mystery man.
I really do feel for people who end up growing up within strong family expectations and shadows and hope they manage to put their own stamp on what they do within those frameworks.
This has been another contribution to Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wishoff-Fields. PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz.
Best wishes,
Rowena
Beyond the Flow 
I liked the idea of growing up to become a portrait
He could always abdicate if he wants to in the future, follow his Uncle’s lead rather than his father’s!
nicely done, have you written a book yet?
Pros and cons to a prince’s life. He wont ever have to worry about paying the bills or feeding his kids. The best education and health care will be issued… but his life will never belong to him.
I enjoyed the language you used. Smooth.
Do you and your dad talk writing stuff? Something to bond over? Flip side, I can see how it creates a bit of competition.
Stay safe. They world is a bit nuts at the moment.
Interesting. Will be become his own man, or the man he is expected to be. Seems the sensitive type to me.
Breaking free could well become something we see in the future. I can’t help but hope we do.
Here’s mine!
I get the feeling George is someone I’m expected to know but, regardless, I liked the story, especially the very graphic ‘mal de mer’
Time will tell. Who knows what the monarchy will be like then by the time his turn comes?
You did a good job of getting into the headspace of one who dances to their own music.
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A lot of pressure on the young prince to conform. I wonder how he’ll turn out
He sounds as if he’s a creative, sensitive person who just wants to be able to investigate his own dreams and interests. Difficult for a prince who is expected to conform to the dictates of royal blood. Interesting, Rowena.
I reckon that we are all chips from an old block. However no one in my family has managed to write a book. Perhaps I am doomed to fail. But I hope not. Keep writing
My aunt is a history and anthropology professor and she’s not only written multiple books which have been very well-received, she’s won awards. I’m very proud of her and one year we all we to hear her speak at the Sydney Writers’ Festival. Her name is Dr Anna Haebich and she wrote the national history of the stolen generation here in Australia re the removal of Aboriginal children from their families.
It is encouraging having someoe in the family who has been so successful as a writer but it does make me wonder if I’m ever going to get there. She says though that I’m still young and it does take time for many writers to ripen. My Dad would say we’re like a good bottle of red wine.
Thanks, Linda. Not what I expected to write about about, but that’s where the muse took me this week.
Yes. I hope he has the space to find himself within his role and the expectations which come with it. Also, with any leader you want them to have wisdom, even if it’s only a kid leading a pack of cubs.
When that happens, I’m always fascinated to see where my muse takes me! One of the most entertaining aspects of writing 🙂
Thanks very much. It’s very much the way I am and my family is full of people who play their own drum. We live in a beach surf community but I play the violin and usually play classical, although realizing I was musically isolated, I’m picking up my piano skills and seeing where they take me. It’s much more versatile.
Given how much our world’s been changing in 2020, you’re on the mark there.
Thanks, CE. This turned out to be little Prince George, who actually does like dancing and he was ridiculed at one point in the media over it and people stuck up for him.
It would interesting to know. Be the fly on the wall, except that sounds creepy when you put it in the royal context, especially after what happened to his grandmother. However, I would be interested to walk ion his shoes for a bit but not leave them on for too long.