Beginnings

Flash Fiction

Beginnings

“What’s going on?” Mom asked, as Jake ran across the room.

“Nothing…”

“Then why are you running?”

“Exercise?”

Jake was six, he probably didn’t know what exercise was. Six-year-olds, especially ones like Jake, used up every waking minute exercising. Plus, it’d been a rule since he learned to run, “No running in the house!”

Mom decided to let it go for now. She was watching a thing on her computer on how to make bracelets. She wanted to find something to do to make some money. Now that Jake was settled in first grade, she was feeling out different things to try. Bracelets, pretty much out already. Not only tiny beads, but she herself never liked bracelets. Still, they were beautiful…

She looked back at Jake, who was just standing there suddenly. “What’s that?” he asked, pointing to the computer.

“It’s a bracelet, she’s teaching people how to make bracelets.”

“For your arm, next to your hand, right?”

“Ah, yes… where have you seen them?”

“Mrs. Munro always has them. They sparkle. This lady makes them?”

“Yes…”

“So maybe I could make one for Mrs. Munro, for Christmas.”

“What a good idea! I can help you.”

The deal was done. They shopped, got a bracelet package seemingly simple enough that he could make it, and he did. Mrs. Munro just loved it. Mom got the news every day that she wore it the rest of the year. Many days.

Jake loved it, and got better and better at jewelry, he was very creative. Eventually he opened a shop.

One day, when he was grown and successful Mom reminded him of that first day. And him, running upstairs.

He laughed. “Yeah, I let that snake stay for a week before I took him back outside!

Thirty-two years later, Mom still fainted.