The chair didn’t go with the rest of her furniture, and it barely fit in her tiny apartment. It was a heavy piece of dark oak transported from the other side of the country. She kept the chair in the corner of her living room where it sat unused except when she needed an extra seat for company, or on days when she needed it the most. When she came home exhausted or frustrated, she would pull out the old kitchen chair and sit down. She would feel the phantom touch of her grandmother’s hand on her shoulder, reassuring her.
The old fire god huddled in his celestial realm, trying to stay warm. He’d been powerful once, worshiped everywhere. Millions of tiny flames lit the darkness, and each breath of smoke carried his essence. Even if his worshippers never knew it, he blessed them all. But his enemies and their mortal agents had banned his worship and now his very image was outlawed. Now he was weak and cold. New gods rose to take his place: gods of mist, nature goddesses and mechanical deities he couldn’t understand. They all said they were his children. All he wanted was a cigarette.
The village had a tradition. Every youth spent a year traveling abroad. It was a rite of passage that signified their adulthood. The children would choose their destinations, and their parents would make the arrangements. Most boys took apprenticeships or jobs on ships or caravans, and came back having learned a trade. Most girls stayed with distant relatives or family friends, and many came back with husbands. Some never returned, and were mourned as though dead. The practice ended when the War started. After the village was bombed, friends from all over the world came to mourn and help rebuild.
We are so back! Welcome to Everyday Drabbles, a daily 100-word short story. After participating in The Dog Days of Podcasting by recording some of my favorite stories from my original run, I got inspired to get the project going again. Please bookmark this site to read a new story every day, and subscribe to receive a weekly summary email in your inbox!
Today’s Drabble is “Tradition.” Music by Kevin MacLeod of Incompetech.com. Thanks for listening and I’ll be back with more audio in December. Until then, visit EverydayDrabbles.com for more very short stories as Everyday Drabbles returns in text with all new drabbles starting September 1st! I hope you enjoy this sneak peek, and have a fabulous day!
Hugh J. O'Donnell 