The Richest Man on Earth

[erulissedances]

 

 

Luke was aware of urban cowboys, rock-a-billy cowboys, diamond cowboys and steer-wrangling cowboys, but this was the first time he had seen an invisible cowboy. His hat, which had fallen from his ill placement on the hat rack by the door of his small, but comfortable, home, was now moving across the floor under its' own power.

 

"Would ya look at that!" he called out to Diane who was busy in the kitchen preparing dinner. "My hat's movin' on its' own!"

 

"Say what?" came the call, followed closely by his wife. After eight years of marriage and two children, she still looked great to his eyes. She was drying her hands on her well-worn apron and cast a quick glance behind her at the stove, making sure nothing would burn or boil over while she was away for a moment.

 

She burst out laughing as she watched the hat moving jerkily across the floor. First quickly, then, as it bumped into something - a table, a chair leg - slowing down before regaining momentum. "Best watch out there. It's a-headin' for you!"

 

Luke's laughter joined hers as the magic hat approached his stocking feet. His boots were by the front door, Diane not wanting him to track dirt all over their home. He reached down, gripping the hat and lifting it off his youngest who stopped short, sat back and scrunched his face up to ready to express his displeasure.

 

Putting the hat back on his own head, Luke reached down and picked the baby up from the floor, making him sail through the air before reaching the safety of his Dad's arms. The displeasure left the baby's face and a wide grin replaced it. "You're going to be a cowboy just like your Da, aren't ya?" he asked, hitching the child comfortably against his chest, gripped firmly.

 

Diane smiled, enjoying the sight, then turned back to return to the kitchen. "Could you call Lucas in? He's at the barn helping the men feed and water the horses."

 

"At your command," Luke responded, and still holding his newest child, he strode to the door of their home. Walking out to the front porch, he pursed his lips and whistled, piercingly, gently bumping the baby to keep it amused. "Lucas … dinner!"

 

"Coming, Pa."

 

He smiled as he returned to the family room. He might not be rich in cash, but he considered himself a very rich man indeed.

 

Comments

[roina_arwen]

This was very sweet. My entry has a Luke, too!

[erulissedances]

Thanks. I rather like the name Luke, and figured his kid could have a name that was similar, but not identical - allowing his own identity alongside his Pa. Thanks for reading and commenting!

- Erulisse (one L)

[shirebound]

This is lovely, and is making me smile. :)

[erulissedances]

Thanks, hun. I love making you smile. Give Pippin a good scratch from his "Auntie Sandi".

- Erulisse (one L)

[banana_galaxy]

Loved the imagery of the hat moving around the floor assumingly of its own accord, and then the big reveal.

[erulissedances]

I had that image in mind from the first when the prompt was revealed, but it took forever to figure out how it fit into the tale. Thanks for reading and commenting.

- Erulisse (one L)

[adoptedwriter]

Awww....Cute!

[erulissedances]

Thanks! I appreciate your reading and commenting.

- Erulisse (one L)

[ofearthandstars]

What a wholesome entry! I appreciate these short snapshots/character sketches, I feel like I am lousy at them, but you've caught an entire little world here very well.

[erulissedances]

Thank you so very much for your kind words. I love writing short - drabbles are a specialty of mine, something I've written for years. For me, this is a medium length story - LOL.

- Erulisse (one L)

[gunwithoutmusic]

This was really sweet and beautiful. I actually really needed to read something like this right now, so I'm very grateful you went this direction with the prompt.

On a less personal note, well done on this! It fits the prompt in both a literal and highly imaginative way. I love this scene of this family, it's just so... easy. You painted a simple scene of a happy time that really pulls at the heartstrings, like looking through an old photo album.

[tonithegreat]

Jinks on calling out the blues lifting aspect of this entry! And I hope you're feeling better by the time you read this.

[erulissedances]

Oh, thank you SO much. That just makes my heart sing. I like happy stories, and I can do angst and pain, but happy is just so much fun to write and the baby just really made me do it. LOL

- Erulisse (one L)

[tonithegreat]

Awww! I’m having a blue Tuesday and this was a delightful evening read. Well done, especially on a week where a lot of folks went more serious!

[erulissedances]

I saw the moving hat immediately when I read the week's challenge, but couldn't quite figure out how to get it where I needed it until I was under a time deadline. I pounded this together in five minutes taking a quick break from writing my blog in the morning, and I was very happy with it. Editing was minimal and voila! A moving hat with all of the parts around it.

- Erulisse (one L)

[mollywheezy]

What a lovely family scene! I loved this, especially the last line. :)

[erulissedances]

Thank you so much. Yes, the last line makes it all work.

- Erulisse (one L)

[bleodswean]

I have not seen this level of domesticity and cuteness from you before! Adorbs!

[erulissedances]

Thanks so much! I can do cute - LOLOL.

- Erulisse (one L)

[marlawentmad]

What a delightful little scene you created! I especially like the voice work you did here. I really enjoy when I can clearly hear the way a character speaks.

[erulissedances]

Oh thank you! Dialog isn't always easy for me but this time it flowed.

- Erulisse (one L)

[dadi]

Perfectly fitting and sweet too :)

[erulissedances]

Thanks so much! It's very kind of you to read and comment.

- Erulisse (one L)

[d0gs.livejournal.com]

I loved this so much! The dialogue was so delightful!

[erulissedances]

Thanks!!! I don't often do dialog, so it's nice to know it hit the right notes.

- Erulisse (one L)

[alycewilson]

Adorable little slice of life!

[erulissedances]

Thank you so much! I almost got defeated by this prompt, but I'm quite pleased with the result.

- Erulisse (one L)

[drippedonpaper]

Aw, I love this. You got the dialect just right.

I also like the way you mixed sensory details and dialogue.

It's true that our relationships are priceless!

[erulissedances]

Relationships are everything, aren't they? Thanks so much for your very kind words.

- Erulisse (one L)