#need more space

[sl0w-bloom]

(most of) the vinyl collection

[katblu42]

The Need for Space

Written for @flashfictionfridayofficial prompt #157 Need More Space

It's been a while since I've written anything, so thanks FFF for the inspiration!

It's Thunderbirds fandom (possibly taking place just after the episode Eos) and clocks in at about 690 words.

(Not really proofread because I have run out of time!!)

Virgil sat stunned for a moment, watching his brother and wondering exactly when that phrase had come to have two meanings for this particular brother.

Of the five of them John had always been the most defensive of his personal space – something that could be hard to come by in a family like theirs.  Five rambunctious boys and later an adopted sister, lots of boisterous movement, almost constant noise, and a tendency towards hands-on shows of affection and tactile responses to emotional need.  So much could be expressed by just clasping another’s hand in yours, or a pat on the back, a reassuring arm around someone’s shoulders, fingers combing through a loved one’s hair, and of course the all encompassing love wrapped up in a hug.

John was no slouch when it came to dishing out such things, but receiving them could be a prickly experience for him.  Virgil, along with the rest of their family, had quickly learned that John needed to except people into his space on his own terms.  He needed warning – some kind of telegraphing of the contact that was to come.  A hand held out before him was likely to be taken, but if you took hold of his hand without notice he would pull it back in defence.  A hug would be welcomed if a loved one approached him with open arms and allowed him to lean into the embrace, but a surprise hug from behind, or from someone he didn’t know would feel more like an assault and illicit an unfavourable reaction.

It had been a long time since John had last needed to voice a desire for more space, the family having long since learnt to interpret the non-verbal signs that a little physical distance would be appreciated.  The phrase had been oft repeated when they were young – particularly to ward off little brothers who were too young to understand personal boundaries.

Virgil guessed the double meaning had snuck up slowly.  By the time John was 8 or 9 years old he was often burying his nose in books on astronomy.  Shortly after that he could often be found of an evening stargazing through Dad’s old telescope.  So when a teenaged John said he needed space sometimes that meant he was going to climb up to the attic nook, or onto the roof to spend some quality time with the space that lay beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

To his credit, John had worked hard to achieve his goal of travelling into space.  There had been hurdles to overcome, including breaking free of their father’s shadow.  And Virgil was proud of every achievement his space-case brother had to his name.  Not to mention the fact that all of them relied heavily on John’s knowledge and skill on every rescue, not just those that occurred in space.  They relied on Thunderbird Five and the difference that marvel of science made in aiding International Rescue’s day to day operation.  With John aboard his orbiting ‘bird the others could rest heavily in the confidence that John’s eyes and ears combined with Five’s processing power and automated systems – almost all of which were programmed or designed by John – were there to ensure the safety of rescuers and rescuees alike.

Now, looking at a man who somehow still looked like the kid brother with his head in the stars, Virgil found it hard to admit how much John’s request to return to Thunderbird Five had shaken him.

“No, John,” he said firmly, reaching out to gently place a heavy hand on a slender shoulder, “the last thing you need right now is more space.  Right now you need to be here, with us.  With the family who love you and would be devastated to lose you.  Space can wait.  We need you here.” 

Virgil’s free hand rested over his heart for a moment.  Under the scrutiny of a warm brown eyes full of excruciating concern, John’s expression softened and he allowed himself to be pulled close and enveloped by strong arms.  Maybe Virgil was right.  John was in no hurry to leave the comfort and safety of the embrace.

[renee-writer]

Root Bound

For @flashfictionfridayofficial 157 prompt : Need more space

Tangled

Tight together

Searching for space

Room to grow

Until

Someone notices

And lifts it out

Gently shakes out the roots

Placing it in a bigger pot

Room to grow

For a plant

It is easy to fix root bound issues

But what of a person

Filling stuck

No room to grow

In a relationship

A job

A family that doesn’t understand

That what they are expected to be

They can’t

How to their roots get shaking out?

How to they grow?

Sometimes you just have to uproot yourself

Have to push out and make your own space.

To have room to grow.

[sigynthevictorious]

//worst part of rearranging our flat is coming to terms with my history book collection. This is but a fraction 😭👀

[texancomics]

[sleepjeansart]

Each week, I spend maybe a minute total in sketching the layout for that week’s comic.

Sometimes, the thumbnails are funnier than the final product will ever be.

[8wordsaday]

So how much more time do you need?