Of Dads and Randomness Suzanne W. Vincent
Father’s Day is coming up in the United States. This month we feature a wistful story (“Five Times I Have Slept at Your Bedside” by Jared Adams) of a father who emulates this quote from William Shakespeare:
“It is a wise father who knows his own child.”
I sat and pondered on that quote for a while. I found a great deal of depth and layered meaning there.
I considered my own father and the relationship I have with him. My husband and the relationship he has with our children. My father-in-law, too. (I can’t consider my son. He hasn’t bothered to make me a grandmother yet.)
Shakespeare doesn’t say a happy father, or a fulfilled father. He says a wise father. He doesn’t say loves or appreciates. He says knows.
How does a father know his child? It’s more than simply love. It’s being there. It’s watching a child move through the phases of life with wonder, with awe, with hope and joy and expectation. It’s being caught by surprise when you seem to have blinked and the years have passed and the child is grown and waving goodbye, but realizing that the time has passed so swiftly not because you have missed the sweet moments of fatherhood, but because you have lived them and loved them and become a better person because of them.
Now that, my friends, is wisdom.
Happy Father’s Day to every man who has been there for a child.
The rest of this month’s stories are, well, kind of random, but I’m sure you’ll love them, too! I did.
Like Sarah Beaudette’s beautiful sci-fi story, “The Strawberry Queen of Irapuato.”
Or another strong sci-fi adventure, “Place Your Bets,” by David Whitaker.
Also this month, our featured reprint, with Irish harp (I love Irish harp), “Songs in the Key of Chamomile,” by FFO alum, Rebecca Birch.
Enjoy!
Become a Patron! Check our our NEW Patron rewards!
FIREFLY
Receives weekly links to new stories, exclusive behind-the-scenes content and interviews with the authors, and our undying love.
WILL-O-THE-WISP
Receives a free monthly download of our current issue, access to Ask Me Anything chats with the FFO staff, submission statistics, plus benefits from lower levels
SHOOTING STAR
Gain access to our monthly Mini-Critique sessions, the FFO Editorial Team slushpile wishlist , plus benefits from lower levels
AURORA
A chance to have your work discussed by the FFO editorial team, receive 365 Writing Prompts and our latest anthology, plus benefits from lower levels
LIGHTNING
Receive a monthly mini-critique from the FFO editorial team and request custom writing videos, plus benefits from lower levels
SUPERNOVA
Receive one flash fiction critique per month, mini-critique sessions, an opportunity to “sponsor-a-story,” plus all the benefits of lower levels!
Support Flash Fiction Online
Flash Fiction Online is a free online magazine that pays professional rates. So how do we make that happen? It’s due to the generosity of readers like you.
Here are some ways you can help:
Become a Patron.
Sign up to become a monthly donor and gain access to exclusive Patron rewards like manuscript critiques, insider submission statistics, the Editors’ Wishlist, free downloads of our current issue, and Ask Me Anything chats with the FFO staff. Read more…
Subscribe to FFO.
Never miss an issue! E-reader formats delivered to your inbox. Available from WeightlessBooks.com
Buy our issues & anthologies.
Each of our issues and anthologies are available in convenient e-reader formats (epub/mobi/pdf). Available from the Flash Fiction Online Store and WeightlessBooks.
Donate.
Consider a one-time gift that fits your budget.
Advertise with us.
Have a product, service, or website our readers might enjoy? Ad space available on the website and in our e-reader issues. Sponsored posts opportunities are also available. Learn more…
Spread the word.
Love one of our stories or articles? Share it with a friend!