Anyone can join. Click below for instructions:
https://jfb57.wordpress.com/2015/05/11/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week152-2/
The prompt this week is …that’s democracy… + 100 words
Good Citizens
Sam rolled his eyes. Though his mother had confiscated the phone, his thumbs twitched in his lap. He squirmed in his seat.
“You can’t break the rules. Are you listening?”
His kneel jiggled. “Whatever.”
“Wrong answer.”
He exhaled a loud, drawn out sigh. “How come I gotta do everything you say?”
“Daddy and I are the government. You kids are the people.”
“You do anything you want!”
“We make the rules, feed and clothe you.”
“That’s democracy? Police state more-like.”
“One week: no phone or TV and straight home from school.”
“That sucks!”
“Good citizens make strong countries. One day you’ll understand.”
© 2015 Tess and How the Cookie Crumbles. All Rights Reserved.
How the Cookie Crumbles 
May 12, 2015 at 5:24 pm
My neighbor’s son is named Sam. This sounds familiar. 🙂
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May 12, 2015 at 5:26 pm
p.s. I continue to enjoy your well-done writing, Tess. Thank you!
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May 12, 2015 at 5:55 pm
Good one, Tess. Straight to the point! Love your way with dialogue…Christine
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May 12, 2015 at 6:09 pm
I’ve had discussions very similar. I was called a totalitarian potentate just yesterday, I quickly went to look up exactly what that meant before continuing the discussion. lol
Great one, Tess, very realistic. 🙂
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May 14, 2015 at 7:42 pm
May the force be with you, Donna. I so get it!! xx Rowena
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May 12, 2015 at 6:12 pm
That’s one of those kid-questions that can be hard to answer. I rarely reverted to ‘because I said so’, but when I did it worked. Probably because it was so rarely invoked!
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May 12, 2015 at 6:15 pm
Tess, i get the feeling you’ve had some practice. 😀 Effectively told.
You’ve been busy today. Hugs.
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May 12, 2015 at 8:55 pm
great line …Good citizens make strong countries. Love your stories.
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May 12, 2015 at 9:01 pm
So real it is scary. Nice
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May 13, 2015 at 12:49 am
Sounds like a tough ship Tess. As always your writing draws me in.
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May 13, 2015 at 1:28 am
I can imagine similar issues, luckily phones weren’t big when my kids were that age!
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May 13, 2015 at 3:28 am
Children can’t undersatnsd democracy. though sometimes looking at people how they behave, neither do I. ….A largue discussion…. Tessa, you haven’t answered me my letter I send you..¿¿¿..???
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May 13, 2015 at 3:36 am
Oh yes I remember those days…
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May 13, 2015 at 4:15 am
Very convincing and to the point 🙂 and I love the dialogue.
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May 13, 2015 at 4:15 am
I guess parents always have the right to veto…:)
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May 13, 2015 at 6:12 am
Hahahahahahahaha! Just a much improved version of “because I said so”!!!!!!!!!! Hahahahahhahhaa! Well done Tess! 🙂
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May 13, 2015 at 6:37 am
This sounds like it came straight from a true-life situation. 🙂
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May 13, 2015 at 7:17 am
Ha ha ha. No. When my daughter put me through the wringer, I DID have inspirational intervention as mothers do, but have never had a political bone in my body. I have no idea how Mom and Dad became the ‘government’. Totally stumped, I scrambled for ideas. I thought this one ‘different’ and went for it out of despairation. 😀 😀 😀
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, merrildsmith. Nice to see you. ❤
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May 13, 2015 at 7:30 am
I’ve been busy reviewing my copyedited manuscript, so I’ve missed some blog posts over the last couple weeks. Now just back to “regular” work. 🙂
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May 13, 2015 at 9:21 am
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
Tess Karlinski completed two challenges yesterday one that I set her and her usual Wednesday 100 word challenge. This is a must for parents and the citizens of tomorrow. Great job Tess
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May 13, 2015 at 9:51 am
No kid of mine is going to vote me out of office. In my house I am the generalissimo of a banana republic.
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May 13, 2015 at 9:51 am
I like bananas.
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May 13, 2015 at 10:25 am
I love your imagination, Tess! The scene you created together with the dialogue between ‘Sam’ and his mother is terrific. Every child has important lessons to learn. Great job. Wonderful writing as always! 🙂
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May 13, 2015 at 12:05 pm
Wonderful as always. Xxx
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May 13, 2015 at 1:32 pm
Ha! So true. Great dialogue Tess 🙂
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May 13, 2015 at 4:25 pm
Great Tess!I remember the days of being called a tyrant, empress of the house, and the who died and made you King!
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May 13, 2015 at 9:30 pm
Well done, Tess! Good citizens make strong countries – loved that line! ❤
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May 14, 2015 at 6:08 am
I miss doing these over at limebirds, remember those? I liked your story, well I’ve lived that, so this was very real and SO like a kid! lol lol
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May 14, 2015 at 6:57 am
I wondered why your name sounded familiar. Hi. Nice to see you again. If you miss these, come join us.
Thank you for reading and commenting. Happy Thursday.
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May 14, 2015 at 6:47 am
Poor Sam, he will never last. Good one Tess.
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May 14, 2015 at 10:36 am
Great job Tess! 🙂 You hit the nail with this one. It sounds like experience talking.
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May 14, 2015 at 4:41 pm
Although the idea of one week of no artificial stimulation is a good one, do you really think kids today would abide by this ‘rule’?
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May 18, 2015 at 7:15 am
They do in my daughter’s household. The kids have had their toys taken away more than once and they now accept this ‘punishment’ without whining because the parents are firm. I don’t know about other homes. It’s harder to stay firm than to give in when a kid constantly whines and complains as they sit out their time. 🙂
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May 16, 2015 at 9:49 pm
I like this because it rings so true!
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May 18, 2015 at 7:06 am
Thanks so much, Laura. I guess kids’ attitudes haven’t changed much. ❤
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May 19, 2015 at 8:52 pm
To the point, and great lesson! 🙂
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May 19, 2015 at 9:17 pm
Kids build parents’ characters. 😀 😀
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May 19, 2015 at 9:29 pm
Another good point! 🙂
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May 19, 2015 at 10:40 pm
It’s easier to cave but you must hang on to your resolve or they’ll eat you alive and you’re not doing them any favors.
I called it boot camp without the boots. 😀
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May 20, 2015 at 10:56 pm
Liked your story. Very true indeed. Brings back memories of my daughter when she was 12-13 and thought she was too old to have to follow the rules anymore. LOL, now she has a 3 and 6 yo and has her hands full. 🙂
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May 21, 2015 at 1:55 pm
Thank you for your kind words, Susan. After my daughter had her kids, they gave her grief as well. She looked me straight in the eye and sighed. “I guess this is payback,” she said. 😀 😀
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