A Fictional Character...

This morning was the 3rd Annual "Lightning Writing" meeting of the Ozarks Chapter of American Christian Writers.

The writers are given seven starter lines and can choose one or more to use as they write. It can be a poem, prose, song or story--whatever you want. We then have 45 minutes to write. It can be a completed work or a start to something more. Many of the writers shared their works and they were all very good.

These were the starter lines:

1) I want to celebrate...
2) Gabriel spread his wings and with a loud shout...
3) A single tear glistened...
4) If I could have someone to coach me through...
5) Time is not a rubber band...
6) A fictional character that influenced my life is...
7) Worship happens when...

This is what I wrote:

A couple of fictional characters that influenced my life were two little boys named Franky and Freddy. Franky and Freddy are twins that, for all time, will remain as young boys seeking out the adventure in the things that fascinate little boys.

For some reason, I've always imagined them with red wavy hair, well freckled faces, bib overalls and a look of innocence that makes you wonder what they've been up to. Franky and Freddy were creations of my own imagination. They were born in one of those "Daddy, tell me a story" moments as I was putting my own little kids to bed. Franky was born first--the eldest twin. Freddy didn't come along until one night when the story required a playmate for Franky. After that, the stories were always about Franky and Freddy.

These two adventurous boys could go places that my son only dreamed of. I could pick up one of my son's baseball cards. We could see the featured player, the ball diamond, the dugout and the crowd in the background. But Franky and Freddy could step INTO the card. Once inside, the moment that had been frozen by the camera would come to life! They would be at the ballgame!

They could talk to the players and watch the game from the dugout. They could celebrate a victory with the team, go out to dinner after the game and be the special guests of one of my son's baseball favorites. After their great adventure they would return to their imagined reality on our side of the card until it was time for another Adventure of Franky and Freddy.

I wonder if my son's love of baseball--going to the ballpark, watching batting practice, getting autographs, experiencing baseball--was born in the stories of Franky and Freddy. Aaron and I have spent a lot of time together going to baseball games--from a one day trip to St. Louis and back to our week long seven Major League Games in seven different ballparks in seven days trip after his high school graduation.

We don't get to go to as many games together now that Aaron is away at college. But I look forward the ones that we get to see together and remember fondly the games we enjoyed through the eyes of Franky and Freddy.

John <><

BTW, Franky and Freddy also went into the television to become a part of the kid's favorite cartoons or videos. We told a lot of bedtime stories using Franky and Freddy. I enjoyed the time, the story telling and the nightly challenge to be imaginative.