2026 Writing Challenge: Write On Prompt - Eli Meets Uncle Ned

 Note: This is the second part of the prompt from Tuesday's Write On meeting. We had to write the same scene from a different Point of View and perspective. 

Prompt

Ned is returning to his childhood home for a reunion with his family, and he is very nervous. Write a few paragraphs or scene in Third-Person Limited  from the perspective of one of the members of the family.

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Evan disappeared around the corner of the house; his stick held in the air and the old Bears helmet wobbling on his head as he ran. Eli watched, giving him a fair head start. He could only chase his younger brother around the same tree and same house so many times before it became boring.

Besides, Eli couldn’t focus on it. Something was up. He could tell because Mom had chased them out of the house. The way Grandpa hid in the basement, cutting boards on his table saw for projects he’d never finish. Even Dad, who normally would have donned a helmet and stick and played football pirates for an hour, was planted at the head of the dining room table, flipping through some fishing magazine.

Eli wasn’t sure what it was all about, but he was pretty darn sure it had to do with Uncle Ned, whoever that was.

Eli took off after Evan before letting the thought develop, and his mind was transported to a ship shaped like a football where his brother wasn’t his brother but the dastardly football pirate Quarterback Jack with his giant curved blade glinting in the sunlight.

“Prepare to sleep with the sharks,” Evan/Quarterback Jack scowled from behind the ship’s huge wheel.

“You’ll be fish food by sundown,” Eli replied. A shark fin passed in the background. It took a second  for Eli to realize that it was actually the rear end of Toyota.

“Who’s that?” Quarterback Jack was gone. Now there was only Evan.

“Uncle Ned.”

“Who?”

“Mom’s brother.”

“Mom has a brother?”

They raced around the house. The Toyota was parked beside the building that Grandpa always called “The Leaning Tower of Rusted Junk and Tools.”

A man – a pale-looking guy with a mustache and the same thin, blondish hair as mom - was behind the wheel, staring at the house. Mom came out with Edna in her arms, and the man only stared at her. Was he dead?

Eli tapped the window, and the man jumped, hitting the car’s horn. Eli couldn’t help but smile.

“Well, come on out, Uncle Ned.”

Evan, reverting back to Quarterback Jack, drew his sword.

“If you dare!” 

 

2026 Writing Challenge: Write On Prompt - Ned Comes Home

 Note: During our Write On meeting last night, we continued to study Point of View during our Writing Workout session. We had two prompts and spent about 15 minutes on each. This is the first prompt and what I came up with. I will post the second in the coming days. 

Part 1: 15 minutes.

Ned is returning to his childhood home for a reunion with his family, and he is very nervous. Write a few paragraphs or scene in first-person POV from Ned’s perspective as he greets his family.

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The left turn came at the top of a long incline on the two-lane highway in rural Illinois. I stopped at the top, waiting for an approaching minivan to pass, and considered hitting the gas and continuing north, maybe follow the road the entire sixty miles or so to Wisconsin. It wouldn’t be the first time I said I was coming back, only to beg off because of illness, or bad weather, or the rotation of Saturn in the solar system. I eased off the brake, so tempted to hit the accelerator, but then the van passed, and I turned onto the gravel road, probably more out of latent habit than desire.

The house was three-quarters of a mile down; a two-story, clapboard structure with a wrap-around porch and a yard spotted with dandelions. Two boys frolicked in the yard, each carrying sticks and wearing football helmets missing the face guards. I suppose those are Josie’s boys. Eli was the oldest; he was probably ten by now, and the other, Edgar or Evan or something, was probably eight. Talk about being a shitty brother, I don’t even know the names of my sister’s kids.

They waved as I entered the driveway, parked beside an outbuilding that leaned noticeably to the southeast. Twenty years, and the place still looks the same. I still feel the same, too. That knot in my gut. That cold trickle of sweat sliding down my spine. I can’t face these people, not on this turf.

I left the engine running and stared at the rickety wooden stairs leading to the front entrance. It was four stairs, but it looked like Mount Everest. Josie appeared at the door. She was short, just like Mama, with her dish-rag blonde hair cropped tight to her ears, and she had a baby in her arms.

I can’t believe I’m here.

Tap. Tap. A finger at my window. I jumped, my hand hit the steering wheel, and a short, peppy beep came out.

Eli’s grin nearly extended to the ears of the football helmet.

“Well, come on out, Uncle Ned.”

Evan or Edgar stood beside him, the stick held before him like a sword.

“If you dare,” the other brother warned.