Changing Tunes

Flash Fiction

Changing Tunes

“Dad! I’m leaving!” called Randy.

“Don’t do anything stupid,” Dad yelled, turning back to his sandwich.

“Why do you say that?” the voice made Dad jump!

“Randy! Aren’t you gonna be late for practice?”

“Maybe, Coach Grant doesn’t mind. Why do you always say that? Do I still do things I don’t know are stupid?

“What are you talking about?” Dad asked, confused.

“Every time I go out you tell me not to do anything stupid…”

Dad looked confused, then surprised, then he laughed!

“It’s not funny!” Randy said, “I try really hard not to be stupid, but you still say it!”

“What are you talking about?”

“Every time I leave without you, you always say ‘Don’t do anything stupid.’ Why do you think I will?”

“I don’t!”

“But you always say that!”

Dad looked confused… “I do, don’t I…” he finally said. Then he added, “I don’t really think you’ll do something stupid. It’s just something I say, like ‘Goodbye’ or ‘See ya later’…

“What are you telling me…?”

“Gramps always said that when I was a youngster. It doesn’t mean anything, it’s just like saying ‘See you later,’ or ‘Have a good time.’”

“So, you don’t think I do stupid things?”

“Absolutely not! You never do stupid things! You are the smartest kid I know…” Dad said. “I’ve apparently been saying that for so long, I forgot what it means!”

“Oh, like ‘Are lee fa denchy?”

“What?”

“That thing Susan says, in French…”

“Oh. Yes, it’s kind of like that. But I think I’ll stop saying mine.”

“But now I know what it means…”

“And, I don’t want you to grow up, and say it to your kids someday…”

“Love ya, Dad!” Randy said, leaving happy.

“Love you!” Dad shouted, and a new ‘see ya later’ was born.