This week there are two prompts I have chosen:
Gathering her brows like gathering storm, Nursing her wrath to keep it warm
Robert Burns
Mum is standing at he door, tapping her foot, its clear how agitated she is. It’s been over an hour since she called and Tommy hasn’t yet come in. There is one thing that irritates mum more than anything else and it’s keeping her waiting.
She has this way of tapping her foot, its her way of betraying her anger, added to that there is the face she pulls.
It’s a cross between a pout and a scowl. Jokingly we call it a powl.
But no one jokes now. Things are getting serious, as she has sent dad out to find him. Mum will only call once and then if we don’t come there’s a lot of answering to do. Tonight I look at her and as time stretches her face is telling me of her concerns. As much as we hate to see her worked up like now, I feel sorry for her, as she doesn’t deserve to be placed in a position like this. I don’t feel sorry for Tommy, as I know where he is, down at the pinball parlor with his mates, totally oblivious to the time.
I know mum is worried about him, I see it in her stance which is becoming more rounded the longer she stands there waiting.
Then she’s upright again, I sure with as much relief as her rising anger as dad and Tommy round the corner.
standing at the door
tapping foot, anger rising
relief he’s home now.
Written for: http://haibunthinking.wordpress.com/2014/01/28/haibun-thinking-week-2-january-28th-2014/
Morpethroad 
Nice haibun , Michael! We can only guess the context but I like what I can imagine.
Thanks Gabriella this young Tommy is a bit of a lad.
I see, I dont think I can enter – I am catching up with so much here – my log book for instance 😦 i’ll read yours tonight 🙂
Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 06:41:25 +0000 To: jenny-t@live.com.au
This is me when I was in my teens I would finish my paper round and head straight down to the arcades. My mother would be soooo angry when I got home.
I like this I think you had the worry perfect, and the way she hides it behind her anger is excellent.
Thanks Al, it did all fall together turned out an ok prompt in the end.
Burns burns sometimes 😉
Thanks l for a second I thought you’d written Burns bums sometimes
HAHA He may have done, you never know 😉
That has to be the experience of so many mothers. I know it was mine once (yes, only once).
Thanks Lyn I am pleased you could relate to this post.
Poor mums…the way they worry for their children, yes even when they’re 40 years old…nice haibun Michael, loved it and will be working on mine to post either later or tomorrow.
Thank you Georgia, I look forward to reading yours.
🙂 hope it’s up to standard…I saw some great work last week.
You’ll be fine Georgia, do your best you can no more. And yes there were some good haibuns.
Thanks 🙂
How many of us have done this, been late home, or been the angry concerned parent. Like the title too, well done. 🙂
Thank you Jenny, glad you could relate. Good title huh.
And the Haibun in entirety of course:-)
Lol thank you
Nail on the head, old chap.
Very neatly encapsulates the ‘joys’ of parenting.
Thank you thankfully my days of parenting are over.
You captured this moment brilliantly! And powl is such a cute term it made me laugh out loud! Looking forward to reading more of your stuff.
Thank you Jessie, you my first fellow hunter valley blogger follower, welcome and thanks for following my blog. I live in Maitland.
Nice to connect with another Hunter writer! I saw your name on Karen Whitelaw’s blog. I did her creative writing course last year and loved it… would highly recommend it!
I am doing next week, I hope I might learn something and meet some new writers.
Oh wonderful news! You’ll love it! I might see you at a WEA event sometime. Enjoy!
Thank you and please come visit again.
I know what it is like to be the worrying mom. You said your parenting days are over? My mom still stresses over me.
Well yes we do stress but not over stuff we did when the kids were younger. Different types of stresses. Thanks for the comment.
The universal mother. Your inscription is priceeless.
oops extra e. 🙂
Thank you Kim.
description- SMH
I remember being that mother. Wonderful Michael.
Thank you Linda, lovely to see you reading the haibun. Are you going to join us and write your own?
I’ve never tried anything like that before. It might be fun at that! 😀
Please do you could add your particular take which would be great to see. Think about joining us, it is a lot of fun.
Ah thanks. I’ll check it out! 😀
Please do.
I think we all have that T-Shirt, lol. Although that’s not what I tell my children 😉
I take it you are referring to the ‘powl’ and yes I imagine all mums have their own version of one.
Fantastic Haibun! Loved the imagery….. I can totally see her tapping her foot in fury! 🙂
Thanks Courtney, yes a mum tapping her foot can be a scary sight.
What a strong voice this piece of writing has. The writing style is so assured. I can visualise the scene your write of clearly.
Thank you Suzanne, I appreciate your comment, thanks so much for reading.
Pinball, Tommy…wasn’t Tommy the pinball wizard of ‘The Who’ rock opera fame?
That was my first thought. There is a powerful relief when children who are expected at one time don’t show up and then at least finally call. I can well imagine Mum’s face.
Thanks for your visit and kind words. ~Jules
Thanks Jules for you comment and you are most welcome to comment on your work which is very good. Thanks for participating.