Welcome to the daily Three Things Challenge.
Use your imagination and creativity using one, two or all three words that may or may not be related. There are no restrictions regarding length, style, or genre, though please keep it family friendly.
Tag your responses with 3TC, #threethingschallenge or TTC, and you can add Di’s logo if you wish.
Your three words today are:
RATHER
FATHER
FURTHER
Denise had made plans to go shopping with her friends. They’d been looking forward to getting together for weeks, but Denise had this nagging feeling she should be doing something else today.
Let’s see how I feel after I take a shower.
Denise took a long, hot shower and came out feeling the same. Then she glanced at the calendar, and it all made sense.
“Kellie? Hey, it’s Denise.”
“Okay. How are you?”
“Great, Listen. I’m not going to be able to go shopping with you guys today. Something’s come up that I need to take care of.”
“No, everything’s fine. I just … gotta do something.”
Denise hung up and got dressed and hurried out the door. Once inside her car, a feeling of calm anticipation came over her. She knew she was doing the right thing.
She passed a McDonald’s on the way and stopped for two Egg McMuffins and an order of hashbrowns.
She pulled into the parking lot and easily found a spot. It was still early and therefore, not too crowded.
She walked across the lawn still wet with dew and breathed in the sweet clean air. Just a little bit further and she’d be there.
There he was. There he would always be.
“Hi, Dad.” Denise sat down on her usual spot. “I miss you so much!” Her voice was thick with tears. She choked them down and continued.
“Look Dad, I brought your favorite! Remember how we used to get Egg McMuffins every Sunday, and share the hashbrowns? Those were such happy times.”
“Sorry I almost didn’t come today. Time must have gotten away from me and suddenly it was your *Yahrzeit. But here I am.”
She laid a stone next to all the other ones on the top of his grave marker. That’s what Jews do instead of bringing flowers. The reason being is that flowers die but stones last forever.
“Dad? I want you to know that no matter what, I’d always rather spend time with you, here, than with anyone else. That goes for now and for always.”
She pulled a tissue out of her pocket and wiped her eyes and blew her nose.
“Y’know why?” She gave him time to answer even though she knew he wouldn’t. “‘Cause you’re my dad.”
*Yahrzeit: In Judaism, the anniversary of one’s death.
Ergo, the Ogre 
Tell it like it is