18 December 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2955: original copy

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Five-year-old Robert Edward Ludlow III knew an opportunity when he saw one, even if the opportunity was to make his family and friends laugh for years. He walked up boldly into the Trent house in Tinyville and into the room 21-year-old Melvin was using as his mockup studio.

“Well, Bruh Melvin, just because Milton is grounded doesn't mean you stop. I can dance for your videos! Bring that beat back!”

Melvin's grandfather, Thomas Stepforth Sr., just turned around and walked away.

“Let me sit down because I already know … .”

Sure enough, an hour later, Mrs. Velma Stepforth went across to the Ludlow house, with a big smile on her face, to talk with Capt. Robert Edward Ludlow Sr., Robert III's grandfather.

“Capt. Ludlow, could you please come get your baby boy before he kills my husband from laughter?” she said.

“Again?” Capt. Ludlow said, and smiled as he walked out to meet Mrs. Stepforth and fall into step with her to retrieve his baby grandson.

“Were you talking about original copies or something today?” she said.

“Yes,” he said. “I was explaining to my eldest grandchild, Eleanor, about how Mozart upon hearing a piece of music that the Catholic Church had kept learned only by ear for centuries had written it down, thus making an original copy of sorts. Lil' Robert was hanging onto Eleanor whom he adores, as he tends to do when not otherwise occupied, and so he was listening too. I knew he had really been thinking about it because about a minute later he said, 'I get it, because, see – yeah, I get it.'”

“He did – hear it for yourself, with my eldest grandson Melvin just being his hype man,” Mrs. Stepforth said, and they went up into the Trent house.

“Well, OK, Rob – OK!”

“Original copy – that's me!
I'm Robert Edward Ludlow Three!
Better recognize who you see!
I'm Robert Edward Ludlow Three!
Don't you dare bring no mess
To the Robert Edward Ludlowness!
Better recognize who you see!
I'm Robert Edward Ludlow Three!”

Thomas Stepforth Sr. went on and fell out onto the floor laughing, not least because of the look on Robert Edward Ludlow Sr.'s face … the love, the chagrin, the bewilderment …

“Did that boy just hit a break-dancing spin?” the captain said.

“OK, Rob – OK – got those moves going – OK!”

“The thing about Lil' Robert – we think we know what he is doing because he is almost always running his mouth, but he's been watching Milton and practicing at some point,” Mrs. Stepforth said.

“Lil' Robert does pick up a whole lot more than he gets credit for, and he is my original copy in that when he gets ready to show you, he shows you,” Capt. Ludlow said. “My word … is it your granddaughter Velma who likes to say, 'who woulda thunk it'?”

“Yep, along with being my original copy in telling her peer group, 'I've been telling y'all!'” Mrs. Stepforth said. “Right outside telling Milton where he is not supposed to be along with Vertran, 'I've been telling y'all – I've been reading, and Milton, you need to get your life together because you can get grounded and it can be over – the music business is cutthroat and 'next man up' – and the next man up may just be Rob!”

And just then from inside the mockup studio – “Bring that beat back, Bruh Melvin!”

That was too much for Capt. Ludlow, who broke out laughing.

“Yep,” Mrs. Stepforth said with a smile. “That baby boy is coming for everything and everyone, and if we're not ready, we better get ready, because, see … .”

“Better recognize who you see!
I'm Robert Edward Ludlow Three!”