6 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2974: norm

Photo by the author, Deeann D. Mathews

“So, I know a kid named Norm and he is nice but every kid can't be like him, see, because, he's Norm and I like him but I still had to be Robert Edward Ludlow III see, because, Norm is nice but I don't see why people want to find him or get back to him and I don't think he wants all that because Norm likes to run and play and eat like me, but he's quiet like Grayson and Grayson doesn't like noise so I do all the talking I do and also take care of his too and I use to take care of Norm's too because he was nice, but, see, he didn't want to be me and I didn't want to be him, so, I think people should stop trying to be Norm and be themselves, see, because, you really can't be anybody else than who you are.”

Five-year-old Robert Edward Ludlow III had completely misunderstood what it meant for people to be trying to get back to the norm in a future past the pandemic, but …

“The thing about Rob is, if you listen to him, he does understand what he can,” his biggest sister eleven-year-old Eleanor said to his next-biggest sister by adoption, their cousin ten-year-old Glendella Ludlow.

“I think Rob is a genius,” Glendella said.

“Oh, he definitely is,” Eleanor said. “That's a whole 58-year-old Robert Edward Ludlow Sr. living in a five-year-old's head.”

“So, how does this work, though?” Glendella said.

“Darned if I know; it just is – they really are twins,” Eleanor said. “If you really want to get tripped out, get up really early and watch Big Robert and Lil' Robert having coffee with milk and milk with coffee, finishing each other's sentences, or just watch them talking over any dumb situation and realize that Rob is always thinking what Papa is and will say it half the time to the person in question if not reminded to just listen.”

“Can I ask kind of a tough question?” Glendella said. “If he's Robert Edward Ludlow III, and he's twins with Robert Edward Ludlow Sr., where would that have left your biological dad, Robert Edward Ludlow Jr.?”

“I actually think about that a lot,” Eleanor said, “but, see, from the beginning, Papa and Grandma put in more time parenting us, so, one way or another, it had to be the way that it is. Rob does not even remember Mom and Dad. I do, but it doesn't help, because they just didn't want it like that.”

“Like my parents,” Glendella said.

“But, we are with our real parents now,” Eleanor said as the two girls embraced with tears in their eyes. “We both got here on time.”

“What happened to Norm, though?” Glendella said.

“Norm also is with his real parents, his aunt and uncle,” she said. “Norman Cannon is six years old, and is doing really good – we talk with his family often, and Norm still likes playing quietly while Rob takes the spotlight.”

“I think Rob kinda protects other people with doing that,” Glendella said. “I don't think he realizes it, but I think that, like Upgrade Papa, he knows instinctively how to use his ability to be loud to take pressure off other people.”

“Yep, that is a thing,” Eleanor said. “They are twins, after all, although he doesn't have it down perfectly. Rob still gets to have baby moments of temper … and when you experience that you're going to be really glad Papa is past that stage of his life.”

“But he's such a sweetheart!” Glendella said.

“His grandfather's nickname is 'Hell to Pay' Ludlow and there's a reason for that,” Eleanor said. “Watch this – hey, George!”

Nine-year-old George Ludlow, their cousin and brother by adoption, stopped running through the living room.

“What do we do when Edwina or Robert gets really mad?” she said.

“RUN!” George said, and took off.

“Oh,” Glendella said. “Well, if he can get to Edwina's level, never mind.”

“Edwina is unique – she remembers the bad stuff and can't think about it calmly like I can, and so she gets mad on a level I don't think anyone else can. Rob has none of those memories, but he gets ticked off by unfairness, bullying – George used to do that to him, and learned why that's a super bad idea – and sometimes just because he gets frustrated with being so small compared to his real tall soul.”

“Well, I can see that last part,” Glendella said. “Rob is way too big to be as small as he is … but he doesn't let it stop him!”

“Nope,” Eleanor said. “After all, he doesn't do the norm for five year olds – he lets Norm be Norm and he is just going to be Robert Edward Ludlow III, twin of his grandfather, and that's that.”