I simply could not miss another week of Friday Fictioneers. It has been too long since I have crafted a story for this forum. So here I am putting together another 100 word flash piece to go along with the stories of about 100 other authors throughout the world. You can find their stories here
https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2015/03/25/27-march-2015/
Thanks Rochelle for this inspiring photo prompt
PHOTO PROMPT ©David Stewart
The Leader of the Band
by JE Lillie
I used to mutter all the way to the bandstand. I lamented the Saturday night’s lost, listening to a bunch of old fogies play music no one cared about.
Mom and dad along with most of my uncles and aunts made up the community band.Then there was my cousin Richie. Always the suck-up he had jumped at the opportunity to play trumpet alongside my dad.
Richie was a waste of time and space, I thought.
Then came my father’s last concert. He passed after a stirring rendition of “Stars and Stripes Forever”.
I have envied Richie’s “wasted moments” ever since.
Lillie-Put 
Sad …living with regrets is no fun
There comes a time when we miss those moments with the oldsters – poignant
Yes it is true. I often think of all the moments I wish my father had been present for.
Perhaps “forever” was optimistic.
Somehow life can bring us a lot of wasted moments.. Better use them well.
Totally agree. It is sad we often don’t recognize the waste until it’s wasted.
Dear Joseph,
A stirring piece that reminds us of what it important in life. (I don’t think the apostrophe in nights is needed, unless you’re up to something else and I missed the turn of phrase.)
Aloha,
Doug
Ah you are probably right. I miss things in my proofreading all the time.
Dear Joseph,
Hindsight’s always 20/20 isn’t it? A good story and an even better reminder to cherish whom we have while they’re still here. My mother used to say, “You’ll miss me when I’m gone.” Mother was right.
Shalom,
Rochelle
It’s so true. I felt like my father and I were just learning to connect and then he was gone.