The CCR Committee (Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge)

For the last month, we've been taking care of an elderly family member who is winding down her life in home hospice care. 

She has a "team" of hired caregivers, but she also has family and friends who have stepped up to help keep her engaged with life and let her know she is loved.

Betty lives in a community with covenants and restrictions. The "CCRs" define what can be planted in front yards, how many cars can be parked on the street, when trash bins can be put out for collection, and when they must be put away again, and so on.

In Betty's case, her team and family are engaged in making sure she doesn't violate the CCRs for her neighborhood. Then I read the Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge for this week:

January 27, 2016 prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about how a community reaches out. Who, or what cause, is touched by a community “spoke”? Do you think communities can impact change and move a “wheel”? Why or why not? Explore the idea of a community hub in a flash fiction.

Can a community focused on controlling behavior change to be supportive of its less-able members? I think so.

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The CCR Committee

"First agenda item: Winnie Collin's place." Peter's tone was grim. “We have covenants and restrictions in this community. Winnie agreed to them, but lately her trash bins are left out, her garden’s full of weeds... And far too many cars are parked outside.”

Jennifer raised a timid hand; new members were not expected to speak. “You know Winnie is in terminal home care, right? Those cars belong to caregivers and nurses and visiting family.”

“Right!” Peter harrumphed. “So... Who here is going to weed her garden? And who can commit to take care of Winnie’s trash bins every week?”