1 February 2026, Freewriters Community Daily Writing Prompt Day 3001: audience of one

“I'm gonna ask her.”

“Are you sure you're ready?”

“Yeah – I'm gonna ask her.”

Nine-year-old Milton Trent was getting ready to ask his father's mother, Gladys Jubilee Trent, a question. Nine-year-old George Ludlow his best friend was very impressed with Mrs. Jubilee Trent's innate sense of calm mightiness, and so was concerned about the question.

“I mean, Gracie and Edwina have settled all the way down, and we haven't been grounded yet this week! Grandma Jubilee is affecting both our houses, and I thought only Papa could do stuff like that – Grandma Jubilee has POWER!”

George's grandfather, Capt. R.E. Ludlow, and Mrs. Jubilee Trent instinctively related to each other as the warrior-royal archetypes that they were – the captain's grandmother Hilda Lee and Mrs. Jubilee Trent's great-aunt Mahogany Mae Jubilee who raised her after the death of her parents had been best friends, and as grandparents themselves, they recognized the powerful legacy in each other. They had known each other in childhood, but the captain was nine years younger … it was a little strange to realize the elder Jubilee-of-the-mountain had actually looked out for him as a little boy, but …

“You done grown into who you were always meant to be, real well – Grandee Lee would be real proud of you, Captain.”

“I'm sure Madame Mahogany Mae would also be mighty proud of you, ma'am.”

This unlocked another thing for Capt. Ludlow to consider as he watched George: both of them definitely had more reverential respect for women, including Black women, than average, and the captain tended to discount men of all races much more readily. He had never known what it was to fear any man but his own father and his full-grown eldest brother, Edwin Jr., whose word was equally law if Edwin Sr. and Mrs. Helen were away. However, if Hilda Lee or Mahogany Mae Jubilee could come back and said, “Jump, boy,” Capt. Ludlow was sure all he would think to ask, at a full 58 years of age, was, “How high, ma'am?” It was fascinating to see how George and Milton related to their own slightly younger siblings who were most like their mighty foremothers. George had a very healthy respect and actual fear of Edwina, and Milton definitely had just about the same for Gracie – and both boys accorded Mrs. Jubilee Trent that same level.

“I'm gonna ask Grandma Jubilee because somebody has got to.”

“And I'm your best friend, so, I'm going to back you up, but, I hope you know what you are doing, Milton.”

“I'm not sure but we'll find out.”

Grandma Jubilee duly appeared on the porch, glowing in an ochre red sundress, her immense silver natural picking up all the sunlight. She smiled as Milton sat down by her and George sat down by him.

“What's happening, boys?” she said.

“So, um … this is kind of a dumb question, but, um...” Milton said.

“Dumb questions help us get smart if we go on and get the answers,” Grandma Jubilee said.

“OK, so, you look like a model all the time, but, you don't seem to be getting any men, so, uh, why?”

“Yep,” Grandma Jubilee said. “That's a good question to ask to get smarter, Milton. Did you want to know too, George?”

“Yes, actually, because Grandma does all that, and Milton's other grandma does all that, but they are both still married, and sorry for the loss of your husband and all,” George said.

“That's mighty kind of you, George,” Grandma Jubilee said. “Thank you.”

“Sure,” he said.

“So, let me spare y'all a whole lot of trouble and help you understand smart women, I dress for an audience of one on earth, and One in heaven, and the One in heaven is not V.T. Trent – not Papa V.T., Milton, because he has better things to do than to be worried about what we are doing down here. I dress for myself here and God there – that's it. I already know I am a beautiful woman, and I look like a model. Ain't got nothing to do with anybody but me and God.”

“So, uh, women don't actually just dress for men,” Milton said.

“Some do, but they don't know any better yet,” Mrs. Jubilee Trent said. “You dress for who you think you belong to. I belong to God and to myself.”

“Oh,” George and Milton said.

“Let's do this – Gracie and Edwina, where y'all at?”

“We're coming, Grandma Jubilee!” said both girls as they started out running from the back porch–

“Stop running through the house!” Mrs. Melissa Trent ordered.

“Yes, ma'am,” they said, and slowed down as they appeared on the front porch.

“Who do y'all dress for when you get up in the morning?” Mrs. Jubilee Trent said.

Edwina and Gracie looked at each other.

“I pretty much put on what I feel like putting on,” Gracie said.

“I dress like the fashionista that I am,” Edwina said.

“Do y'all think about your brothers and what they want when you get dressed?”

“First of all, I have no idea what Milton is wanting in the morning except food,” Gracie said as Edwina fell out laughing.

“Hey, Vanna!” Mrs. Jubilee Trent said, and Milton's big sister, days-from-18-year-old Vanna appeared. “You're old enough to have been in love and want a boy's attention – ever get up in the morning and dress for him?”

“Oh, heck no – you and Mama taught me better than that. I'm going to be loved for who I am – not jumping through any fashion hoops to get a man!” Vanna said. “At my age they aren't even making enough to pay for the changes they want to make in your life to please them – oh, heck no!”

“But see, young people, when you get married, it is different,” Mrs. Jubilee Trent said. “You have chosen someone to please and be pleased by for the rest of your life, so that comes into play. Vanna is right that the right person will love you for exactly who you are, but there will be things inside that selection that your mate really likes, and so you do think about that when you get up and get ready to spend the day with them. But if you are not married, there is an audience of just one on earth, and one in heaven, and that's it.”

“I don't know how I feel about you laughing at the whole idea of thinking of me when you get dressed in the morning, Edwina,” George said.

Edwina sat up and cut her eyes at George.

“Well, I guess you better go somewhere and figure it out!”

“I'm just expressing my opinion!” George said as he jumped back. “Can a man express his opinion around here?”

Edwina looked all around.

“A man can,” she said, “but that in our house is Papa!”

“Edwina,” Capt. Ludlow called from the street where he had been observing.

“Yes, sir.”

“At ease. George is allowed to respectfully express his opinion at any time, without fear of repercussions.”

“Yes, sir.”

George breathed a sigh of relief.

“Top of the morning to you, Mrs. Jubilee Trent,” the captain said. “I've come to gather mine home for breakfast.”

“Yes, it is indeed about that time – top of the morning to you also, Captain,” Mrs. Jubilee Trent said. “Y'all Trents go on in and wash up, and don't run – you heard what your mother said.”

“See y'all later,” Gracie, Milton, and Vanna said as they turned to go into their home.

“Yep – see y'all,” George and Edwina said as they came off the porch to follow as their grandfather turned toward home.