Friday Fictioneers is a weekly blog link-up based on a photo prompt. The Challenge – write a one hundred word story that has a beginning, middle, and end. (No one will be ostracized for going a few words over the count.) The Key – make every word count. Up to the challenge? Join in!
Go Find Her; I’ll Tend to the Others
Wonder if they noticed I runned away. Doubt it. Sun’s done been up for hours. Prolly glad I’m gone. One less mouth to feed. Stupid meanies. I’m hungry. Wonder if them people in that house o’r there got any food. Wonder if they want a kid? Prolly nicer folks. Just look at that big’ol purdy house.
“Julia-Anna!” I jumped up quicker than water in hot grease.
“Goddammit!” Dad said. “Why the hell you sitting out here? Your mom’s damn sick over you.” I lowered my eyes to the weeds.
“Git your ass back home ‘for I beat it … now!”
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100 words. Fiction. Feedback is always appreciated. Comments of any kind, really–so long as they are related to the post.
This one started from a tiny little voice, “don’t make me go back home,” she said. And the image of a little girl sitting alone revealed itself. She looked so sad, sitting there, kicking dirt, looking like the weight of the world was on her shoulders. I got into her head, and this is the story she told me.
What story comes to mind when you see that picture? Join in!
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*Child abuse happens every day all across the world. The rich are no more immune than the poor, the religious no less likely than the non-religious. Never be afraid to report any suspicions. If you’re wrong, no harm will come. If you’re right, a life could be saved. Every state has a child abuse hotline open 24-hours a day. Investigations must happen within 24 hours. The identity of the reporting individual is never revealed to those being investigated.
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***Featured and Post Image Copyright – Björn Rudberg
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This Is My Corn 
Dear Melanie,
Very touching. I love the child’s voice.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you Rochelle. I appreciate that.
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“When I said, ‘I want to get away from it all,’ this is not exactly what I had in mind.”
Charles shrugged his shoulders. He’d never really understood his wife and their marriage had been one misunderstanding after another, but somehow they’d always found a way to make it work. “So, you were thinking a vacation then?”
“Yes! A vacation! Not moving our house into this…, this ravine!”
“Well, you’ve got to admit this is away from it all, right?”
Susan glared at her husband. “And if you think I’m going to walk up and down those stairs every day…”
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I knew you’d be good at this. 🙂
(Also… Poor guy. Sounds like he’s trying! But it also sounds like they’ve been married long enough that Susan really ought to know to be more clear.)
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Maybe next week I’ll even post a proper response over at the kingdom… (okay, I’m on vacation next week, so, maybe the week after) 😉
Yeah, it’s all part of the game they play. Some couples cement their love in their misunderstandings and disagreements. Bickering is flirting. Screaming is foreplay.
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Enjoy your vacation!! I hope it’s awesome fun!
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Awesome fun would be nice, yes. Right now I’m just hoping for restful and peaceful. Though, since the Little Prince will be there too… probably not much hope of that. 😛
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Lol! Restful and peaceful. You’ll get that in a few years, for a few years, then teenage happens and your back to square one.
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As long as I have time to recover before the teenage years I think I’ll be okay. Hopefully…
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The voice of a child in pain is such a sad one.. and hoping for a better home running away.. then you are desperate.. too bad she was tracked down to further abuse..
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The voice of pain is one of the saddest sounds in the world.
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Very touching – agree with every word you said about child abuse.
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Thank you.
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Your words are beautiful, I could feel the sadness.
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Thank you Elizabeth.
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Heart – wrenching WIB. So sad and yet I don’t doubt so common. The pain of small children in their vulnerability, is one that strikes particulartly hard. Well written.
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When children are hurt, the pain is palpable. Thank you Paul.
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No one should EVER hurt a child. That said, loved the voice in this. I wish her well.
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Yes, no one, ever!
Thank you. She’s strong. Her day will come.
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Maybe she would be happier in the other house. But this is a hard call. Poor kid. Touching story, Melanie.
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Thank you Amy.
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Poor little scrap. Feeling left out in the crowd, but maybe she’s loved after all – her Pa went looking for her.
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I’d like to think there’s some love in her house somewhere.
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Melanie, The child is hurting, but the father may be also. Every member of the family probably had a hard time in life. Some people show love the only way they know. The father could have been showing how much he cared. He doesn’t hit her on the spot, he just threatens. Good story of a family in need. Good voice. Well written. 🙂 —Susan
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I could really feel her pain, which burned more at the end when she was found! Well written. Great voice and character.
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Thank you Maree.
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