It’s Wednesday/Friday and time for the merry band of Friday Fictioneers to follow our fearless leader, Rochelle, down a tangled path littered with 100 – or so – words. Thanks to all my fellow writers for contributing well thought out stories of fiction that keep me entertained for days.
“Look at her,” they said.
“Her dress is ugly,” they said.
“She is ugly!”
The girls began to giggle.
Anna studied her reflection in the lake. Her dress was sewn from gossamer silk with narrow blue stripes and golden buttons.
Her mother had whispered that Anna’s hair was “soft as eiderdown” while braiding the long blonde strands.
“And stupid,” they said.
Confused, Anna stepped into the water, ruining her silver pumps.
She swam away from shore while the girls laughed and threw stones.
When the principal announced “The Siemens award for math goes to Anna Friedland”
Anna floated face down in the lake.
Up From the Ashes 
Hurtful indeed. And such a tragic waste. Well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kids can be really mean to one another. Thanks for reading Words Hurt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Alicia,
If only Anna had listened to other voices beside theirs. Very sad tale of how bullying can kill. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think that’s often hard to do when your a teenager. Good old peer pressure.
LikeLike
So sad 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
A bit gloomy. Sorry.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No worries!
LikeLike
Tragic. For me the grey water also provoked a story about death.
LikeLike
It’s a pretty bleak photograph, that’s for sure. Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
Oh noooo!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t like reading such stories in the news, it’s just ….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Poor kid! School can be such a tough place for kids.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kids can be downright cruel – in school and out of it. Thanks for reading and commenting.
LikeLike
That phrase with the sticks and stones is a lie. Heartbreakingly good story, Alicia. Thoughtlessness (not always evil intent) can cause so much harm.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much. I remember being teased by girls in grade school – for my glasses, my sort of shabby dresses – mean little things they were. Thanks for such a lovely comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, I’ve had my fair share of that, too. Never being able to afford ‘real’ Jeans, wearing glasses, not being thin enough, no tennis, no horse-riding…and at my time brand-o-mania wasn’t even half as bad as it is now. But I had friends who were like me, and that made all the difference.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So tragic, I wish this were only fiction. Nicely written.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too! I always appreciate your stopping to read my work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You make tragedy beautiful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. What a lovely thing to say. Cheers! Alicia
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sometimes when you struggle to fit in, words can hurt more than sticks and stones. Very well written.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. The bit about “but words can never hurt me” is so not true.Too bad kids can do it by texting now! We were lucky – we could walk away.
LikeLike
I read this post yesterday, but was too stunned to comment. Words can be terribly hurtful. I guess I keep thinking back to the ugly duckling story. We can’t isolate our children/grandchildren from bullying, but we can provide some tools to deal with it.
I was amazed at the parallels between your characters and my shopping carts. I only wish Anna had found the love and acceptance that Wanda was fortunate enough to receive.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s crazy how story ideas can parallel. I’m in a writing practice group that meets every Friday. Writing prompt – write 10, 15, 5 minutes – read. Sometimes our stories are so similar it’s scary. Thanks for taking the time to think, revisit and comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
how sad. she deserved better.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think many young people deserve better. Words can really hurt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Unforgiving tale, Alicia.
PS I think you might mean ‘principal’?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of course I do! Thanks.
LikeLike
So sad that we listen to the voices who try to destroy us rather than the ones who know us best. Good story Alicia, very thought provoking.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Dawn. Sometimes human nature does us no good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A really poignant piece. It killed me at the part where her pumps got ruined. I could tell this wasn’t going to end happily. And wasn’t I right?
Gee WHIZ, I’m depressed now. 😦
Great story! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oops, sorry. Thanks for reading it anyway.
LikeLike
Just giving you a hard time. Like Russell might. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Giving each other a hard time keeps the game lively. I love it!
LikeLike
Such a waste. A sad but beautifully told story about the real harm words can inflict. Poor Anna. I like the little details about her dress, hair and shoes, and how her mother’s words contrast with those of the girls.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Margaret, I has hoped that worked.
LikeLike
So sad that people can be so very unkind. Nicely done.
LikeLike
Yes, and things don’t seem to be getting any better. Thanks so much for stopping by!
LikeLike
How tragic. It’s made even worse by the fact it actually happens. Bullying and peer pressure can grind a sensitive teenager right down. And now we have cyber bullying. Good writing, Alicia. —- Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t even imagine how harmful cyberbullying must be. Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
Oh no, no, no….don’t listen to those silly girls. 😦 You broke my heart, Alicia.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oops! Sorry. Thanks for reading and commenting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are most welcome!
LikeLike