The stones rang with laughter, the sound of bells and shouts from women so lonely they felt they would never be whole again. Battles had raged for five years, not a man remained in the village. On nights flush with drunken soldiers from foreign countries chickens and pigs were slaughtered, family quilts used for tents. Now, now, their men were only ten miles out, physically and mentally broken and bent. But these women were prepared, for they adored their men and no-longer-boys. Mattresses had been stuffed with chicken feathers, broth stewed from pig bones, love stitched into every new quilt.
Dear Lish,
Hopefully this is the beginning of peace for them. Wonderful descriptions that made me feel I was in the midst of these women. Lovely.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle. I tried for peace and kindness this go-round. I’m glad it worked. Lish
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I have to agree with Rochelle – gorgeous descriptions, Alicia. A whole world on the screen, so alive with the women and their new found hope. Lovely
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Thank you very much. I appreciate your kind words.
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My pleasure, always 🙂
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The emotional depth in that story is brilliant in 100 words
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Thank you! I was really trying for hope and strength. Sounds like it worked.
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Incredibly graphic. Brilliant.
Please click to read my FriFic
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Thanks, Keith.
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Great story… a lot told in so few words! 🙂
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Thank you!
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This was absolutely wonderful. I can just picture a bunch of – ahem – Scottish women (wonder why?) preparing for the return of their lads…
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Scotch on the rocks perhaps? Thanks, Dale.
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Mayhaps…😁
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Glorious emotion and story in so few words. Allows the mind to imagine the wars and the foreigners in their village and all that they will have experienced. Wonderful.
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I feel the tension, and I feel it breaking. Lovely!
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Thanks, Sarah. I wanted a happy ending for this story. Often my flash fiction stories are full of doom and gloom. I appreciate your stopping by and leaving a comment. Lish
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How beautiful.
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Thanks! 🙂
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Give me the address and I’ll pass it along to Perry. He’s longing for a place where women outnumber men 999 to 1. Who knows, he might even get a date.
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I wish I’d thought of that myself!! Thanks for making me laugh. Lish
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hopefully, they’re not so fatigued and able to rise to the occasion. 🙂
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I don’t think the ladies will care! Thanks for stopping by.
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Exquisite descriptions that really evoke the moment. Love stitched into every quilt is such a perfect way to end it. Really, very impressive.
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Thanks for your kind words, Alicia
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After the horrors a welcoming homecoming for them. Nicely written!
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Thanks, Ali. I did my best to end on a high note this week.
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“When Johnny comes marching home again, hurrah, hurrah.” Works in any culture.
Very cool story, Alicia. You got a great experience there, I could see and feel the people in the town.
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I’d totally forgotten that song! I hope it doesn’t become today’s ear worm. Thanks for reading.
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Hahahahaha! It will, trust me! 😀
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Unfortunate for the old city.
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Yes, but they have hope. That counts for a lot.
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True.
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The sad aftermath of war. The sweet hope that it will never come again. Beautifully written, Alicia. :o)
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Thanks. I ‘ve always thought that men who declare war should be put on an island and duke it out. Leave the innocents alone.
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I’m with you on that one. :o)
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This is a beautifully written and very evocative piece. Loved it.
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Thank you very much.
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A beautiful feeling in these everyday acts, done with love and hope. You’ve brought it across well.
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Thanks, Christine.
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Thank goodness for chicken feather stuffed mattresses! Only the best for these guys. Well done! Nan
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I know! When I wrote that line I thought, “Man, that would be scratchy and pokey.” But a girls gotta dowhat a girls gotta do. Thanks 😉
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Beautiful war story! 🙂
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Thank you!
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Wonderfully done, seriously. I can feel their joy at the thought of their men coming home, the end of the war, the end of the misery.
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Thank you very much. I’m glad you stopped by.
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This was just fantastic. I’m still searching for further words that would do justice to what I felt after reading the story, but I think I will not be successful. Thanks a lot for a great read. Cheers, Varad
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Well the words you did use made me feel very good so thank you!
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Beautifully written story.
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Thank you, Neel. I appreciate you reading my story.
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Sounds like the end of misery and the beginning of something they’ve been waiting patiently for and fully deserve. Nicely written
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Hopefully, it is the end of misery. Thanks, Michael.
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Wow. Fantastic! Amazing women.
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I think most women are truly strong! Thanks, Laurie
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Absolutely agree
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Lovely descriptions, Alicia.
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Thanks. 🙂
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Great descriptors here Alicia. Very romantic, in a chicken feathers pigs bones kind of way 😉
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Thanks, Dawn! what a fun reply!
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Seems very Italian to me. 😀 Well done!
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I hadn’t looked at it that way. But I’m glad you did. Thanks.
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How wonderful peace came at last and many of the men and boys survived. Good writing as always, Alicia. —- Suzanne
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Thanks for your kind words. There’s nothing like peace. I wish more people could experience it.
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When I saw pillaging in the tags, I thought uh oh, but it was all about the end of the conflict and so elevating for the spirit. “No-longer-boys” – top marks.
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Thanks! I’m so glad you noticed no-longer-boys. It’s kinda’ my favorite in this piece. Alicia
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