Today is Wednesday-Friday! Thanks, Rochelle, for posting this picture of a boxing gym. We at Friday Fictioneers only know that because there are about a half-dozen signs telling us so. Thanks, J. Hardy Carroll for providing the picture. Now, for my 100-word story. Thanks to all who read and comment on my submissions.
Photo by J Hardy Carroll
The background music to Tessa’s life was filled with squealing tires, shouting men and boxing gloves thump, thump, thumping skin.
The characters who peopled her world were drunk, bruised and mean.
Helmets, ropes, mats, and bags provided the never-changing scene work.
Only when it snowed did she feel safe for the men couldn’t drive the unplowed streets nor navigate the sidewalks.
They couldn’t come upstairs and tease her mother nor play Tessa’s violin so violently the strings snapped.
And she felt secure in the knowledge that no one would grab her wheelchair and shove her across the room.
Up From the Ashes 
God, that’s grim. And I mean that in a good way
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Neil. I never start out to be grim, it just happens. Glad you thought it worked. I always appreciate your stopping by.
LikeLike
That’s a rough neighborhood.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The picture screamed rough to me. Maybe it’s the dirty piked-up snow. Thanks, James
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think most of us interpreted it as a tough neighborhood, but sometimes that means good but strong people live there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just got home from teaching so haven’t read any other’s. Shower then reading. Thanks, James. It could have been interpreted as a delightful little hangout place in a small town, too. My muse didn’t take me there. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s extra mean. Pushing a wheelchair like that requires a lot of major nasty.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And major drunkenness, too. Thanks, Larry.
LikeLike
My story was grim… all stories are grim, but somehow I felt that this was the grimmest I have read so far… so cruel…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Next week I’ll try to go on the light side. Thanks, Bjorn!
LikeLike
No need… I love dark stories.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perhaps we should have an award. How about a Vlad? (after Vlad the Impaler)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now that was one nasty man.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s cruel and there’s cruel. Poor Tessa. Such a well-written grim tale, Lish.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for thinking my grim tale is well-written. I love it when you stop by.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww. I feel the same way.
LikeLike
I could cope with the hideousness until they got hold of her violin. All comments then became unprintable. Powerful stuff.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much. Perhaps I put all the cruelness we are currently hearing in the news into this story. (Shoulder shrug.)
LikeLike
That is grim – I thought she was going to find some inspiration from her background, but alas no! Very well written.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Iain. Bleak picture, bleak story. (Except for some FF writers.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Lish,
This makes me want to kick a few guys in a strategic area. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 2 people
Should I warn them? 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nope! Let the b******s suffer!
LikeLiked by 2 people
LOLOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I’ve been reading into fiction today, but were the squealing brakes related to her being the wheelchair? It’s a sad situation for her nonetheless. Well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Sascha! The brakes had to do with men thinking they were super cool in fast cars. But I appreciate the thought of them on her wheelchair. It’s always interesting what others see in a story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I meant that the squeal of brakes might have put her in the wheelchair and might thus be in her nightmares. (Sorry I wasn’t clear.) But like I said, I have been reading into things.
Excellent story, regardless, Alicia! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh! That puts a whole new twist on it. Wish I’d been clever enough to think that way. Thanks!
LikeLike
This is indeed a bleak, dark and angry tale. Bit like the conditions in the photo. Well written.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. There’s something about piles of dirty snow that make things seem bleak.
LikeLike
Love the way you built this up, Lish, gradually showing us how sad and dsperate their lives are, under the power of thoughtless cruelty. And then you ramped things, showing us that she’s small, vulnerable, disabled, musically talented. Such injustice. Delicately done and just so very sad.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Lynn. I was a meany-pants this week. Maybe next week I’ll be kinder. Thanks for noticing the details.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! I often think that about my own stories, yet I so often stray back to the darker tales. My pleasure as always
LikeLike
That’s very powerful. I take it they live above the gym. The violence and cruelty just drip from the scenes you describe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, they live above the gym. I was trying to fit in the fact that the father ran the gym. Dang that 100-word limit. Thanks, Sandra.
LikeLike
I never understood the bully culture – the demeaning nature of control gibbons.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Me neither. Being kind SHOULD make the world go round. Thanks, James.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awwe, such a hard life the poor soul leads.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe someday she’ll get out! I sure hope so. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your story made me so angry at your character’s situation that I was just about to start ranting in my comment! You’ve written this so powerfully. It really rams home the message that macho behaviour and violence can so easily degenerate into bullying of the most evil kind. It’s a terrific story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry to make your blood pressure rise and thanks for such a lovely comment.
LikeLike
Wow. I sure hope those particular boxers aren’t representative of the entire sport. Bullies and brutes. Ugly. Powerfully written.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Me, too! I know zilch about the sport, in fact, I had to google what might be in a boxing gym. One has an image from movies and such, but . . . Thanks for reading and commenting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A terrible life, living in constant fear.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t imagine! Thanks so much for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful, as always, Alicia!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jelli!
LikeLike
A fine story that shouts about life in the raw. Well told.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll bet there’s plenty of places like this, we just don’t know about them. Or maybe we do. Thanks, Mike
LikeLike
when it rains, it pours. i feel sorry for her.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Isn’t that the truth?
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a place to grow up! Poor thing. Instead of having dozens of men who would fight for her they pick on her. Love the rhythm of this piece, the first line especially.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Karen. I tried to restructure the sentences so it wasn’t so much like “listing.” I’m glad the rhythm worked for you. Lish
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s what I call looking forward to a snow day. Where’s the superhero or knight in shining armor when you need one?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good idea! Maybe in the next story. Thanks, Russell. How’s the sale of the book coming along?
LikeLike
WOW … a few emotions were touched by some of your commenters. That shows it’s a superb story. You’ve gotten their rankles riled. I love the story even the harsh brashness of these men. You showed a seedy side. BRAVO !!!!
Isadora 😎
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that term ~ Rankles riled. Thanks, Issy! What a lovely comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😎
LikeLike
A powerful story made all the more so by the last line where we learn she is in a wheelchair.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Irene.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tessa’s life is not an easy one, and I don’t imagine there is ever enough snow. Well told, giving inklings at the unpleasantness of her existence.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sarah Ann.
LikeLike
She’s having a hard time all round. Long may her summers be winter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! Thank you.
LikeLike
That is a vivid and uncomfortable picture. You want to grab her by the wheelchair and save her.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, nicely said.
LikeLike
I realize that this is a sentiment shared here by many. Great take.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, YS. I always appreciate your leaving a comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How sad 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
People can be so mean. Thanks, Dawn.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Found your tale so well crafted, no word wasted. The bleaker side of life yes, and the narrator has a clear voice, telling it like it is for her. Well done
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a lovely thing to say. Thank you.
LikeLike
-The characters who peopled her world – These are the words that hooked me. I knew it was going to be a rich read. Poor Tessa.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad that hooked you! I was trying to set the stage just right. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What an awful life – I hope it snows a lot where she lives.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me, too!
LikeLike
Oh gosh… poor Tessa. So very well told. That image of the wheelchair
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Laurie. Trapped in a world she didn’t create.
LikeLiked by 1 person