Today’s thought-provoking photo was provided by Jean L Hays. Thanks, Rochelle, for posting it for the Friday Fictioneers to mull over and create a 100-word story.
Time was Angie felt like a pretty bird.
Time was Lester was kind. Gentle.
He’d give her small gifts. River rocks. A sand dollar.
One morning he brought home a clutch of robin eggs
bluer than his eyes.
She made him put them back.
Now Angie feels as if she’s
cooped up with a tiger.
Lester’s gone all crazy. Mean.
He steals things or rips them apart.
Hair combs. Stockings. Earrings.
Anything that makes her feel feminine and soft.
Angie knows it’s her fault
and doesn’t complain.
She let Lester’s daddy hit the boy
too many times.
Up From the Ashes 
Grim and tellingly written, Alicia
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Thanks, Neil. (P.S. what do you mean by “tellingly written?” Inquiring minds want to know.
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Interesting take on the prompt Alicia, I liked it, very chilling in portraying Lester’s downfall.
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Thanks, Iain. The first thing that popped into my mind this morning when I saw the prompt was the song “The Cuckoo” and this line “Well the cuckoo is a pretty bird, and she warbles as she flies.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0wKxFPCz1Y
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I remember that song. The first time I heard it was by a group called Kaleidoscope. I believe David Lindley was in that band. Loved it.
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The battered take fault unjustly
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Yes, they do. Thank goodness I’ve never been there or had to do that. Thanks very much for reading.
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Dear Lish,
I’m sure she’s not the one at fault. My guess is that she took as many hits as Lester and couldn’t have stopped his daddy. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks!
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You totally had me thinking Lester was her husband.
Loved that reveal! (As sad as it was)
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Oh, goody! It worked. Thanks for letting me know.
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A brilliant piece.
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Thanks very much.
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Wow. Nice country voice. How boys change when they become men. But the final line is the kicker, when mom takes the blame on herself.
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Thanks very much!
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I just read your story but couldn’t find a place to comment. I loved it! The descriptions, her thoughts then “Oh! No!” well done.
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Woah, that was intense. Well-written.
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Thanks so much.
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That wasn’t so much a twist at the end as a beautifully engineered swerve. Really well done.
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What a lovely thing to say, Sandra. Thank you.
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It started so well and then…
Click to read my FriFic tale
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Thanks for reading, Keith.
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I’m sure she took as much punishment as Lester. I just hope it’s not too late to save him from a violent life.
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Hopefully not. Thanks, Ali.
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Now that was an excellent read. The reveal at the end of who Lester was took me completely by surprise. Brilliantly done, Alicia.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thanks so much, Susan. Sometimes when you shoot out a FF story, you’re sorry you put it out there. I’m glad you liked my story.
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Yes, I at first thought it was the husband, too, and was all into ‘victim blaming’ and so on. Lester’s a different case. He learns from Daddy that you use violence when you don’t get what you want. The only thing Angie could have done was take the kid and leave. But that’s not easy. Powerful writing, Alicia. As always.
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What a wonderful comment. Thank you so much.
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So sad…. the way the you change under the language of fists… so sad.
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Thanks, Bjorn! I can’t imagine living like that. Thank goodness my parents were so very kind.
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That’s such a sad story. You’ve written it well and powerfully.
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Thanks!
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the name lester sounded sinister to me. my intuition proved to be right. 🙂
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Lester does sound sinister. Thanks for noticing.
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She’d better watch out. Lester is escalating.
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Oh, I think so.
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This is very well-written, Alicia. Describing destruction of anything that enhances her femininity sends the reader a powerful message. And the fact that she takes the blame for another person’s actions is totally tragic.
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Thanks so much, Jilly. I appreciate your kind words.
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Oooo this was already creepy and dark then that last line… her son? Oh gosh… creepy as
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Thanks, Laurie.
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Take him away now! Teach him there’s a better way of life. Thisis heartbreaking.
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So many women and children are trapped in situations like this. Very sad. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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So very well done. Learning the ways of Daddy and Mama sitting by watching and taking the brunt and blaming herself for not being strong enough to get away…
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Thanks, Dale. It’s sad to think some ladies have no choice. Glad you stopped by! I hope your tired feet are feeling better.
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Nothing two days off didn’t fix… so I’m working my back off in the garden! 🙄
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A very different take …. like where you took this prompt.
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Thanks, Y.S.
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That packs a punch. A wonderfully told, incredibly sad story. So affecting.
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I guess this is my week to be mean to little kids. Thanks, Sarah Ann
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Poor Lester was beat like a drum. I imagine she was too. Sad tale.
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Yes, indeed. Thanks, Russell.
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Love how you wove their tale, referencing birds and using that imagery to illustrate the damage that was done to them both. It feels so real, this relationship. Lester bringing her gifts when he’s little, though the eggs strike an uncomfortable note and hint all is not well. Then his violence and her acceptance and self blame – feels so truthful and well observed. Heartbreaking Lish
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Thanks for such a lovely and thorough comment.
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