Harlem Divorce

Posted: January 16, 2019 in Friday Fictioneers
Tags: , , , ,
63

Sometimes Daddy resembled a ghost, slotting in and out the door.
Not wanting to be seen.
Other times he was all noise and hustle, bragging about being a man.
Thumping his chest.
Worst times he was a thick-bladed knife, slicing Momma and me with hateful words
until we were ten different kinds of shredded.
Most times he was more snap and shine than sharpness.

Finally, Momma went all crazy. Drew a blade of her own.
Sold Daddy’s car. Changed the locks
and threw his ratty old shoes out the door.
Set em on fire.

Now we got nothing but peaceful times.

 

 

Comments
  1. Susan A Eames says:
    January 16, 2019 at 12:00 pm

    Great snapshot – great voice!

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. Dale says:
    January 16, 2019 at 12:02 pm

    Don’t think Daddy will be missed…
    Loved the voice in this one.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. neilmacdon says:
    January 16, 2019 at 12:15 pm

    Wonderful voice, Alicia

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. Iain Kelly says:
    January 16, 2019 at 12:23 pm

    Go Momma! 🙂

    Like

    Reply
  5. Violet Lentz says:
    January 16, 2019 at 2:00 pm

    That was right on. Loved it!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. Munyi.V says:
    January 16, 2019 at 5:32 pm

    I liked it. Was it meant to be a story or a poem?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. Sascha Darlington says:
    January 16, 2019 at 9:50 pm

    Excellent voice in this one, Alicia. I don’t think anyone will miss Daddy!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. James McEwan says:
    January 17, 2019 at 4:17 am

    How many chances does a man need? Clearly he never understood.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. draliman says:
    January 17, 2019 at 5:01 am

    That’s one way to subtly indicate that he’s no longer welcome 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  10. Brenda's Thoughts says:
    January 17, 2019 at 5:30 am

    I loved the voice in this piece and the excellent way it flowed. Great ending, burn those shoes!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  11. gahlearner says:
    January 17, 2019 at 5:46 am

    Once again you make us *see and know* the people you write about. Great voice, and no, he certainly won’t be missed.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  12. Jelli says:
    January 17, 2019 at 6:29 am

    Go, Mama, Go!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  13. Sandra says:
    January 17, 2019 at 7:49 am

    Ten different kinds of shredded is a great way to describe the effects of an overbearing partner. Good one, especially the voice.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  14. patrickprinsloo says:
    January 17, 2019 at 9:09 am

    Ooh, there’s some family history. Great pace to the piece.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  15. Liz Young says:
    January 17, 2019 at 9:27 am

    Mummy did the right thing, even if she did leave it rather late.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  16. plaridel says:
    January 17, 2019 at 12:14 pm

    people can only take so much abuse before they get back at the abuser with a vengeance. nice piece of writing.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  17. ceayr says:
    January 17, 2019 at 1:43 pm

    You really nailed this one, Alicia.
    Terrific piece of story-telling.
    (Now I’m wondering who you were in your previous incarnation!)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  18. Na'ama Yehuda says:
    January 17, 2019 at 5:09 pm

    Great voice! Well done!
    🙂
    Na’ama

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  19. michaelwynnauthor says:
    January 18, 2019 at 7:46 am

    Great voice again Alicia and great they got rid of him

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  20. rochellewisoff says:
    January 18, 2019 at 5:12 pm

    Dear Lish,

    Great voice in this. That’s one way to cut off the relationship. Well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  21. Margaret says:
    January 19, 2019 at 5:04 pm

    I like your word choices to show the destruction and violence they live with. Great voice too.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  22. amiewrites74 says:
    January 20, 2019 at 8:51 am

    Good for momma! Good riddance!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  23. shaktikisharma says:
    January 20, 2019 at 9:58 am

    Amazing solution you propose there! 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  24. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) says:
    January 20, 2019 at 1:12 pm

    Love it … really… setting fire to his shoes made me smile.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  25. Russell Gayer says:
    January 21, 2019 at 9:19 am

    When I was in a band we used to play “Hit The Road Jack.”
    I’m sure Mama knows all the verses as well.
    Great job, Lish.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  26. Laurie Bell says:
    January 21, 2019 at 11:37 am

    Terrific voice in this one. Scary too. Sounds like momma did what she had to do!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  27. Lynn Love says:
    January 22, 2019 at 5:45 am

    That voice is stunning, Lish. And I love your metaphors for Daddy, how sharp and shiny he is, how cutting. Just gorgeous

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  28. Moon says:
    January 22, 2019 at 7:16 am

    BRILLIANT!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  29. granonine says:
    January 22, 2019 at 10:02 am

    I love the voice here. Also the “Enough is enough!” attitude 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  30. Thom Carswell says:
    January 22, 2019 at 3:02 pm

    Great story Alicia. Really well told. I loved how Daddy was all metaphor and simile, whereas Momma’s actions were real, tangible, and final!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  31. Alicia Jamtaas says:
    January 22, 2019 at 5:15 pm

    Thanks for noticing the difference between the wishy-washy dad and the take no s*&t mom.

    Like

    Reply

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