I must admit I’m addicted to Friday Fictioneers, so today I put aside an hour of editing my manuscript to add a story to this mix of wonderful flash fiction writers. Thanks to one and all who find time to read my story.
Siegert pulls the picture from his pocket.
He knows exactly how many cobbles create the path
from his old room to the gardens,
the rectory
to, well, anywhere on the grounds.
He’s counted each with his feet.
Excitement welled when Siegert heard adopted.
But soon he hears,
“The boy’s quite stupid. Rarely talks.”
Silence is golden, they told me so
“He stumbles.”
I cannot see out of my left eye
“No one actually likes him.”
Please, all I want is love
The train whistle blows.
Siegert knows it’s but a ten-hour trip back
to the land of cobblestones and priests.
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Up From the Ashes 
This poor child. I cannot even fathom what is going on in his littlemind. So excellently written.
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Thanks, Violet. When I worked at a dental office one of the patients adopted a child from China. Within weeks she sent him back. I was appalled. I’m glad you stopped by.
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How sad, yet how it rings with truth.
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Thanks, Trent! This is partially based on a true story. People can be so heartless.
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Yeah, people can be heartless.
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Such a shame, surely they can’t return him like that, but then perhaps it is for the best if they aren’t going to love him. Strong stuff, well done.
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A patient at the dental office where I worked did this exact thing to a child she’d adopted from China. I don’t know the circumstances, but she dropped one hundred notches on my nice-person-meter. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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Such thoughtlessness and hardness of heart. Such pain.
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People can be awfully cruel. On the other hand, they can be wonderful. Thanks.
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Poor little guy. He’s not a pair of shoes you can send back if they’re not perfect.
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Really. People who play with other’s lives should . . . well, I’m not sure, but something bad should happen to them. I can think of a few things that shall not be mentioned. Thanks, Ali
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Some people can be rather puritanically selfish at times. Sad tale indeed.
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I think being mean to our elders and little children is unforgivable. Thanks, James
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Treating a child like a parcel from a warehouse that can be retrurned–heartbreaking for the boy. I’ve read in the comments that it is based on a real life event, but I was also reminded of the orphans that were sent to farms and treated as cheap workers.
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Or the littles sent to diamond mines… I wish every child could have the same childhood I did, full of laughter and running and tumbling with friends. But “If wishes were horses we all could ride.” Thanks for reading and commenting.
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A child is not something you test in your home and return if not satisfied. Some people are seriously lacking in empathy. This was heartrending but a good story, Alicia. —- Suzanne
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I agree, Suzanne. Children are meant to be loved and nurtured, not tried on and sent back as Ali commented. Thanks.
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Dear Lish.
What a heartache of a story. His inner cry of “I want to be loved” made my heart hurt. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
PS Glad you took some time from editing for FF. 😉
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Thanks, Sweetie. I do miss it when I’m gone but won’t post unless I have time to read other’s works. Cheers, Lish
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Oh Alicia.
This was so well done. And awful – the story, not the writing. I know a little boy (now a man with a family of his own) who was picked up and put back into his crib at the orphanage too many times to count. Each time was another rejection. The couple who finally did adopt him were not equipped to deal with such a child. He was a good kid but troubled (ya think?)
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Ouch! Your comment makes my heart hurt. I just can’t imagine. So often, after hearing all the “might have beens” in other people’s lives, I feel blessed that mine was so normal ~ loving parents, teasing sisters, a gang of neighborhood kids to wreak havoc with. Thanks for reading and sharing.
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Such a darkly sad tale. The child counting the cobbles and the hours,is so touching, and painful. And of course, now I’m wondering who at the office did this! Just an awful thing for any child. Great to hear your editing!! Brava!
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Thanks, Dawn. I’m slowly, slowly, slowly working things out. Still trying to figure out Hanna. Ah, well.
I’m pleased I can’t remember the name of the woman who adopted then decided it wasn’t a good idea, but I can still see her face.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting. Lish
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Probably best, hippos and all. 😉 But really a sad story, fact or fiction!
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Heartbreaking, but at least he’s got somewhere familiar and somewhat comforting to return to, it seems. I really like how you coupled each of the family’s unkind comments with Siegert’s thoughts.
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Thank you, Margaret. I’m hoping going back to the orphanage is right. Maybe someone else will adopt the little guy.
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A poignant story, from the boy’s point of view.
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Thank you.
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sadly, things don’t work out as expected sometimes and we have to suffer the consequences.
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But not children….. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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Well that was heartbreaking. And weirdly reminiscent of my dream last night in which I pass a foster child along in the system because I can’t afford to keep him. I woke with imaginary guilt. Now your boy will haunt my thoughts as well.
I’ve never been a foster parent, so no idea why my brain decided to make me one while I slept.
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Now that is a strange coincidence. Thanks for reading. I hope Siegert marches right back out of your mind.
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Great piece Alicia, the pain of the poor boy comes across brilliantly along with the callousness of the adults.
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Thank you, Michael. Nice to see you here!
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Thanks Alicia. I don’t like to post if I can’t guarantee to comment, as I’m quite busy at the moment it’s restricting my posting on FF, which is a shame because I love it when I get the chance.
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