
PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
The authorities cleaned it up, removing all of the people. No homeless ever lived in their town. Nope. Now the kids owned the place, riding their dirt bikes and shooting beer bottles in the stream. Good wholesome, American pastimes.
It had been many years since I had been back. I found the old stones and put them into place. It was silly, really. The kids would just knock them down again, perhaps break them up this time.
All signs of the community were erased.
I heard the rev of an engine and said my last goodbyes to Mom and Dad.
***
Word count = 100
Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. This week’s prompt is here and uses a photo © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Read more or join in by following the InLinkz “linky“.
Powerful write.
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Thanks
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Good one!
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Thanks!
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Poor folks, what must have befallen to have to bury them there i wonder
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They were living outside of society and didn’t have money for a proper funeral and the people of the town weren’t rushing to pay for it… Of course it could just be that is the place they died, which the son or daughter marked, since the bodies were taken away and he/she never knew what happened to them – this was the last place with any connection to them.
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Sad tale brilliantly told
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Thanks
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A direct hit, this one. Excellent Trent.
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Thanks, Gary!
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A powerful piece, I was not expecting the ending. The child gives tribute to the parents. Why is it we are so afraid of those who do not live and look like us? Those who are in need? The response of the have’s to the have not’s. A lovely tribute through your story.
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Thanks, Brenda. I’m not sure what it is about those who are different that frightens us. I think the very poor and homeless are reminders that our prosperity is not for everyone, a reminder that some people hate. So they blame the poor for all of their problems and push the homeless out of town – out of sight, out of mind.
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I really appreciate how your stated this, “the very poor and homeless are reminders that our prosperity is not for everyone…” An eternal, tragic, truth. Thanks for responding to my rambling questions.
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I know, you were being rhetorical, but these are questions that I think we’ve all asked… I’m not sure if my answers are right, but I think it is at least part of it.
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I would certainly agree!
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A sad tale, but it sounds like he has fared better than his parents.
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Very sad. In my mind the son (or it could be a daughter) was returning to pay respect to his roots, and parents, after finding some success in the world.
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The ending was unexpected, but perfectly done.
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Thanks.
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Why is it that homeless for some brings out the heartless in others? A great story o social injustice.f
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I’m not sure. i think it might be the idea of “we are prosperous!” being given a lie by people who are not doing so well. We need to cover it up to show the holes in our society. Thanks.
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The ending puts the entire piece into perspective. Nice.
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Thanks.
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Such a sad tale. Hope things turn around for him despite his pain.
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I was coming at this from the point of view that he has escaped homelessness and was returning to his roots, to pay homage to his parents.
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Ah, yes. That works too…
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I wish the kids understood the meaning of that place. Though there is a certain beauty in the fact that a place that is sad for one is a place of joy for others. Great work man :)
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It would be nice if they understood. I’m not sure if the MC is at a place where he/she can understand the enjoyment the others have from the place – perhaps they all need to respect each other. Thanks.
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Such a sad end to two sad lives – I hope their child fares better.
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I hope so, too. I was thinking that the son or daughter was visiting his/her past after working his/her way out of it.
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Very moving Trent
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Thanks.
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A sorrowful story indeed.
Click to read my FriFic tale!
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Yes, it is.
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So very sad.
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Yes, it is. Thanks.
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Homeless do not have many places to go. May be that is the reason they are homeless. Someone must think why people become homeless in a prosperous country!
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People almost worship that prosperity and so do not want to be reminded that not all are prosperous. They do not want to see poor people, so instead of helping, they push them out.
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True.
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Good, wholesome American cruelty. You tell about the round up and clearing out, non-judgmentally, facially, even approvingly. But your last line makes clear the bitterness and condemnation in his tone. There is nothing wholesome about treating living beings like so much clutter.
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I couldn’t help but put a little political commentary in this story, I’m just surprised you are the first one to bring it up. Sometimes it seems that our society smiles on destruction and that disregard for life is encouraged. Those who deserve sympathy and help are shown hatred and scorn.
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Very heart breaking. Good story, Trent.
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Thanks, Neel.
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Dear Trent,
Poignant and touching. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle.
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Very well told Trent, great ending 💜💝
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Thanks, Willow!
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Pleasure 💜💜
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You let the “dark side” out to play on this one. well done, Trent! <3
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These FF stories often release that dark side. Thanks!
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Utterly heartbreaking.
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There are too many heartbreaking stories about people living on the fringes of society. At least we can assume that the MC was able to pull himself (or herself) up and would never live in a situation as desperate again.
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I did not expect that last line. God job, Trent.
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Thanks!
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They stones do look like a grave don’t they?? Loved the story.. :-)
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“Grave stones” were the first thing I thought when I saw the photo. Thanks, Courtney.
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Goodness, what a last line! Great story, Trent.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thanks, Susan.
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A very moving story, Trent. Very well portrayed.
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Thanks, Clare.
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This is great stuff Trent. A whole life in a few words. Impressive.
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Thanks, Maria!
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My pleasure
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I felt that the parents died there, alongside other people, but I didn’t feel that the narrator was responsible. Good story.
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No, he wasn’t responsible. It was “natural causes”, if you can call malnutrition, exposure to the elements, disease from unsanitary conditions, etc. “natural”. Thanks.
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That’s a chilling last line. i read it that he was the one who buried them there…!
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He buried them, but they died of “natural” causes – exposure to the elements, starvation, disease, etc….
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Yes, we did see the same story
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There was something about those stones that looked like markers…
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