PHOTO PROMPT © Na’ama Yehuda
“Shh! Be quiet. And no you can’t play in the park. Wait here.”
Mama pushed me gently backwards into the bushes. “Remember -“
“I know, I know. Don’t go anywhere.”
I watched her figure ripple in and out of the shadows thrown by the park lights. Another figure joined her. A man. A different one than the other night. Together, they disappeared behind the restrooms.
Five-year-old me knew Mama wouldn’t be long. I jumped out of the bushes and watched the cars honking on the street. The lamp-lit windows floated in the tall buildings.
I didn’t feel so alone anymore.
99 words
Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Write a story in 100 words or less. Click the frog to submit your flash fiction and read other stories too.
Fajr, Books & That First Cuppa 
Absolutely brilliant, Fatima. Understated and trusting the reader to fill-in the blanks
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Thank you, Neil! 🙂
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I guess it puts food on the table. Just a shame it has to be that way.
Here’s mine!
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Desperation drives people to do things they don’t want to do.
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Great write of a sad situation. Well done.
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Thank you, Iain!
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Poor kid. It puts a whole new meaning on “take your child to work day.”
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Haha! It certainly does. He is learning about life the hard-knock way.
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Dear Fatima,
Such an awful education for one so young. Well written from the child’s POV.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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For now, he doesn’t realise how bad it really is. But wait till he is old enough to figure it out. Thank you, Rochelle.
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i wanted to believe it was mama just needing a restroom break… i wanted to believe.
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Sadly, that wasn’t the case.
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I just hope the mother’s efforts give the child a better future. Single-motherhood is hard. Wonderful story Fatima!
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Somehow I think it worked out. Seeing that he ended up writing a memoir, I presume he did okay for himself and is in a better position.
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Maybe that’s how she became a mother in the first place. What a sad start for the poor kid’s life.
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It is possible. And unfortunately, it may be what keeps her stuck in that cycle, trying to provide for her kid.
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I feel for her. Emotional without being histrionic. NIce!
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Thank you, Paula Sue!
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I agree with Neil. This is a fabulous write. Horrible situation but wonderfully written.
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Thank you, Dale!
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Beautifully understated.
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Thanks so much, Sandra.
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From the innocence of a five-year-old’s perspective. Well put.
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Thank you, Bill and welcome to the group.
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An intriguing story. I hope this kid gets to keep innocence a little longer.
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Me too, though he might figure it out in a couple of years. Thank you!
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