She watched the factory sheds fade away in a wash of dirty train car windows and tears. Out of the valley, it’s looming hills glowering at her. The same disapproving look she experienced all her life. First her father, struggling to bring up three girls after her mother died. Her teachers, always ready with a ruler to dispense a sharp slap to her palm. Her husband: “This slop is disgusting. You’re disgusting,” slamming her head into the table. But, now, a smiling conductor, took the ticket from her trembling hands. With tears of joy, she watched her past disappear.
feature image: J. Hardy Carroll
for Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers.
My apologies if I don’t bounce around the other responses. Life happens; trees fall on your roof; landlady’s insurance company drags it’s heels; and so on and such and such and sigh. “Yet still she writes . . .”
July 21, 2021 at 1:50 am
Feeling very sorry for her…even with the leaving.
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July 21, 2021 at 2:31 am
Yes, she has left, but still has much to overcome.
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July 20, 2021 at 1:47 pm
I am glad that she managed to escape. I hope that her past doesn’t haunt her. Great take!
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July 21, 2021 at 2:34 am
Yes, she still have much to overcome. I hope she can find her special place.
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July 21, 2021 at 2:36 am
I hope so too. Great story!
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July 18, 2021 at 10:51 am
Wow. That could be my mother. Well done.
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July 19, 2021 at 3:41 am
Thanks.
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July 16, 2021 at 11:18 pm
Excellent storytelling, Lorraine. I hope she gets away clean and finds a place to heal.
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July 17, 2021 at 2:45 am
I hope so to; I wrote it with the idea in mind that she would. Not sure how, where or when, but I think she finds the freedom and hope she needs.
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July 16, 2021 at 2:23 pm
That’s beautifully written. I love the phrase “in a wash of dirty train car windows and tears.” – Let’s hope she’ll find the freedom she seeks.
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July 17, 2021 at 2:21 am
I hope so too. She made that first, hard step of leaving. Motion of train is moving her forward.
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July 16, 2021 at 11:32 am
Beautifully written tale of escape. I hope the tree didn’t cause too much damage!
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July 17, 2021 at 2:20 am
There needs to be a new roof put on — the limb crashed through into the attic in two places, and made a crack in the kitchen ceiling. Ruined the eaves and rain gutter in places. But, so far, not too much damage to the stuff we stored up there, or the hot water heater and furnace also up there. Roof is tarped over in both places. It’s a waiting game with the owner’s insurance.
The limb was massive — easily as big as an entire tree. So lucky no one was injured, or worse.
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July 17, 2021 at 5:11 am
What a terrible thing to happen. I so glad everyone is okay. I hope the insurance allows you to start work soon. You need it all properly repaired before winter don’t you.
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July 17, 2021 at 11:46 am
Yes — not so bad in the summer (as long as the tarp holds) as there hasn’t been damage yet to the attic floor/house’s ceilings. Perhaps next week, we will learn the results of her claim.
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July 17, 2021 at 12:04 pm
For sure, I would call on Monday and let them know you’re still waiting with a broken house. I hope it gets fixed real soon.
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July 19, 2021 at 3:40 am
Thanks, so do I.
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July 16, 2021 at 9:52 am
I love that your character is escaping such a life. It is good. :) <3
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July 16, 2021 at 9:57 am
Thanks. We can all use a little bit of hope and freedom.
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July 16, 2021 at 10:08 am
Yes, yes, we could!
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July 16, 2021 at 8:37 am
I hope she’s going to a better future. It can hardly be worse right? Love the closing phrase.
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July 16, 2021 at 9:56 am
I hope for her having a better future. She has a lot of defeat to over come. But, she did take that first step — sometimes that’s the hardest and longest one!
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July 16, 2021 at 7:26 am
I hope it’s going to be as easy as she hopes.
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July 16, 2021 at 9:56 am
I hope so too. She has a lot of baggage, and that’s including her small suitcase!
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July 16, 2021 at 6:59 am
Dear Lorraine,
Glad she’s leaving all that behind. I hope the future is more promising. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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July 16, 2021 at 9:55 am
Thanks, Rochelle. We can all use a little bit of hope and freedom.
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July 15, 2021 at 8:47 pm
So glad she finally had the strength to leave it all!
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July 16, 2021 at 9:58 am
Yes, that first step of breaking free is so difficult. She found strength and courage for that. I hope she finds a better space and place for herself away from her roots.
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July 16, 2021 at 10:03 am
I am rooting for her!
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July 15, 2021 at 3:47 pm
There’s always the possibility of breaking free
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July 15, 2021 at 3:59 pm
Yes; there is always a thin sliver of hope and escape.
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July 15, 2021 at 3:33 pm
A truly great escape 💜
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July 16, 2021 at 10:00 am
Thanks. We can all use a little bit of hope and freedom. She made that very hard first step. I hope for better spaces and places for her in the future.
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July 16, 2021 at 11:35 am
Yes I do too 😊
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