Tags
bomb, county, creative, fiction, flash, growing, microfiction, nelson, threat, up, violence, virginia, writing
Mid-morning in Nelson County, Virginia, USA
“I’m late, because I overslept. I overslept, because I was trying to be a good student and study for my geography test.”
“I’m sure the other kids in your class studied just as hard and didn’t have a problem making it to school on time.”
“Jesus, lady, be a b-”
“What?”
“Never mind,” I mumble taking the pink tardy slip wondering how I would hide the detention time gap from my mother.
12:00 PM EST
I cram useless information about the Gaza strip in my head. I was born in Nelson County, and I will probably die here. What’s the point?
12:22 PM EST
School is evacuated due to a bomb threat.
Sigh.
So, does that mean I won’t have the test or detention?
6:21 PM EST
My Dad starts watching the news, and my brothers and sisters start to scatter. He gets bossy with us and demands we watch it with him.
There’s a bombing of a school today in a country far away from Nelson County.
A bunch of Muslim kids are dead.
When it’s real, there are no warnings.
My little sister asks if something like that can happen here.
My Dad doesn’t answer.
And, I just tickle her back until the commercial break.
http://www.nbc29.com/story/20543731/nelson-schools-closing-early-for-bomb-threat-investigation
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/01/14/daily-prompt-short-story/
Nicely done. You have very poetic, sparse prose. I like it.
Moving from the sacred to the profane, I nominated you for a shameless (thought not shameful) self-promoting “Beautiful Blogger” award. Please accept it as a compliment, as I really do appreciate your blog. As for how you respond, you can keep passing it along (and accomplish world peace, or something like that) or just sleep easier tonight knowing that someone appreciates your work.
Should you decide to pass it along, find out how here – http://writingforfoodinindy.wordpress.com/2013/01/09/a-beautiful-blogger-award-am-i-blushing-or-is-my-blood-pressure-going-up/
thank you so much for the award. I really appreciate it. you rock!
Fab as always…
you are always so supportive. love to love ya!
This is so interesting. I love how you said “when it’s real, there are no warnings.” I live in Canada, I guess one of the “safest” places in the world and I go through the same procedures of lock downs and “secure school” situations, but really things like this is not going to happen here. Places like Gaza, however, schools get bombed everyday. I totally agree with you, when it’s real there are no warnings.
thank you for your insightful feedback.
Interesting post. Thanks for the visit, I’ll come back!
I hope you do.
I loved the voice in this. I can see myself acting very similar or even someone else. It is so relateable and I think it portrays the mindset very clearly.
thank you so much, I was working on trying a teen perspective today, and that’s what came out.
You’re welcome! Thank you for following. I hope I write things that you will enjoy.
I am sure I will enjoy them.
That was beautifully and subtly written. I like that. Sometimes less is best, and this was one of those instances when more was said by what wasn’t said. It takes a lot of skill and talent to pull that off. Many blessings!
Cheryl
thank you for the compliments and the blessings, Cheryl.
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