Friday Fictioneers – Defining Moment

~ neilmacdon
hollywood-crowd
PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Harvey was appalled. The street below pullulated with people, jostling and pushing noisily through each other.

“Mum,” he said, “Those folk are idiots. No social distancing. Don’t they know they’re going to die?”

Taking him by the shoulders, she gave him that look, the one that said she had something important to teach him.

“Those folk don’t have the option of staying home. If they don’t go out and earn money, they’ll certainly die.”

Harvey asked why.

Because they’re poor, she explained. But this only led the lad to ask why they were poor. Her answers ran out then. And that set the course of his life.

 

Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here

52 thoughts on “Friday Fictioneers – Defining Moment”

  13. I enjoyed this and the simple questions of ‘why’ make it a deeper and more thoughtful piece. I can recall asking to the point of frustrating my parents, and feeling at a loss when my kids would ask.

    After reading, I had to chase down the Peter, Paul, and Mary song, “Day is Done.” My favorite stanza is:

    “Do you ask why I’m sighing, my son?
    You shall inherit what mankind has done
    In a world filled with sorrow and woe
    If you ask me why this is so, I really don’t know”

    Liked by 1 person

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  14. To work, eat or die, it’s just a matter of time. Pullulate – I had the vision of people multiplying and appearing in droves.
    The answer to tricky questions is: I don’t really know, son, when you find out tell me all about it.

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  17. My favorite answer is, “Let’s look it up.” Even things I think I know. I could always be wrong.

    This is a poignant take. We need more kids like Harvey. We can’t find the answers if we don’t ask the questions.

    Liked by 1 person

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