Written as part of a challenge called Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers, details are available at https://flashfictionforaspiringwriters.wordpress.com/2016/09/12/fffaw-challenge-week-of-september-13-2016/
The glow of fluorescent pink was overwhelming. It locked eyes with Jenny. The voices reach ears open lyrics slightly more than a pin drop. “Buy me! Buy me”
Her grey eyes turned dark. Her voice rose from a peep to strong. “Mommy. Mommy it’s perfect. It’s very valuable because it’s pretty!” Jenny looks at her Mommy who is picking at clothes.
“Baby, it’s just plastic. We ain’t spending $5 on plastic.” Mommy doesn’t look back.
“But why does it have a $125 price tag on it?” Jenny smiles to someone who doesn’t see her.
“We just don’t need it! Put it back. It’s just junk!” Mommy makes a little to much noise.
“Little one? You like that box. It’s yours. All the junk in the world is treasure to someone. It’s got a green ring inside…. you just have to own it up to find it.” Dot pulls back her straw hat. The eighty year old eyes open to bright blue.”Hold on to what you want. It’ll be important to you.”
“Thank you. It’s so pretty!” Jenny curls little hands around the box.
“We don’t need charity” Mommy says with an attitude.
“We all need charity! Some accept and some fight for nothing… And call it pride.” Dot narrows her eyes. “The lesson in life is not to pass on the wrong thing.”
I like the real life feel of your story.
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Somehow I channel older women, grandma types well. I’m not sure how, but they are good story tellers when I write. Thank you ☺
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We all need charity. Loved this one.
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Yes we do. Most often we don’t
Recognize it until much later
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Some people are so defenseful that they do not recognize the true meaning of help when someone offers. Wonderful story. 🙂
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Thank you my dear. Help is offensive to a lot of people. I’m happy to be moving to a place where more relaxed ideas live to. What I’m from there are a lot of walled off people
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That’s true, we all need charity! Jenny’s mother has an attitude problem and the owner of the garage sale put her in her place! Great story, Mark!
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It didn’t start out going there but the point is very true.. I have benefited from others often and try to pass it along when I can.
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Good advice.
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How often help is there and we look passed it. It’s funny but sometimes we work harder because of it
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a wise take!
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It’s was hard to have a serious story with the pink box for me. It fell in place. ☺
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I will agree. 😉
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