Free Write Friday – The Seed
It’s been a few weeks since I had the time to participate in Kellie Elmore’s Free Write Friday. Below is the prompt and the short story that just came to me immediately. Enjoy.
You’re young. You are standing in front of a shop window watching something on the black and white television inside. A woman grabs your hand and runs down the street, pulling you along…
The Seed
Mama always let me stand outside and look at all of the TVs when she went to the appliance store. Usually, I could see all of my favorite cartoons, or maybe Superman. But, today they all had the same thing on them and I couldn’t understand it. There was the high school my big brother went to and soldiers with guns stood all around it. I didn’t have to go to school today because I had to go to the dentist. Then Mama had to go to the store before she took me back to school. She came rushing out of the store and grabbed my hand.
“Mama, why are there soldiers standing outside the high school? Did someone invade?” I felt smart using that big word Mike explained to me just yesterday.
“Boy, come on and hurry up, we got to get home before trouble starts.”
She practically dragged me across the street, she was running so fast.
Of course, that night, it was the dinner conversation, about the Negro kids who tried to get into the high school. And that was when the seeds of my career in Civil Rights law began.
Skywalker Storyteller Works 
Love it! Would love to hear more from this character. A great insight into his world.
Thanks.
One moment can change a lifetime!
Fantastic descriptions and characters in this FWF.
Thanks.
An interesting set-up that could lead in so many directions within the larger historical context you set up for the characters. I’d be interested in reading if you ever decide to continue the story. 🙂
Thanks. I’m good at the short short story, it just kind of fell into place.
Wonderful…you never know what will plant the seeds of change. Terrific story!
Thanks.
Great story. I like the short, direct and powerful way you have written it. It made it read like something that really happened to you.
Thanks, Suzanne. If I have time to give just a couple of minutes time to a prompt, magic happens.
Oh, wow. I didn’t realize what you were describing until the end. Well told story!
Here’s my late entry: http://charleslmashburn.wordpress.com/2013/06/08/daydream-believer/
Thanks, Charles.
Do you see me? I am bowing. You managed to tell a poignant story in a short piece and leave me in awe. Wonderfully done. Thank you. Keep writing!!!
Kellie, Thank you for your prompts. I feel so good after I write in response to one. But, I do need a little space and time to do so, was able to steal it yesterday.
Oh my…I am sitting here misty eyed remembering that time in history and being so totally confused by all the gown up hate for others. We didn’t visit family in the Deep South for nearly 10 years…still breaks my heart we have not come nearly far enough since then.
Just stunning as Kellie said poignant in in short piece!
Thanks. Yes, I grew up in the South and my mother managed to keep us away from most of the hate. We were lucky. But, even a small slight can have great effect – and I guess that’s where the story came from.
Sky, this is exceptional. I read this last night and immediately wished you could be turn it into a larger story. I really felt the emotions and tension here.
Thanks, Uzo. I can write good short shorts with a prompt, but difficult for me to carry on much more.