The hoarse cry pierced the midday summer skies shattering the calming ambiance of the woodlands. To a novice it was probably a wolf mangled by a trap, to ears attuned to nature Martin knew it was no wolf, but the cries of a soul trapped by tightening jaws of a convoluted mind the body could not comprehend.
“Grandpa what was that?”
“It’s probably a wolf caught in a trap.”
“It came from there.” He pointed to the building across the river.
How do you explain to a child that sometimes the mind runs amok ravaging the body unto anguish.
“You will never find the real truth among people that are insecure or have egos to protect. Truth over time becomes either guarded or twisted as their perspective changes; it changes with the seasons of their shame, love, hope or pride.”
― Shannon L. Alder
“Our society tends to regard as a sickness any mode of thought or behavior that is inconvenient for the system and this is plausible because when an individual doesn’t fit into the system it causes pain to the individual as well as problems for the system. Thus the manipulation of an individual to adjust him to the system is seen as a cure for a sickness and therefore as good.”
― Theodore J. Kaczynski
Written for Friday fictioneers a writing challenge hosted by Rochelle. The picture was provided by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields and the task is to write a 100 words story inspired by it. Thanks Rochelle for hosting the challenge. Thank you for stopping by… do click on the link to read other stories.
Great take on the prompt. I like how the grandfather was trying to shield his grandson from the harsh realities of life.
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Thanks Joseph.
XDXD
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Dear Chioma,
Smart grandfather. Well done.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle!
XD
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I liked this, preserve the innocence while one can
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Thank you very much.
XD
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Love the take.. I think reality is often worse than mangled paws… (though I would feel sorry for the wolf)… soon enough the little boy will learn.
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True reality can be worse than most dreams.
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Thanks you!
XD
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Your words allowed me to hear these anguish cries.
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Thank you!
XD
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Illness of the mind – at what age should we educate children about that?
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Honestly I don’t know.
It’s a reality most don’t want to approach.
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Intelligent grandfather, an interesting take on the prompt.
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Thank you!
XD
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Sadly I could hear that cry. Nicely done.
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Thanks Alicia.
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Great take on the prompt. And so very true.
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Thanks Sandra!
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Very sad for the person across the river. I wonder when the child will learn the truth?
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I wonder as well.
I sad reality.
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You captured the desperation of that voice, I had a neighbor who would wake us all in the middle of the night with her cries, I will never forget how heartbreaking that sound was.
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Oh wow can’t imagine hearing that anguish and not knowing how to help.
It is a very sad sound to hear.
Thank you.
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Sad and true story. Except… if my grandfather had told me about a wolf in a trap, I’d have been devastated and wanted to help it.
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The word limits won’t let me go down that path.
Thank you! XD
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Beautifully done. Yes, we try to preserve youth as long as we can but eventually..
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Indeed eventually reality comes knocking.
Thanks Dale.
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He is a caring grandfather. Nice story, Chioma.
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Thanks Jahnavi!
XD
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Awesomeness and witty cloaked story. I love how you interpose the reality that we try to evade and society expectation.
Love this!
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Thank you!
🙂
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Interesting story. Human anguish is understood even at some level by the youngest among us.
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Very true!
Thank you. XD
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What an evocative and moving take on the prompt, Chioma!
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Thank you!
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Great story, but the quote from Ted Kaczinski is inappropriate. Whether his murders were committed out of illness, misguided political intent or a desire for infamy, he goes far beyond being “inconvenient” to society. I’m sure those who were injured or who lost friends and loved ones don’t view that grave loss as merely inconvenient.
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Oh dear, forgive my ignorance.
I did not check the background of the speaker, only that it fit in with the story.
Will have a read up on him. Thank you.
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Very effective contrast between the huge, unbearable pain of the unseen person, and the naivete of the child. The grandfather provides a successful contact point between the two – I feel for him. We don’t want our children to know about pain and horror.
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Explaining the hoarse cries put Grandpa in a tough situation there. Depending upon the child’s age, he probably did the right thing. But the time will come when they need to hear about the anguished mind.
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Very true.
We all like to delay that reality for a while as once they become aware it can’t be undone.
Thank you! XD
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Good story. You can only shield a child from the truth for so long. Hopefully, the child will realize his grandfather is trying to protect him when he figures it out. Well done. — Suzanne
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Hopefully.
Thanks Suzanne. XD
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