{This is a response to a prompt from Friday Fictioneers.
I was drawn by the mysterious light in this picture and the confusion I felt, trying to decipher what time of day it was.
This has been a dreary week or two for me, having recently lost a parent, and under such troublesome conditions, one finds ones self contemplating the blurred edges, between Life and Death.
Or perhaps it is just October!
Hope you enjoy reading and thank you for the prompt! }
Little Maria gathered her tea set and teddy bears. Squishing them into the gingham-lined picnic basket, she gently lowered it down from her upstairs window. Then, the five-year-old scrambled down herself, disdainful of the old blackberry vine’s jabs and rashes.
“Everyone okay?” she queried, popping the hood.
Grisham Park lay three, silent, murky blocks away. A route, long-since memorized, just in case.
Mom and Dad’s knock-down-drag-out fight tonight was the last straw. Urgent measures were required. Nothing would suffice, but A Magical Midnight Tea.
She skipped toward the brilliant aura, engulfing her lonely picnic bench in celestial power.
Magical midnight tea – love it.
The lightning inspired my story too. ?
I’m so sorry for your loss, Andrea. A both sad and sweet story. Good descriptions. Poor little child. Well done. —- Suzanne
Thanks Suzanne. Im sure a bit of my own current mood slipped through. Everything tastes bittersweet right now. And I’m more of a milk chcolate kinda gal. ?
Feels like a lonely, scary time for a little girl. Please accept my condolences for the loss of your parent, Andrea.
Thanks msj! “Lonely and scary” describes a lot of adventures Life throws at us. Even children have to find a way to cope in this imperfect world. But I have high hopes for Maria.
🙂 You’re welcome.
Fascinating story. This little girl did some long, hard thinking about how to do what she did. I too hope that she meets no danger in the park, but perhaps runs across a kind police officer and is eventually rescued from what sounds like a violent home.
The comments have been fascinating, too 🙂
Thanks granonine. I didn’t feel like she was in any danger at home, but, to a child who is empathetic, any turbulence can feel like a tidal wave. I think youre right that she has thought things through, and come to a logical course of action, using the tools and beliefs accessible to her as a five year old.
So glad you like the comments too! They have been so much fun!
I found this very engaging, and sad at the same time. Well done.
Thank you Sandra. I’m beaming. ?
I’m sorry to hear of the death of your dad. Please accept my condolences.
I enjoyed your story because it was such an unexpected interpretation of the photo. I would love to skip off to a Magical Midnight Tea–or at least believe it were possible.
Thank you Liz, that’s so kind of you. i’m glad you enjoyed the idea. Tea can be quite magical, under any circumstances. ?
What a lovely story Andrea. So visually appealing and emotionally poignant. Sorry to hear about the loss of your parent. Loss is definitely a time where we reassess the blurring of the line, and the meaning of each side of that line. I wish you wellness and peace.
Thank you Girl. Glad you enjoyed the story and thanks so much for your kind words.
So very sorry for your loss, Andrea. It is never easy to lose a parent, no matter how old or sick they are.
Your story was beautifully written. In a 5-year-old’s eyes, she needs to do something to help. Maybe once the two realise she is missing, they’ll get together for the common goal!
Thanks so much Dale. And thanks for commiserating. I expect the parents are on their way now. ?
I liked the magical view of the world she had. If only her innocence could last.
Thank Iain! I think we all take a bit of our innocence with us well past childhood, if we’re lucky.
Dear Andrea,
First, let me say, I’m sorry for your loss. It’s hard to lose a parent at any age. Somehow we’re always the orphan child no matter what our age, aren’t we?
I could relate to little Maria as my parents used to have some horrible fights. I just hope she’s safe at midnight in the park. Intriguing and poignant story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you Rochelle. I was lucky to have had him so long in my life, but don’t feel particularly lucky now. ? glad Maria struck a chord with you though I’m sorry you had to endure that. It can feel like the ground is moving beneath your feet, when there is trouble with the people you depend on most.
Even a 5 yr old knows a bad situation when they see it. Great take on the prompt. Hopefully the park will help her find a child advocate that will help her get out of the dangerous situation. Maybe even an officer on patrol will stop and help her. It would be odd to see such a young one alone in the park, no matter the hours.
Perhaps I am already conjuring illusions, by presupposing that these days, a child that age could be so naive.
It is truly a different world in which we live than that of which we grew up in. I’ve got three year olds who read fluently and already do basic math in my MOPS group. And yet, we do our best to preserve their innocence for as long as we can.
Everything seems to have sped up, for youngsters.
I was actually just thinking about this, that so many of the favorite books of my youth involved kids striking out on their own. Not something that happens as much in real life, or at least parents struggle hard to discourage such adventures, for fear of dangers lurking in the dark.
Indeed, now days you can’t even let your child play in their own yard without fearing they’ll be kidnapped, or worse. Surely wouldn’t let one take off to the park alone.
I remember reading about a family who did exactly that–let their kids go to the park unaccompanied for several hours–and people called the cops.
Poor kid, I hope she’s okay out there in the park.
Yes, sorry to leave you hanging there, right before her astral flight or whatever.?
Can you tell I just rewatched the movie “The Celestine Prophecy?”?
Running from strife, but towards what?
Cool piece.
I don’t think she’s running away from home. I think shes trying to perform a ritual that will fix her parents’ problems. And to a five year old, the logical solution is…magic. But you’re right. Im not sure who–or what–might possess this playground.
The aura could mean trouble
Maybe so, Neil.