{This is a response to Friday Fictioneers. It is a 100-word prompt challenge, and this picture reminded me of my grandmother, from whom I have borrowed some mundane biographical details such as her work, her marriage, and the number of kids she had. These details are mightily embellished by my imagination, to create this work of pure fiction. Thanks so much for reading and for the prompt!}
Mother made all my dresses. Girls weren’t allowed to wear pants, then.
She worked in a garment factory–undergarments, actually—until she married a butcher, late in life. What wonders they created, with scissors and a hacksaw!
Mother sewed her whole life-long. As a child, for the nine behind her. Then for my brother. By the time I came along, she was all sewed-out.
She’d waggle those jagged metal shears at me, when I was naughty. Send me looking for a switch.
Life was simpler, then. There were good’uns and bad’uns.
And she made sure I knew, which I was.
Mother certainly worked hard and knew how she would like to raise her daughter.
Yes. I think that’s true Abjhit.
I haven’t seen a pair of pinking shears (as we call them) in years. Good story, enjoyed it.
Glad you got the literal meaning, that I was intending with that rather loaded, sinister word “jagged.” Me neither, Sandra!
Good storytelling, Andrea. Messages are conveyed to forming minds very early in life. If parents had an inkling of what they were doing, I wonder if it would make a difference in what they said and did?
Thanks msj! You have brought up an interesting point.
I think you’re right both about how strong the impact of parents’ actions and attitudes is, on kids, and about how parents are frequently unaware, of how their spoken and unspoken messages are coming across.
This combination may lead to confusion and resentment and poor self image in their children.
But parents of this story’s generation did not necessarily have the benefits and neuroses that have come with modern pop psychology.
I suspect kids were treated less with “kid gloves” and considered much less susceptible to damage. They were definitely not considered to be on a level of privilege equal to their parents, whose efforts at parenting were just one of many pressing duties necessary for survival. Although, of course, they loved their children every bit as much as we do.
I think parenting before Dr Spock may have been a much more practical and visceral affair, than it is today.
Andrea I appreciate your comment and can’t disagree. My thought is things used to be too brutal pre-Spock, where nowadays things have gone to the other extreme. A middle ground is best.
A great little snippet of life. Such different times.
Every time has its own charms. Thanks Tanille!
I can so easily picture those wagging shears. I am a little saddened that she was all sewed out by the time she had her daughter.
Being an older mom myself, I understand the advantages of having nearly as much energy as your kids do. At least this woman had the sense to have a boy first (as at least in my experience, they tend to be more physically demanding. ). But i’d guess this particular girl gave her a run for her money. ?
I dunno… I had my kids at 32, 34 and 35. All boys. They are still giving me a run for my money and they’re 20 and 21!
Yup mine too!
The joys…
You’ve managed to convey a huge story behind this tiny snapshot, Andrea. Well done.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Thanks Susan. The power of implication. ?
Really enjoyed this snippet of family life – those wagging shears were chilling though! Great last line too Andrea.
Thank you. Last lines are so important in these short pieces! Thank you Lynn!
They are indeed and this was a good one 🙂
I agree! The last line was an effective ending to a believable story.
Mother sounds harsh but hopefully fair!
Let’s hope so, draliman!
Those scissors scares me a lot.. made me think of Struwwelpeter and the story with the scissorman
https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/scissorman1.jpg
That does send shivers up ones spine. I was intending some dark undertones here.
Love the image! By the way, my grandmother went to a German speaking school (here in the States) so she likely was familiar with this collection of gruesome children’s rhymes.
We found some of those enormous scissors at my Granby’s house when she passed away, I had no idea!
They don’t make them like they used to! Thanks ministry!
Lovely snippet, read like a genuine fond memory.
As fond as one can be in the face of a whipping. ?
I can just picture her waggling those shears… reminds me of my Gram. 🙂 <3
Thanks Bear!
Dear Andrea,
We start with what we know. Loved your embellishment to create a believable character. I could just see her waggling those shears. Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks Rochelle.
Oh, those switches. My parents didn’t use them, but my mom remembered being sent to find one that was just right for a nasty sting. And she was one of the Good ‘Uns 🙂
The problem is, everyone believes they’re one of the good uns
Especially the one, wielding the switch. Thanks Neil!