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24.2.14

FRIDAY FICTION - The Carer

THE CARER
That bloody bell rules my life.
Help me dress, Josie, empty the commode, Josie, make breakfast.
Sometimes I escape into the garden and hide – no one’s tended it since Dad took Des fishing and never returned. Mum thinks they drowned but I’ve learned different.

She was wearing different clothes when I came home from school yesterday. She thought I wouldn’t notice cos I’m only eight.

I pick my bag up from the porch and peer through the curtain. Mum’s already out of her chair looking in the fridge. There’s a week’s worth of sandwiches in there.

I’m going fishing.

I'm a bit late on parade this weekend - visitors and family matters intervened - but I hopr you'll take the time to comment.
Friday Fictioneers in a group of online writers who each week are prompted by a link on Rochelle's blgo to write a 100 word story.  http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/

14 comments:

  1. Yes, sometimes being a carer makes you feel like escaping but most of us just get on with it, because we care!

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    1. Except in this case the mother was less needy thatn she made out

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  2. A carer at age eight? How sad. I guess Dad and Des took off and it sounds like your girl is headed off to join them.

    janet

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  3. Love the turn around in this. Hope she finds Dad and Des on her fishing trip!

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  4. Dear Lizy,

    Sounds like a very strange turn of events. Sad for an eight-year-old, although I knew one in my childhood. Not as far fetched as it might sound.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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    1. I have read many Social Services reports in my preivous working life to know that this is not far-fetched at all. If I used some of what I know, people would accuse me of too much imagination.

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  5. Good story and well written. Good voice. Probably not an uncomon situation these days, sadly.

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    1. Child carers are a fact of life that most people tend to ignore.

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  6. Wow, this was a really good one..being a carer takes a lot of heart. Nice take on the prompt.

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    1. Thank you camgal. Rather a late entry so @I'm glad you found me.

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  7. Ha! It's what Mum deserves I think.

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    1. She does indeed, Patsy - taking shameless advantage of a little girl.

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