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7.4.21

CRISP PACKETS

CRISP PACKETS

Jin opened the shutters, broom already in hand, but the alley was clean! He looked down the row, but he was first to open. He returned inside, shaking his head.

Each morning for a month was the same, until one night he stayed to watch.

A boy, maybe eight years old, collected all the rubbish, eating every scrap of food. Unseen, Jin followed him to a back-street shack.

Inside, children were melting drink cans to make jewellery – Jin had seen them selling it in the street – and in one corner a baby slept on a crackling sack filled with crisp packets. 

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This story popped up the moment I saw Brenda Cox's colourful photograph, but I had great difficulty fitting it into the 100 word limit - I hope it worked! Go to Rochelle's blog to follow the frog link and read other stories.  https://rochellewisoff.com/

26 comments:

  1. Thats a sad tale I hope Jin helped the kids.

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    1. That was in my mind - in the longer story!

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  2. Street children are endlessly inventive

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  3. A sad situation, although I admire their resourcefulness. Perhaps they will manage to pull themselves off of the street.

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  4. You show great heart in your story, Liz.

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  5. So very sad, and a sad reality for too many. No child should have to live like this.

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    1. Thank you for seeing the reality behind my fiction.

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  6. What a sad tale! And a true one for too many children who are being exploited around the world. Something tells me Jin won't let these kids remain as they are.

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    1. Jin cared enough to follow the boy, so there is hope for this group, at least.

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  7. A thoughtful tale, Liz. Ingenuity is bred by circumstances.

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    1. How right you are, Sandra. Thanks for commenting.

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  8. Dear Liz,

    A well told tale that I could see and hear.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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  9. sad reality in so many parts of this world.

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  10. I hope Jin helps them out. After all, they're saving him a job too!

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  11. I'm sure it was difficult, so much was said, but it certainly worked in conveying well the difficult life stories of industrious street children. Very well done.

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    1. Thank you, Brenda - I am happy to hear I managed to convey the essence of my longer story.

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  12. I wonder what Jin will do. I feel he will help, from what you write of him. And what hard circumstances many children have to survive. Fiction and fact...

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  13. It worked beautifully. It's a world very few of us have known or experienced, and you took us there.

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    1. We are the fortunate ones, Linda. Also we are, in a strange way, fortunate to have glimpsed that other life, because it made us aware of the inequalities of this world.

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