GRAFFITI
Twice daily the guard from this end marches
across the bridge to meet his opposite number for a shared smoke, the boom of his boots reminding us how deep the
ravine is. Sometimes, while his back is turned, daring lads run on tiptoe to
spray graffiti, their parents unwilling to forbid these small tastes of
freedom.
But this morning the unthinkable happened – both guards disappeared. After a few minutes two lads ventured all the way across, and vanished. No yells, no shots, just a deathly silence.
Eventually their
fathers went looking, and they haven’t returned either.
We’ve been waiting all day. We don’t know
what to do.
.......................................................................................
I saw heavily-graffitied pillars when I first glanced at Roger Bultot's photo, and that brought to mind a spray-painted sentence I saw once in the car park of Las Galletas, our local shopping village in Tenerife. It was so romantic that it's stuck in my head ever since.
Te amo porque nací para cerrar los ojos a tu lado.
I love you because I was born to close my eyes beside you.
And on that note I wish you a very Happy New Year for 2023.
Wonderfully mysterious, Lizy
ReplyDeleteThanks Neil.
DeleteThere appears to be a secret worth protecting, or else the flood gates have opened for an escape route. Mysterious indeed.
ReplyDeleteI hope they all go across the bridge to freedom.
DeleteWill the mystery entice people or keep them away? Thought provoking story.
ReplyDeleteWill they find freedom or danger?
DeleteA mystery that demands a sequel. Happy New Year Liz.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'll write one. Thanks Iain.
DeleteA well told story, Liz. I wonder if the guards, boys, and fathers all came to the same fate. :-)
ReplyDeleteI also saw pillars at first, but was confused by the graffiti because of the lack of gang tagging.
Strange how our eyes can be deceived by an odd angle.
DeleteI'd like to think they are in a happier place. Forever the optimist!
ReplyDeleteMe too, Keith!
DeleteOh dear, so mysterious. I'd love to know what happened to them. And that graffity is wonderful. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Gah.
DeleteI want to know what happens next!! :)
ReplyDeleteSo do I!
DeleteVery mysterious, Liz. I'm waiting to find out what happened.
ReplyDeleteIt's a mystery, so we'll never know.
DeleteThe status quo has been jiggled, hopefully in favor of the oppressed.
ReplyDeleteI'm feeling optimistic.
DeleteYay! You saw this photo the same way I did! I feel better now :). I'm thinking the rest of those people would want to follow the ones who never came back--but maybe they're too afraid.
ReplyDeleteI thinks they'll have to - or at least the mother's of those boys will.
DeleteDear Liz,
ReplyDeleteAn ominous and mysterious story. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks, Rochelle, it seems to have sparked a lot of interest!
DeleteThe voice in those last two sentences is so heart-rending.
ReplyDeleteThank you - it brings a lump to my throat too!
DeleteLoved the challenge of what happened to them,
ReplyDeleteI'm waiting to see if this week's prompt supplies an answer!
DeleteThis is deeply mysterious and I wanna know more!!
ReplyDelete