MEMORIAL - a story in one hundred words

MEMORIAL

I was fourteen, running away from my stepfather, ducked in here out of the rain and practically fell over Mike. He gave me one of his coats.

It was our home for months till they caught me shoplifting and put me in care, but then the social worker tried it on so I came back to Mike.

Five years we had before his cough turned worse. I got us into a shelter but it was too late.

The Social cremated him and gave me his ashes. That’s his grave there – the only dad I ever had worth the name.

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This week's prompt photograph was taken by our leader personally - Rochelle - who you will find on her blog at  https://rochellewisoff.com/  From there you can follow the link to read other stories by dozens more writers like me, all of whom hope you will leave a comment and want to read more.

With Christmas coming up, I trust your shopping list includes lots of books? You can buy my latest book, Helter-Skelter, an historical novel, by clicking on the cover image on this page. Or if you like prehistoric adventure, the first in my Living Rock series, A Volcanic Race, is available on Amazon. Read it now before the next one comes out - I will be publishing Wolf Pack very soon.

MEMORIAL - a poem

PHILADELPHIA

To a memorial in the chancel

 I wonder if he called her Phil,

his sweet young wife

who died too soon

leaving three babies motherless.

Did the birth of her youngest,

Peter,

cause her death?

And did they blame him –

this child who never knew

her breast,

her arms,

her love.

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Written at a Festival workshop in Holy Trinity Church, Hurstpierpoint. Local poets and artists were invited to pick a church feature as a prompt, and this memorial slab in the chancel was my choice. The poems were later published in the church magazine.