Wednesday 16 September 2015

They should have been the happiest days of my life.

This is my short story for Friday Fictioneers.













Some say they hear the cries of children coming from the closed-down school. They say they hear teachers yelling for them to quieten themselves.

I don’t.

Yet something draws be back. Sometimes I lean on the barbed gate and see myself running around the playground with my friends. I was happy in the playground.

But only then.

Once I saw my tearstained face staring from a classroom window desperate to escape. I watched as my horrid teacher dragged me away screaming.

No-one was surprised when the school closed. It was a cruel place. Many of us still bear the scars.

I do.



Before you say 'that explains a lot ' I have to tell you it is pure fiction!

Picture: David Stewart
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30 comments:

  1. Dear Rosey,

    I have a hard time leaving comments in Blogspot blogs because my computer is allergic to the red tape of something required within. I'll try, though.

    You did what writers do and did it well, conjuring up ghosts and old fears while telling a tale we all can relate to. Some of us never escape the scars of school and life after seems like more of the same. Well done.

    Aloha,

    Doug

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    1. Looks like you found a way through Doug! Thanks for your kind comment. I was actually fortunate in having a very special time at school, but I know of others that didn't and it is they who inspired these few words.

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  2. There are many who harbour traumatic memories of their school days - and that's just the ex-teachers. Sorry to be flippant, Rosey. Your story captures the plight of young people in our society whose childhood is sadly damaged by school. We don't really cater for those children who need something a bit different.

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    1. I work with a class 25 children daily, and trying to give individual attention is not easy! Thanks for taking the time to comment, it's much appreciated.

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  3. It is unfortunate that some students do not have good memories associated with school. Even now the very thought of my school building makes me nostagia and wish to walk the aisles of my school. In Jan 2015 we old classmates visited our old school and clicked photos on the school steps.

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  4. nice story. are you sure it was fiction? just kidding. :)

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  5. I did not grow up in a school such as this but one where there were moments, classrooms, and hallways that have left scars to this day. I'm lucky.

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    1. As you say, even happy memories are often tinged with the odd 'moment' although the mind is quite good at filing things away

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  6. The memories that can come back by revisiting an old haunting ground, like your school. You conjured up the happy times in the playground and then those memories that are harder to admit into our conscienceness. You did it very realistically and it was a good tale if not a sad one.

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  7. Dear Rosey,

    I was glad that you left the note after your story saying it was pure fiction for you painted a believable picture. Childhood trauma goes deep into the psyche and often refuses to leave. Well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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    1. Well, this was an unusually serious post for me, so I thought I'd better stick a disclaimer at the end!

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  8. Very emotive story. Good one Rosey.

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  9. I'm glad it's just fiction for you, but isn't it sad that we all seem to remember situations like that, hurtful and stuck in our memories? Good story.

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  10. Powerful story. I wonder how many children had a similar experience to your (fictional) narrator?

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  11. What a grim picture! That it may be some child's reality even if not yours makes it even more sad. Gripping read. Nicely done.

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    1. Sadly I know it to true. Thanks for commenting.

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  12. powerful fiction, Rosey :) well-penned x

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  13. I loved school -- and I can only imagine what life must be like for those with such traumatic childhoods. You did a great job capturing the tragic memories.

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  14. I remember waiting for the day I would finish school. Not that the teachers were horrid or anything bad, it just felt like prison, stifling and unjoyful. So in some way I can relate to your very well-told story.

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  15. The myth of happy childhood ......

    Great take on this one.

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  16. Some children aren't lucky enough to go to a good school. well written story.

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  17. Rosey, you wove a very interesting piece of fiction! I feel sorry for those kids and am glad they closed the school down.

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