Post 1592. Thursday August 31
Six Sentence Stories
As she rounded the bend a row of dwellings came into view, and there in the middle was the little house she lived in as a child. She walked faster, faster still then started to run. Her mind began to overflow with memories of playing marbles, hopscotch, and chase; hearing the jingling tune of an ice cream van as it sat across the street and Bobby, next door's cat purring as he softly brushed against her legs
But why was her home boarded up, where was the bright yellow front door, what happened to Mummy's rose bushes, and why did a sign say 'Keep out, condemned’?
She’d returned to her street to relive her memories for it was the only place she’d ever been happy. From the moment she left her life was condemned, for tragedy, sadness, and despair waited around every corner and now it seemed her joyous memories were condemned too.
Despair by Kim Roberts at deviantArt
For Six Sentence Stories where the cue word is Bend.
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In a certain sense, it's impossible to go back, even if the place had been the same.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree mimi.
DeleteI have had the urge to return to a childhood home to see how they looked but that resulted in sadness too as the house was done up unrecognisable from its state in wartime Britain and all the places I used to play and walk the dog,the fields and woods all gone crammed full with modern development
ReplyDeleteI can relate to this, particularly in regard to a field I played in as a child which held such happy mrmories. It's an industrial estate now.
DeleteI've not been back since we sold Mother and Daddy's house. Not sure I can .
ReplyDeleteI did once and I was so disappointed, and that's what prompted me to write this tale. Thanks Paul.
DeleteKeep out.condemned .... really haunts.
ReplyDeleteIt does indeed Reena.
Deleteyou know what really knocks me out about a 'a visit to childhood home' the scale...the size and distances between and among the 'gross' features of distances and house size that remain. sure a 'Condemned' sign is harsh and jarring on the emotions... but but wait a minute! that house (my best friends house) was a lot farther away! the depth of the sideyard where we played they changed it!.
ReplyDeleteIt (this sensing of a different reality) is tricky and all too fleeting but damn... it's cool when you can catch a glimpse.
Our memories are so often different from the actuality whether it be size, attractiveness or sheer beauty - and that applies to houses too! Thank you for your insightful analysis of my ramblings.
DeleteI've never gone back to my childhood home, but I've checked it out on Google Street view. A lot less emotional attachment!
ReplyDeleteI can fully understand that. Cheers Annalisa
DeleteThe minute you live a moment you can never recapture it in all it's glory or disaster. Time flows right on by...
ReplyDeleteSo true, but if I'd mentioned it to my subject I wouldn't have had a tale to tell!
DeleteI visited my old parental home where I lived as a child. Now it is desolate and run-down.I wish I had not visited it. Some memories should be memories.
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly what happened here. Memories should indeed remain memories. Thanks Kalpana.
DeleteI've only visited my birth home and childhood home via Google maps. They are both in rather unsafe neighborhoods.
ReplyDeleteVery wise Denise!
DeleteThis is a great SSS. Memories, old photographs, and journals depict our past the best I think, but I have returned to some of the homes I have lived in. Nothing is quite the same, and Clark summed it up nicely.
ReplyDeleteSo true. The mind does have a way of bulding memories up in our minds. In my character's case however it was worse as she not just wanted but needed to relive memories. Thanks Pat
DeleteVery bleak and moving. Nicely done.
ReplyDelete