She kept right on sweeping, just like it was nothing. Me, I had a harder time.
I looked out over where the barn had been, at the orange surveyors’ stakes in the ground. Without meaning to, I let out a long sigh.
“People got to live somewhere, Walt,” she said. “Had to happen sometime. Besides, it might not be so bad in town.”
“It wasn’t my decision. That’s all.”
She set the broom against the wall, came over and took my hand in hers.
“Don’t you want what’s best for our children?”
I looked at my field. “They’re not children anymore.”
It’s a mournful piece. Well done.
Progress, eh, whatcha gonna do.
Nicely written piece, captured the mood well.
What a sad piece!! It’s similar to mine this week… farming is such a difficult occupation and hats off to all those who have struggled through.
Giving up the land is never easy.. and I guess the children already made their choice.
So so sad.
Rosey Pinkerton
How sad, but at least the land was sold, not taken away. Great story.
Sad. Nicely done.
Sad, huh? I suspect the children bullied ma and pa into selling up; they wanted their cake now!
Pretty neat and sad. Might be a word missing before field in the last line, maybe?
ooh, nice catch. Thanks!
I like your take on the photo and the challenge. This picture looks nothing like progress and that’s what your story is about. Well, I take that back–the high voltage power tower in the background stands in sharp contrast to the old silo–and that’s what your story suggests…
pave paradise and put up a new development?
Randy
It is soul destroying for the farmer having to leave his land. You have captured this well. You also showed the relationship of husband and wife well – the husband obviously being co-erced into selling the land. The wife obviously wanted to move. I loved the last line. One of the arguments (which you often here) was that the parents want to leave something to the kids. Your farmer made a valid point – they are no longer children. They should be making their own way. He should be left to enjoy his field. I loved this flash.
The old ways have to finish sometime – usually when the next generation don’t want to work hard. Good story.
Those moments when we are forced into positions where we cannot give our children the life we hoped are painful indeed.
Growing old and moving on :( Very sad.
Dear J Hardy,
I felt Walt’s feeling of helplessness and sorrow. Well written and layered. There’s more story than meets the eye and you’ve told it deftly in a hundred words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
This is a very poignant, true-to-life story. It happens more often these days. Family farms get sold instead of passed on to the next in line. Well done.
Poignant indeed, well done!
Tay.
:) Loved the ending especially. Good job!