It took Mama a while to notice, becuase that’s how Mama was. She mostly noticed how she felt about things, and was quick to tell you. The house is too cold. The stew is too salty. It was always something else wrong, not her. She paid attention to the world around like it was a movie she was watching.
I don’t think Jessie was trying to prove a point or anything. After all, she was only five when she stopped talking and she hasn’t said a single word to anyone since. It’s been six years.
I wonder if something happened.
Dear Josh,
You keep us guessing. No doubt something happened to make Jessie stop talking. Well written as always.
Shalom,
Rochelle
I pulled this idea from a novel in progress, so I guess I need to finish it to find out! Thanks
I’m right there with you. ;)
Did Mama do something, is just blissfully unaware something happened, or knows something happened but refuses to admit it? Intriguing stuff.
Mothers are critical after certain time. It is universal.
yikes, i wonder too….
How deliciously mysterious
So much potential in this theme. Good one.
Great voice! I had a hunch this might be inspired by your WIP. The photo prompt seems like it’s a slice of your world.
Love the intrigue, but I think Mama is the culprit.
Perhaps something happened, that made her feel she couldn’t express herself. Something majorly traumatic. And mama is involved somehow, either directly or complicitly.
Josh, I think that’s one of your very best FF stories. Wonderfully acute observation and very fluent writing. Mama jumps off the page in glorious technicolor.
I understand that when young children stop speaking it’s often a way of exerting control when they feel that other ways are not open to them.
Thanks!
Clearly, SOMETHING happened–it it wasn’t good at all. Excellent writing.
Excellent piece. Mama is oblivious to those closest to her…because she refuses to see or is guilty.
I hope Mama hasn’t missed something truly dreadful that has happened to Jessie.
It’s an intriguing mystery. I love particularly how you’ve described the mother, blaming the world for her own unhappiness, being so self absorbed she doesn’t even see huge changes right in front of her. Disturbing and well written stuff Josh
An intriguing tale. I wonder where you will take it next.
intriguing, indeed. Well written.
Mother’s rather odd detachment is captured very well in your story.
This made me go to someone else in the home who mom took a blind eye to. Too many real life threats out irl.
I hope it works out. Thanks for reading.
I’m speechless, what happened?
Very intriguing. Wondering what happens next!
It sounds like something may have happened to Mama so many years ago, too. Darkly intriguing, and I want to know more.
Six years is a while. I could hear a Southern accent to this, but I may just be projecting.Mama sounds like quite a prickly character and woe betide that poor girl Jessie, if that is her guardian.
Wow! Your WIP sounds deliciously intriguing if this snippet is anything to go by. I’ve heard the odd story of a child who goes mute and my son had a friend who was largely mute for the first 6 years of school where they were good friends. He actually had quite a few friends and might be a bit on the spectrum or just quiet. I’m not aware of trauma in his case.
Even when I’ve been really mad with my family, I’ve hardly been able to stop talking for a day. I’d never be able to be silence for so long. So, am inclined to believe a great trauma has occurred. One that’s going to rattle her family and community when the truth comes out.
Best wishes,
Rowena
Oh my, I’m sure something happened. Unless, Jessie simly figured mama was too busy noticing everything else and it didn’t matter if she talked or not. Sad either way. Well-written story!
If you can’t say anything right don’t say anything at all.
Interesting. Good luck with the WIP.