“They’re yelling again. They always yell. We’ll just stay here. Is that okay Lucy?”
“I don’t know why Daddy gets so mad and then Mommy cries. It makes my tummy hurt, like when I’ve eaten too much ice cream.”
“Sigh….”
“So Lucy, what would you like to wear today? I like this pink dress. Do you like it? Okay. There, that looks nice. Let me fix your hair. I have some pink bows. You look so pretty…”
At that moment mommy yelled like Sophie had never heard her yell before, “Get out! …Just…GO!” And then the front door slammed so hard it made the whole house shake. Sophie squeezed Lucy close, burying her head in the ruffled layers of her pink dress, when she heard mommy’s footsteps coming toward the closet.
Mommy opened the door. “Oh Sophie! I’m so sorry. Are you okay? It’s going to be okay…I promise.”
Sophie looked up. Mommy’s face was red. She had been crying. “I’m okay Mommy. Lucy doesn’t like yelling.”
“Oh, I know, I know…it’s not going to happen again. Come on. Get up my pretty girl. How about you and Lucy and I head into the kitchen for some ice cream…”
“That’s okay Mommy, my tummy hurts.”
kat ~ 4 December 2015
(205 Words)
This week’s Friday Fiction with Ronovanwrites is a Flash Fiction piece with the prompt: Using no more than 500 words, write about a child’s perspective of an adult situation. If you would like to read more stories or participate in the challenge, click HERE.
December 4th, 2015 at 5:04 pm
Well written *_* great job Kat
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 4th, 2015 at 5:32 pm
Thank you so much Amirhose! I really appreciate the feedback!
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 4th, 2015 at 5:54 pm
A very well described scene, Kat. It can be very distressing for children to hear their parents rowing, and you have shown that so well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 4th, 2015 at 6:03 pm
Thank you Millie. Children do what they can to feel safe in a scary situation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 4th, 2015 at 6:05 pm
That’s very true. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 4th, 2015 at 5:54 pm
So sad Kat! xxxxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 4th, 2015 at 6:04 pm
It is Willow. Thanks for stopping by.
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 4th, 2015 at 6:30 pm
Great stuff Kat, really well written.. and the strangest thing, I just posted my entry, and it is on a very similar issue…. How freaky!
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 4th, 2015 at 6:33 pm
Thanks Ritu! I’ll go read your story right now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 4th, 2015 at 6:34 pm
Thanks Kat!
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 4th, 2015 at 6:56 pm
after reading ritu’s and then yours, i just can’t help the tears
thank you for writing this lovely and heartbreaking scene.
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 4th, 2015 at 7:04 pm
Hugs Cherry! 😊
LikeLike
December 4th, 2015 at 8:02 pm
So real I got uncomfortable, still don’t like conflict.
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 4th, 2015 at 8:04 pm
I don’t either. I was a closet kid 😕
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 4th, 2015 at 8:10 pm
Very well written kat
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 4th, 2015 at 8:13 pm
Thank you Lynn.
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 4th, 2015 at 8:19 pm
Lovely
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 5th, 2015 at 6:58 pm
Ohhh how sad, but a very good short piece Kat.
LikeLike
December 5th, 2015 at 7:12 pm
Thanks Kathryn. I really do appreciate your comments. It’s a sad reality for many kids. 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 6th, 2015 at 9:43 pm
Nicely written. Maybe a bit to well. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 6th, 2015 at 9:43 pm
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 7th, 2015 at 8:36 am
What adults rush into, their children pay the price I cry for all the children hiding from those who are suppose to love & protect.
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 7th, 2015 at 8:47 am
You are so right Meredith. Thank you for your comments. ❤
LikeLike
December 7th, 2015 at 2:28 pm
You touched the chord in many readers. The subject is always a timely one and informative for those who don’t realize what they do to their children. Much like with Clarence, who I just read, writing from a child’s view changes a lot of how we write in regards to sophistication or word usage and phrasing. With a 1.5 Grade reading level, you definitely got the voice right. No big words out of character for the child.
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 7th, 2015 at 3:13 pm
Thanks Ron…it did feel odd using short choppy sentences and simple words…but it was a great exercise in getting into the character’s mindset and vocabulary. Thanks for this challenge! I always improve when I participate! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 8th, 2015 at 6:53 pm
Heart-breaking stuff and, as your others readers said, so real I was in the closet with them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 8th, 2015 at 7:02 pm
Thanks for the feedback Melissa. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 8th, 2015 at 7:04 pm
It’s my absolute pleasure 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 8th, 2015 at 7:05 pm
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 9th, 2015 at 10:26 pm
Love how you captured the little one’s way of coping with things bigger than she can handle. So realistic 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 9th, 2015 at 10:43 pm
Thank you Janni! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 11th, 2015 at 12:08 am
[…] Ice Cream Tummy Aches by Kat Myrman (like mercury colliding) This one gives attention to an all too common part of society. Memories will come flooding in for some, while others reading need comprehend and apply what they discover here. […]
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 13th, 2015 at 5:53 am
Been there! It felt very real & brought a lump to my throat! Too well written for comfort👍🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 13th, 2015 at 5:57 am
Me too Rosie. Thank you for the comment. And peace and healing to you.
LikeLike