Daniel placed the doll carefully on top of the pile.
He struck the match and held it next to the teddy bear.
The flame grew. It consumed all the toys.
When his mother came running out the house it was too late.
***
‘Why did you burn your sister’s toys, Daniel?’ his father asked him that evening.
‘Because Mummy’s always crying in Lily’s room with them.’ Daniel said. ‘I was trying to make her happy again.’
His father gave Daniel a hug and kissed him on the head.
‘It’s not the toys that make her sad, Daniel.’
Written as part of the Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).
To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
Oh Man! This tugs at the heart strings! So tender and sad when the Dad kisses him on the forehead and says that it isn’t about the toys.
Great job!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Joy, glad you appreciated it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Beautifully written, Iain
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Neil
LikeLike
I was thinking about the Velveteen Rabbit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Iain,
What a touching piece. Lovely.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Rochelle.
LikeLike
Ouch! This is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awww, thank you NJ 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The thinking of a child. Tragic, yet, so possible. Great tale.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Children and matches just do not mix, loved how you handled this without horror.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Mike
LikeLike
Touching indeed 👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Lauren
LikeLike
Great story. Beautifully written. At first I was scared.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, Daniel 😔
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice, subtle piece of writing, Iain – perfectly pitched and not over explained, which I really liked. I had a feeling this pic would bring little but sadness and so it proves
LikeLiked by 1 person
I couldn’t think of a happy way to interpret the prompt, but also I had written enough about terrorism last week. Thanks Lynn.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know what you mean, Iain. Though tough to write this pic with a hapy ending!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Egad, another dead baby story. Yikes. I couldn’t bear to do that to my little tykes so I saved them. Only the toys were hurt in the fire.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s not a picture that inspires happiness it seems.
LikeLike
What a heartbreaking, touching story. Nicely done, very subtle.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you,much appreciated.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, intense love it
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLike
Loved this, Iain!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Rosemary
LikeLike
Oof…your story today just hit me in the heart. The innocence of a child…this was lovely, Iain. Tragic…but lovely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Jade, very kind.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So sad. And very well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Jane.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A beautiful piece of writing on such a sensitive subject. This brought tears to my eyes, Iain.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Edith
LikeLike
Beautiful…. and well done! Reading it brought me into the room with them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
Moving narration! It appeared to be sibling rivalry in the beginning.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Reena, that was the idea.
LikeLike
Very moving. Makes me hope that the little boy doesn’t end up a pyromaniac though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A poignant tale ! I appreciate the depth and maturity in your writing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLike
The sweet little child, wanting to help mum but too young to understand what’s going on beneath. Very sad story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful story…just loved it..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very kind, thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
Iain, this was amazing. Very cleverly throughout and executed. So heartbreaking how the death of a child or a parent of young children leaves such a harbour of grief.
xx Rowena
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Rowena
LikeLike
Poor little boy, to witness such grief.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Liz
LikeLike
Brilliantly delivered, very touching
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Michael
LikeLike
Such a heart wrenching tale is this. Lian, i have noticed subtlety is your middle name. Excellent exhibition of understated stated writing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Neel
LikeLike
Oh, how sad. Great job on the prompt. You had me going from not liking that kid to loving him in 100 words or less 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙂
LikeLike
Aw…. poor family! So very well written. Kudoes! :o)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLike
Oh my god… this post… i am lost in it. So well told. So heartbreaking…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Laurie, nice to know it had an impact.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Emotive and well written, I truly appreciate your style of writing. And thank you for the follow
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, thanks for reading and your kind comment.
LikeLike
Oh this was heartbreaking Iain. Very well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
A tender tale beautifully told Iain. Delightful.
Cast Aside – a very short story
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Keith
LikeLike
sad story. at the same time, i appreciate how you laid it out very beautifully.
LikeLike
This story hits you in the feels…
Out of the mouths of babes… or hands, in this case. Still, his heart was so in the right place.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Dale
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a tear jerker story! Love it and sad too! WELL DONE!
LikeLike
Great mis-direct. How very sad and beautifully told.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Clare
LikeLike
Oh, that one rips at you, Iain. Nice job.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you John.
LikeLike
Oh hell, I’ve got tears in my eyes now. So well told, the emotions understated and palpable.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Sarah Ann, much appreciated.
LikeLike
Beautiful 🙂
https://rjfaithnlove.wordpress.com/2017/06/10/check-your-thoughts/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
Heartbreaking. Wonderfully written.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLike
Reblogged this on OneInOneSixty and commented:
Sad but beautifully written.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the compliment and reblog.
LikeLike