IAIN KELLY

LITTLE SISTER

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.’


charred-toys
Copyright Karuna

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.

82 responses to “LITTLE SISTER”

  1. joyroses13 Avatar

    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!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Joy, glad you appreciated it.

      Liked by 2 people

  2. neilmacdon Avatar

    Beautifully written, Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  3. J Hardy Carroll Avatar

    I was thinking about the Velveteen Rabbit.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. rochellewisoff Avatar

    Dear Iain,

    What a touching piece. Lovely.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Rochelle.

      Like

  5. NJ Avatar
    NJ

    Ouch! This is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Awww, thank you NJ 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  6. jellico84 Avatar
    jellico84

    The thinking of a child. Tragic, yet, so possible. Great tale.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  7. Mike Avatar

    Children and matches just do not mix, loved how you handled this without horror.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  8. Lauren Avatar
    Lauren

    Touching indeed 👍

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Lauren

      Like

  9. Indira Avatar

    Great story. Beautifully written. At first I was scared.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Annie Avatar

    Oh, Daniel 😔

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Lynn Love Avatar

    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

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I couldn’t think of a happy way to interpret the prompt, but also I had written enough about terrorism last week. Thanks Lynn.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Lynn Love Avatar

        I know what you mean, Iain. Though tough to write this pic with a hapy ending!

        Liked by 1 person

  12. James Avatar

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It’s not a picture that inspires happiness it seems.

      Like

  13. Snow's Fissures and Fractures Avatar

    What a heartbreaking, touching story. Nicely done, very subtle.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you,much appreciated.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. csheldonblog Avatar

    Wow, intense love it

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Rosemary Carlson Avatar

    Loved this, Iain!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Rosemary

      Like

  16. Jade M. Wong Avatar

    Oof…your story today just hit me in the heart. The innocence of a child…this was lovely, Iain. Tragic…but lovely.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Jade, very kind.

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Jane Dougherty Avatar

    So sad. And very well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Jane.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. Edith M. Field Avatar

    A beautiful piece of writing on such a sensitive subject. This brought tears to my eyes, Iain.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Edith

      Like

  19. Karuna Poole Avatar

    Beautiful…. and well done! Reading it brought me into the room with them.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Reena Saxena Avatar

    Moving narration! It appeared to be sibling rivalry in the beginning.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Reena, that was the idea.

      Like

  21. scr4pl80 Avatar

    Very moving. Makes me hope that the little boy doesn’t end up a pyromaniac though.

    Liked by 1 person

  22. Moon Avatar
    Moon

    A poignant tale ! I appreciate the depth and maturity in your writing.

    Liked by 1 person

  23. draliman Avatar

    The sweet little child, wanting to help mum but too young to understand what’s going on beneath. Very sad story.

    Liked by 1 person

  24. Balaka Avatar

    Beautiful story…just loved it..

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Very kind, thank you

      Liked by 1 person

  25. Rowena Avatar

    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

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Rowena

      Like

  26. Liz Young Avatar

    Poor little boy, to witness such grief.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  27. Michael Wynn Avatar

    Brilliantly delivered, very touching

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Michael

      Like

  28. neelwritesblog Avatar

    Such a heart wrenching tale is this. Lian, i have noticed subtlety is your middle name. Excellent exhibition of understated stated writing.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  29. granonine Avatar

    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 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you 🙂

      Like

  30. Mrs. Completely Avatar

    Aw…. poor family! So very well written. Kudoes! :o)

    Liked by 1 person

  31. Laurie Bell Avatar

    Oh my god… this post… i am lost in it. So well told. So heartbreaking…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Laurie, nice to know it had an impact.

      Liked by 1 person

  32. Weltchysnotebook Avatar

    Emotive and well written, I truly appreciate your style of writing. And thank you for the follow

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      You’re welcome, thanks for reading and your kind comment.

      Like

  33. Dahlia Avatar

    Oh this was heartbreaking Iain. Very well done.

    Liked by 1 person

  34. Keith's Ramblings Avatar

    A tender tale beautifully told Iain. Delightful.

    Cast Aside – a very short story

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Keith

      Like

  35. plaridel Avatar

    sad story. at the same time, i appreciate how you laid it out very beautifully.

    Like

  36. Dale Avatar

    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.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  37. Nan Falkner Avatar

    Such a tear jerker story! Love it and sad too! WELL DONE!

    Like

  38. Clare Hempstead Avatar

    Great mis-direct. How very sad and beautifully told.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Clare

      Like

  39. John Davis Frain Avatar

    Oh, that one rips at you, Iain. Nice job.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you John.

      Like

  40. Sarah Ann Avatar
    Sarah Ann

    Oh hell, I’ve got tears in my eyes now. So well told, the emotions understated and palpable.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Sarah Ann, much appreciated.

      Like

  41. 1in160blog Avatar

    Heartbreaking. Wonderfully written.

    Liked by 1 person

  42. 1in160blog Avatar

    Reblogged this on OneInOneSixty and commented:
    Sad but beautifully written.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you for the compliment and reblog.

      Like

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