Her little hands scrawl circles. She places an assortment of toys inside them – Lego, a pencil. a toy truck. She babbles in words that make sense to only her.
She looks up seeking recognition for a job well done. I nod and smile and say that’s lovely. She accepts it and begins the process again.
‘Okay, time’s nearly up, if you want to say your goodbyes.’
I don’t move.
She smiles and gives a tiny wave as she is led out the door. I’ll see her in another month. Was it worth it? To give her a future? To save the planet?
‘Okay. let’s go. Back to your cell.’
Written for Friday Fictioneers 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).
The UN Climate Convention – COP26 – is taking place 100 metres away from my workplace at this very moment. Quite bizarrely, President Biden, Prime Minister Boris, Greta Thunberg and Leonardo DiCaprio (along with 120 World Leaders and thousands of activists and demonstrators) are occupying the same little piece of land as I have grown up around, and hopefully making some vital changes to the way we live our lives and treat our planet. We’ll see.
To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
Iain Kelly 
62 responses to “THE ACTIVIST”
So well done…what a conundrum…….a real question causing much thought.
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Thanks Ain
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Great twist at the end, and the unanswered question of what he did
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Thanks Neil
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A masterful misdirection. Thought-provoking point. Well done, Dad or Mom
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Thank you Eugenia 🙂
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Brilliant piece of misdirection. Which left questions open as to the protagonist
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Thanks Michael
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Dear Iain
Questions. So many questions. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle
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Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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What an interesting piece. Well done.
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Thanks Mason
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Poignant. A scenario shared by many parents…
And on the side, look at you, on stage left from what we hope will slow the descent! Cool…and fingers crossed.
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Really feel for the parent in this one. Great write.
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Thank you 🙂
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Heartbreaking – we don’t need to know what he did or didn’t do. I like to think that he is being the best parent he can be in his situation. Beautifully done.
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Thanks Dale, much appreciated 🙂
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🙂
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Nicely done. Interesting that you are so close to where today’s headlines are coming from…
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So close, but of course all fenced off so can’t really see anything behind the closed doors!
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Ah, the question for so much of what we do. But is nobody prioritises long-term good, we’ll get to see the alternative all too soon
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There certainly have to be sacrifices. Thank you.
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That’s pretty close to your workplace, Iain.
Wonderfully incorporated the COP26 theme in your story.
Very relevant.
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Thanks Anita
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A very powerful story, Iain! No wonder your muse took you there. I’m sure it’s been a difficult time getting any work done, and exciting at the same time. Fingers and toes crossed but don’t feel hopeful.
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Thanks Brenda. A lot of talk and announcements so far, but we won’t know if it’s a success for years to come.
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A wonderful story that invites your readers to engage in the story. Nicely done, Iain.
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Thanks so much Bill
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You’re welcome, Iain.
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How brave of you to write your story from the mum’s perspective. She’s presumably been imprisoned for her activities as an activist. What sacrifices some people are making to convince the rest of us of the urgency of our climate predicament! To lose so much of your baby’s early months would be a brutally heavy punishment for a mum.
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Thanks Penny, I’m glad you saw the full meaning of the story, I wasn’t sure everyone would make the connection. Much appreciated.
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I don’t know what he’d done, to get himself in the cell, in the pursuit of maybe giving her a future (or thinking that he would), but the realities of costs we cannot perceive, and the price our children will have to pay for our folly, excess, stubbroness, and selfishness are … yeah … insanity.
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Thank you
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A great little tale with a timely nod to events happening on your doorstep.
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Thanks Keith
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Great story Iain. Was it worth it? That depends on what s/he did and where s/he lives. You don’t go to jail in most European countries unless you are really violent. And that’s definitely not worth it. Because it doesn’t accomplish anything. In autocratic countries on the other hand their mere existance has impact…
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Very true, much like the UN conference, we won’t know if it’s worth it until we see how the next few decades go!
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Well written. I agree that we should sort out our priorities, but there are others way – breaking the law willy-nilly leads to anarchy.
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True Liz, but at what point do we reach that last resort?
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Now, I really want to know what he or she did! Nicely done.
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Thank you Patricia 🙂
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win or lose, i think it’s all worth the sacrifice.
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Let’s hope so.
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Iain,
I imagine it must add an extra poignancy that it’s happening in your neck of the woods.
pax,
dora
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Thanks Dora
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Let’s hope the parent’s sacrifice was enough to balance out the folly of her/his generation.
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True! Thank you
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Oooo fascinating last line. I think, given her sweet innocent play it might have been worth it. Clever tale.
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Thanks Laurie 🙂
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Eerie Iain. Hopefully, improvements to come.
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Fingers crossed.
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Sounds like he/she maybe went a bit too far, but I really hope it was worth it.
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So do I!
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Questions, questions, amd then some more! Brilliant misdirection.
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Thanks Neel
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I wonder how much change there will be when they all board their jets, or their gas-guzzling cars, and go back home to houses that are worth millions (well, maybe not Greta), to chauffeur-driven luxury limos, and all the other trappings of modern politics. It’s hard to believe a word they say when one investigates how they live.
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Setting a better example would certainly help convince the rest of the world to clean up their act! Thanks Linda
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Such a gentle and poignant story Iain, you convey such a sense of intimacy and loss.
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Thanks so much
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Powerful story and also what an honor it must be to be so close. Here’s hoping for real, timely change.
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Fingers crossed. Thanks Anne.
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