© Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
“Children can’t come in.” The woman in uniform crossed her arms as she barred the entrance.
“But Matron, we’ve driven over a hundred miles to see the baby.”
“You go in and these two stay on the verandah. Can’t risk newborns with children’s germs.
“I’ll be quick.”
“Don’t worry Mum. We’ll play hopscotch in the shadows.”
Unobserved the figure watched from the shadows of the red bench, approaching the verandah when the adults had gone.
“I’ll show you the baby.”
“But the germs.”
“You ain’t got germs.” Trusting they followed, fulfilling the cycle of life and death.
In response to Friday Fictioneers. The photo is the PROMPT. Where does it take you? Tell me in a hundred words or less.
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About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Scary.
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Yes
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Chilling! You’ve really taken hold of your fiction writing chops!
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It is interesting but the photo prompts are much harder to write to than your word prompts. All I can think is that your imagination is stifled having an image that shows it all placed in front of you. I’m not happy with this one but time ran out.
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That’s how it was, children were kept out. Your last sentence suggests with good reason!!
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I can remember travelling to visit a friend of my parents that had just had a baby in Kyogle (we were in Casino) and we were not allowed in for this reason. For some reason the verandah reminded me of the cottage hospital although the photo I think is a Southern mansion.
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😦
Perhaps lightening up next time ?
Or is it possible that this genre of writing encourages the dark ?
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I think it encourages the dark as I am not normally a dark writer. Perhaps fiction brings out my black soul. For you M-R I will try and do something lighter next time.
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Selfish, ain’t I ? [grin]
No, Irene: you must do what you must do ! 😀
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Yes that I must. 🙂
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Now that is scary…and I love it…
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I’m glad you do. These flashes bring out the dark and sinister. I’m going to attempt humour next time but note the word attempt. 🙂
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I love the dark and sinister, same happens to me. Fascinating! But I do love your humour too…it’s great fun all this isn’t it?
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Absolutely and I think they are very good exercises for writing and helping you to think creatively. 🙂
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🙂
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Reblogged this on Writing Out Loud and commented:
Great picture Irene, writing too.
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You’ve got my scary vote!
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That’s great. Thanks Noelle
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Am I crazy here, or your last line suggested that “figure” killed the children? Scary, yes!
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That was the idea although I think it ambiguous as it could be taken that the baby was killed by the germs. Certainly someone died. Scary yes.
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You do have a way wit words 😉
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Thanks Dawn.
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Very good, chilling, frightening and a good read.
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Thanks Maree. Glad you enjoyed it.
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So chilling.. and so easy to lure the children .. maybe they don’t fall for candy any longer.. but ever so scary still
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I hope you are right.
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Horror. “Fulfilling the cycle of life and death.” It’s even more horrific when it involves innocence.
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I agree
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Horrifyingly convincing. Good one.
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Thanks Sandra.
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Dear Irene,
I think the uniformed nurse might regret adhering to the rules. Scary.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yes. Sometimes rules should be broken. Thanks Rochelle.
Cheers Irene
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