A friend introduced us. ” Jacqui, this is Onion.”
I raised my eyebrows “So you’re goin’ to make me cry.”
“Perhaps.”
Onion was the life of that party. He made me laugh as we danced and drank and joked our way through the evening. It was natural to meet again and again.
I found we held social justice views the same and we attended human rights marches and worked as advocates for refugees.
As I peeled back Onion’s layers, I found each one different and deeper and yes he made me cry as finally, he told of his own abuse.
In response to Charli’s prompt where all are welcome to participate. This week she asks:
August 19, 2015 prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that includes onions. It can be the main event or a spicy side to your flash. Think of the impact of onions — teary eyes, dragon-breath, indigestion. How can an onion add a twist, reveal a character or sabotage a perfect day? Have fun!
Respond by August 25, 2015 to be included in the weekly compilation.Rules are here. All writers are welcome!
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) 
The onion: distinctively collective.
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Many layered.
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This flash is just brilliant Irene. You and Onion had me laughing and then crying…this is perfect.
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Glad you enjoyed the flash Sherri. You’ve made my day. 🙂
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So glad 🙂
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I love this story and I’m so relieved he didn’t make you cry by breaking your heart in a way other than telling his sad story. You did a very very good job with this prompt!!! What is This Doing Here?: Cee’s Odd Ball Challenge 8?23/15
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Glad you enjoyed the story. I don’t know what Cee’s Odd Ball is doing there. Is it on my post because I can only see it in your comment. Confused…..
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I was going to give you a link to a new post but I’d copied Cee’s address earlier and hadn’t copied mine! Sorry to confuse your day…
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Ahh. A bit of confusion is good for the soul.
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Truly bizarre, Irene. Personifying the onion. (Or was “Onion” the man’s name? The photo is throwing me off.) Either way, I love it. Damn. I took the easy way out for this prompt.
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It is the man’s nickname. Australians have a habit of renaming everyone with virtually everybody being a given one/or several throughout their lives. I think it is a very Australian thing. Glad you enjoyed the flash despite the confusion. 🙂
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Ah. Well, I love it. It was funny, now it’s sweet. And still a bit funny. 🙂
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Really good use of the word. Love this story
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Glad you enjoyed the flash Raewyn. For me it was an easy way out although I have thought of many garden onion stories since.
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Like it a lot !! 🙂
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Glad you did M-R.
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Wonderful story – true friendship, built on sharing good times and bad but still maintaining respect. We’ve all got something to learn from Jacqui and Onion.
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Fabulous story, Irene. What a great nickname for a interesting character: Onion. It’s often the way that the life of the party is hiding grief underneath. How wonderful that he and Jacqui became such good friends that he was able to talk about his abusive past. Hopefully now he’ll be able to heal. Great take on the prompt.
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Thanks Norah. I think most people have many layers and it is one of the joys of getting to know people is peeling those back as you get to know them better. Often the surface hides whats underneath.
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That’s very true.
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We all have layers… some of the deepest ones never see the light of day until we find someone we can trust to listen.
An ogre is pretty much the same in most cultures and fairy tales. The movie was full of parodies on so many different nursery rhymes and stories. While there was three to the series that I know of the first will always be my favorite.
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I’ll have to make a point of seeing it. You are so right that the deep layers need someone that you can trust before you can allow them to surface. Someone who has got your back…..
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We associate layers with onions, but your flash is an example how a story can take a common analogy and make it meaningful. Well-written response!
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Thanks Charli. Glad you liked it.
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Really well written – and convincing in its stripping or presenting to us – of layers. 🙂
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Thanks for the compliment. Glad you enjoyed the peeling back of the layers.
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