Fiction, Flash Fiction, Southern US

Short Story: Someday

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2015-06-22-bw-beacham

Someday

“Hey boys, how ’bout y’all makin’ yer Ma some wind chimes?”

William never expected to find the old wind chimes he and his cousins made for their grandmother Julia one muggy summer day along the South Carolina coast. He discovered the chimes in the rickety shed, Ma Julia’s words echoing in his mind.

Wrapped in tissue paper, the chimes looked nearly pristine after all the years. He chuckled, the words “redneck wind chimes” amusing now. So young at the time, they didn’t understand what the word ‘redneck’ meant, only that they’d heard it. He remembered how Ma Julia had laughed until tears flowed down her face.

She gathered them together, “Boys… our skin don’t turn red, but we’re just as important as those that do. Someday, this word and the words they call us will no longer be hateful, and we’ll live as friends.”

William waited for someday.

Word Count:  148

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This story is dedicated to the citizens of Charleston, SC who proved in the face of tragedy that someday is possible. I grew up in South Carolina, and from an early age the segregation I witnessed bothered me. I didn’t understand why I could walk into the front of the dime store, yet black people had to use the rear entrance. Fortunately, I was raised by very fair-minded people who taught me racism in any form was wrong.

The moving sight of thousands marching together on the Ravenel Bridge will stay with me forever.

Link to Ravenel Bridge story…. http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150621/PC16/150629842

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mondays-finish-the-story Written for the wonderful writing challenge, Mondays Finish the Story. Each Monday, Barbara Beacham posts a picture prompt, along with the first line of the story. The stories must be between 100-150 words and must include the given first line, shown in italics in the story.

Special thanks to Barbara Beacham for sharing her excellent photography skills to provide such challenging prompts. Check out the MFTS blog… some great short stories posted.  https://mondaysfinishthestory.wordpress.com/ 

Direct link to this week’s stories… http://new.inlinkz.com/view.php?id=536225

35 thoughts on “Short Story: Someday”

  2. Great story! Loved the ending! “Our skin don’t turn red but we’re just as important as those that do.” Someday, this word and the other words they call us will no longer be hateful and we’ll live as friends. William waited for someday.” What happened in SC is such a tragedy.

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  7. A moving memorial to the nine in Charleston.
    I too hope, like William, someday everyone will see just see another person, not a person of a particular race.
    My parents, like yours, taught me that everyone is equal no matter how they look, where they are from, what religion they follow. I am glad that they did.

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      1. I thought we were moving that way — President as an example. But then Charlottetown, the controversy over the Confederate flag, police shootings, I wonder if we have.
        I hope you are correct too!

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  9. While born a ‘rebel’ I was raised up north. Differences were not an issue there as in some places.
    Though the biggest things I do remember were; ‘Do as I say and not as I do’ as some elders grappled with right and wrong, trying to teach right… And ‘Yep, it’s all good, as long as it’s not in my back yard.’

    Your honorarium is heartfelt. Thanks for stopping by and leaving such kind words to my post on the prompt.

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  13. Loved your story. And a great message too. Years back, I use to work in day cares… Kids of all colors, nationalities, and religion would play together with out thought to any of the above… I think it’s true what they say that kids aren’t born with the ability for racism, it’s taught through the attitudes of their parents. Hat’s off to your parents for raising you to be fair and not look at the color of a person’s skin, their religion, or their nationality… It’s the inside that counts.

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    1. Thank you. It’s amazing to see children interact without regard to who they are or what they look like. Wish as adults we had not forgotten that lesson! You are so right, it’s what’s inside that counts.

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