The following story was written in response to Barbara Beacham’s “Monday’s Finish the Story” weekly prompt. Click on the blue Inlinkz frog to read the other stories or to add your own.
The Right Thing
(1st sentence + 150 words)
“A body suddenly crashed through a plate glass window at the Brigadier’s house.”
The screaming started before they even knew what it was—or who it was. The guests were too slow to stop the Brigadier’s wife from approaching.
Vanessa knelt over the Brigadier, trembling as she touched his face.
“We told him,” a soldier muttered.
“You can’t reason with these people,” said another man. “He should’ve brought an army—weapons! Not words.”
“Don’t you dare.” Vanessa stood. “He had courage. He was trying to do right.”
“Barricade the windows,” the senior officer directed. The soldiers obeyed. The other wives huddled together, silent.
“Is it any wonder they’re angry after all that’s happened? How many died under that hot sun?—on soil that was theirs for generations?”
“Ma’am,” the officer said. “With respect, he brought this on. We may all be killed.”
Vanessa glared, then pushed past the officer, out the door and into the chaos.
“Last we’ll see of her,” he said.
Good story! I like the courage she had at the end. Can’t blame the natives, it was their land and they’re having to bake to death in the hot sun.
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Thanks!
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That’s chilling. We’re the military, we know what’s best… Good story 🙂
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Thanks!
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Very nice story of courage!
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Thank you!
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Well done Emily! Vanessa is a brave woman, and I hope that she made it! Thank you for participating again Emily, and I hope that you will be back next week…good things are brewing! 🙂 Be well… ^..^
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Thanks! I hope to be back again next week! Another interesting prompt! : )
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Glad that you liked it! I have a lot of new material after some day trips…
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Liked it.. its the sensible woman speaking here with a strong sense of right and wrong. Good one!
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Thanks!
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Brave or foolish, I wonder? I hope she’s successful in avoiding more bloodshed.
We went in a similar direction this week!
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Yes, I wonder the same thing–she may be headed toward disaster.
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I also wondered whether Vanessa’s actions were brave or badly ill-judged. She truly believed her husband’s actions had been the right thing to do and wanted to carry out the task he started. A very gripping and thought-provoking story, Emily. 🙂
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Thanks! : )
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I hope Vanessa makes it through the confrontation – but while she may be doing the right thing I’m not sure it’s the sensible thing! Great story. 🙂
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I’m not sure either, but she is decisive! Thanks!
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