Friday, April 11, 2014

J is for . . . JUMP ROPE

Welcome to The Blogging from A-Z Challenge April 2014! This year, I’m offering up a story – each one 100 words or fewer - for each letter of the alphabet.

Some are heartfelt, poignant, sweet. Others are…not. 

I hope you enjoy them.


*****

JUMP ROPE

Liza drags the jump rope behind her. She pretends it’s her pet snake, pretends it’s okay no other little girls want to play with her.

*****

35 comments:

  1. Oh that's so sad. In just one sentence. Makes me want to hug her.

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  2. Oh, poor little Liza. I'm so impressed with the emotional impact your stories have in so few words!

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  3. ::sniff, sniff:: that's so sad - I want to find someone to play with her.
    Sophie
    Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles - A to Z Ghosts
    Fantasy Boys XXX - A to Z Drabblerotic

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  4. =( That breaks my heart. No little girl should be friendless.

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  5. I agree with Suzi. I just wanted to hug her at the end too. And, I remember days like that as a kid. Thankfully, they didn't last forever.

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  6. Julie, Sophie, Crystal, Tyrean - I think at some point or another, we knew a little girl like that or we were one ourselves.

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  7. That is so sad! But I can relate as the youngest child in my family because my siblings never wanted to play with me, and I used to pretend the jump rope was a snake, too. :)

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  8. Poor Liza, I feel bad when some kids are left out of the games by the other kids.

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  9. Dang, this almost brings tears to my eyes. Very poignant story. And I agree with you Madeline, I think we all either knew a girl like that or we were the girl in the story at some point in our lives.

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  10. Chrys, Rachna, Kristin, Alex - it's not always easy being a kid….

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  11. I found you from another AtoZ participant. These are really great. Almost like flash fiction prompts. I'd love a list of these when you're done! They really are great. Love the indelible ink one the best. Cheers.

    http://perspectiveofawriter.wordpress.com/2014/03/21/a-to-z-challenge-2014/

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  12. Extraordinary! To convey so much in so few words ... thank you.

    Garden of Eden Blog

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  13. That was f*cking perfect! You hit it in just a few words. Powerful ending, as well!

    Precious Monsters

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  14. Perspective, Susan, Jolie - thank you so much!

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  15. So sad. Incredible how quickly you nailed it.

    This coming on the heels of stabbings at a local high school. We hear that the suspect was bullied by others in the school.

    When will humans learn to get along? Learn to include each other?

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  16. Aw, poor Liza! :( But perhaps she'll be like Rudolf someday, and lead the reindeer. :)

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  17. These short-shorts are great, and what a terrific idea for the A-Z challenge.

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  18. So much said with so few words. Superb.

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  19. Although brief, that little flash fiction piece really broke my heart! Poor kid!

    @TuiSnider on Twitter
    My blog: Tui Snider's Offbeat & Overlooked Travel
    I am also part of the #StoryDam team, a friendly writing community!

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  20. Teresa, Sayling, Susan - thank you!

    Bonnie - maybe! :)

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  21. Tui - Liza is getting lots of sympathy from you all.

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  22. Awwww, two sentences and you made me sad.

    ~Patricia Lynne~
    Story Dam
    Patricia Lynne, YA Author

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  23. That is painful. Probably happens on playgrounds all over the place.

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  24. Wow - you convey a lot with few words. Well done.

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  25. So brief, but definitely tells a story and makes the reader want to know more. Your book looks interesting, too - I'll have to check it out!

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  26. Agreed - concise and beautiful. My goodness. (I hope you do flash fiction challenges.)

    Dropping by from A-Z myself. Good luck with it.

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  27. A lonely soul... it's a reality for lots of kids...

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  28. Susan - unfortunately, it probably does.

    Patricia L, Patricia S, Tasha - I'm sorry it made you sad but I am glad it moved you.

    Jodie - thank you!

    Melody - thank you! I hope you enjoy the collection!

    Scribbler - thank you! I do enter the occasional challenge. And thank you for reading and commenting on some of my other stories, too.

    Michelle - I think there's a lot of lonely souls - children and adults - out there. And I appreciate you reading and commenting on the other stories, too!

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  29. Well know, I have to like this one. There aren't that many Liza's around! And this Liza remembers that lonely feeling!

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  30. Liza - I hope that lonely feeling didn't last too long.

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  31. I always far more adept at using the jump rope as an imaginary snake rather than jumping it. She'll find someone with as an active an imagination as hers, I'm sure.

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