Photo courtesy of Douglas M. MacIlroy
“Remember we used to play the monster game? Mum would grab us and hide us. ‘You’ll be safe from the monster here,’ she’d say, finger to lips, and I’d giggle and shush you.
Dad would charge in the front door, playing along, and we’d hear them downstairs yelling and crashing about. Dad would ham it up for us. I remember him stomping upstairs, calling, but Mum had told us, no matter what, we weren’t to give away our hiding place.”
“Is that how you remember it, Elise? Really? Well, you hold on to that. Good memories are a precious thing.”
*****
It’s time for Friday Fictioneers again. Thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting this flash fiction event and selecting the weekly photo prompt. Read all the other 100 word stories here.
Onto the page 
Chilling
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Yes, it’s a grim topic. Thanks for your comment.
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Brilliantly played.
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Thank you Kirizar.I’m glad it worked.
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‘Is that how you remember it?’ – very clever line
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Yes – that’s the key line. Thank you.
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Gosh! that was well written, and unfortunately totally believable.
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It’s sad to imagine how many kids grow up like this – and worse. I’m happy that I captured something authentic – thank you for the lovely feedback.
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Dear Margaret,
It sounds like those two don’t remember things quite the same way. Well done. You get extra points for not saying ‘diving helmet’ anywhere in your story. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’ve been reading a few things related to memory lately. It’s fascinating. Thank you for the ‘diving helmet avoidance points’ and for your encouraging feedback.
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Very chilling. Mum protecting both from dad and the older sibling protecting the younger from the truth.
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That’s it. At least one member of the family seems to have escaped unscathed. Thanks for commenting.
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Yes it could be better to remember it that way.. sounds like many many dark layers beneath.
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Memory is a tricky thing. We usually regret it when we forget bits of our childhood, but in this case it’s for the good.
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A very clever ‘double story’ Margaret. Well done.
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Thank you, Sandra. Memory’s such a slippery thing – it lends itself to storytelling really well.
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Well written and great twist. It made me re-think the entire story.
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I’m glad the ending had that effect – I hoped it would. Thank you for your lovely comment.
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This is so good, and so realistic it’s turning my stomach. Poor kids, poor mum.
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I’m glad you liked it, Gabriele, although I’m sorry about the intestinal effect. Poor family indeed. Thanks for the feedback.
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Repressed memories perhaps?
Great story.
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