James stepped out of the house and looked around.
Sometimes a car came round the corner at high speed.
Then he would have to warn her.
He heard her footsteps in the tiled hall.
“Do you have the doorkey?” she called.
“It’s here, Mummy. Come on now, or we’ll be late!”
“Has the bus passed already?”
“No, Mummy. There’s still time.”
James took his mother’s hand.
She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder and they set off in synchronised steps.
The only sound was the tap, tap, tapping of her white stick on the flagstones.
“Everything alright?” James wanted to know.
She felt guilty, thinking that James should be out with his friends.
James did not mind.
He was already planning to bring daylight back into his mother’s eyes.
But he was only five, so there was still a long way to go.
A long way to go
This is a second story for the first May Challenge: “Witness” in the group “Flash Fiction”.
I have to admit that I wanted to write something “harmless” after reading some of the other stories.
KelseyD, 2 months ago
So sweet! Short, yet beautiful, and powerful. I enjoyed this very much.
Faith Puleston in reply to KelseyD’s comment, 2 months ago
Thanks so much. I’m glad you liked it. I’ve invented a few negative characters recently. It was a nice change to write something positive.
Alison Pearce, 2 months ago
Beautiful piece!
bchrisdesigns, 2 months ago
I don’t get the end. Is she blind?
Faith Puleston in reply to bchrisdesigns’s comment, 2 months ago
Yes! Don’t they have white sticks where you live? Sorry. I took that for granted.
bchrisdesigns, 2 months ago
LOL! They do, but I live where walking is not what most people do, so you rarely see that. I sort of picked up on it from seeing it in movies. But, now it makes total sense! Such a good son she has! We should all be so lucky!
Faith Puleston, 2 months ago
N.B. After replying to the question from bchrisdesigns, I realise that I have to add a bit more explanation. The blind mother leans one hand on her son’s shoulder and the BOTH hold the stick. I’ve seen that happen when a child is in the company of a blind person. The stick is the eyes of a blind person. Of course, the little boy can see and mother can depend on him. This is the essence of the compassion in this story. Children born to parents with disabilities have an uncanny perception of their own role.
Faith Puleston in reply to bchrisdesigns’s comment, 2 months ago
But if you are blind you can’t drive a car! ...... :-)