Enough is enough, Bree had decided.
“Where are we going, Mommy?” Five year old Cody kicked up the smooth rocks on the trail as he skipped along, holding onto his mother’s hand tightly.
“It’s a surprise.” Bree tucked one of Cody’s folded t-shirts deeper into her bulging purse. Her feet were already sore. She should have grabbed her sneakers.
“Disneyland? Antarctica?”
“Antarctica?” Bree scrunched her nose.
“I want to play with the polar bears.”
“Well, it’s not Antarctica. I’ll tell you that. No other hints.”
“Well, I hope it’s Disney! I want to go on the Star Wars ride. Is it Disneyland, Mommy?”
I don’t know. I don’t know where we’re going.
When it was dark, with a sleeping Cody resting on her shoulder, her feet burning and bruised, Bree finally reached the Greyhound station.
“Two tickets to Los Angeles,” she told the attendant.
She imagined the light in Cody’s face when he saw the Star Wars attraction. The flash of the fireworks reflecting in his eyes. Their future was uncertain, but he would have that memory in his pocket forever. She laid him in the seat next to her and watched him sleep.
For Flash Fiction for the Purposeful Practitioner
I would rather escape from Disney… LOL… Although I’m sure she is escaping something even worse.
Ha! Same here, I’m not a fan of the crowds and long lines.
I might have preferred dancing with the Polar Bears but that’s just me! Nice take on the prompt. I enjoyed reading.
Thank you! I’d love to visit Antarctica one day actually.
I’m glad the little boy got to go to Disney. Where does she go from there. Sad she had to leave so abruptly.
Hi Jenn, I really enjoy stories of determination, so well done you engaged me thoroughly throughout your tale…
Thank you
I agree with Summerstommy. Your stories of determination of perseverance are uplifting. I love this one particularly. I know those two… Except it was a little girl, not a boy, and they really weren’t running, but surviving 😀 Great write, Jenn. ❤️
Thanks, Annie
That’s sad they have to escape from one place but how sweet that she took him to Disneyland! Great story!
Thanks!
I love when she goes: ‘I don’t know. I don’t know where we’re going.’ You can really feel her desperation. You nailed it with that line. Great story, Jenn!
Thank you!
This piece really emphasizes that parents will do anything for their kids–even with the world feels like it’s falling apart. Really nice story!
🙂 Thank you!
Lovely, a mother who wants to give her child something better. So hard to do. Nicely done!
http://yolandarenee.blogspot.com/2016/01/witness.html
Thanks!
I hope they enjoy their trip.
I do too! Thanks for reading.
It’s great that she just took off even though she did not have a definite direction at the time. She just recognized the fact that her and her son needed to just go and experience a little change in their life. Wonderful story.
Thanks
What a desperate tear-jerker. Even while running with ‘nothing in the future’… love still wants great memories! Enjoyed the mother/son relationship! So glad you could participate this week. Hope to hear from you in Week #5.
I’ll be there! Thanks for your kind words.