Shouldering Responsibility
I’d just tucked Jon into his crib and turned to get the twins ready for bed, when the knock came.
“Mama,” said Linnie, “Charlie says his Ma’s baby is coming.”
I sigh. My eyes meet Linnie’s, the same forget-me-not blue as her father’s. At just twelve, she’d had to take on far too many responsibilities since we’d lost him at Culloden.
I dropped a kiss on the twins’ foreheads. “Mind your sister,” I said, with a stern glance.
I pulled Linnie into an embrace. “I’m sorry, baby,” I whispered. Picking up my bag I followed Charlie into the darkening night.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleOriginal Photo Credit – Timelightphotography on iStockphoto.com. Additional artwork done using Bazaart on iOS
Here is love found in many different forms: assisting others, taking care of siblings, and assuring that her children become strong. Thank you for sharing this loving family with us.
Thank you for your kind words,Voice-team. This piece almost wrote itself, I could almost see the family as I wrote, so I’m so glad that you enjoyed it too 🙂
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThis is a great opening for a mysterious story. Just wondering if the apostrophe should be placed after “twins’ ” as in “twins’ foreheads.”
Hey Margarida – We corrected the story, per your suggestion.
Thanks Margarida—always nice to have the grammar police on the job ?
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GooglePoor Linnie — so often the way with the loss of a parent, that they have to step in and be another grown up! I’m sure her mother and siblings appreciate all the things she does ❤
I’m sure she would, er, wish to have her childhood back. I’m sure many, many children are left in that situation after the death of a parent ?
Nice one Carrie. Got me wondering…what comes next? Nights were dark and lives were hard in the times after Culloden.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThey were indeed Allan. It’s a period in time when Scottish blood comes to the fore and I want to burn those wretched redcoats! This family is already suffering, the mother going out to earn whatever she can in food or coin to keep her family going. A very difficult time for the families of the ‘traitors to the King’!
As it happens I do have a 350 word story about the event that I can’t submit to VC. My ancestors were never Highlanders, nor were they inveigled into wearing the red coat, but as a Scot I can empathise very easily.
Would love to read it sometime 🙂
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleI’ll put it on your FB site.
You describe the family so well, Carrie, I could picture them perfectly. Sad that Linnie had to grow up before her time, but this can happen to the eldest child even today. Mum too had a lot of responsibility to shoulder, bringing up her children alone and bringing others into the world. Remarkable that you captured all that in 100 words, really well done.
Thank you so much Linda. It helps that it’s a time period that really interests me. I could really picture this poor family trying to struggle alone, but still having it in them to give whatever aid they could to others. I can remember as a child, hiking in the highlands on a really cold and wet day. We passed a cottage and this lovely elderly lady opened a door and waved… Read more »
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleHello, Carrie. I can feel every scene and emotion of your story so much. So sad for Linnie. Well done. It is a heartfelt read.
Thank you, Lotchie. It’s always difficult for those who have to grow up too quickly.
You are welcome, Carrie.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleSuch a touching story, Carrie. Down here in Australia, I know nothing about Culloden so will google it to learn more. But, your story highlights what many families have gone through after other tragic events, too. Makes one feel very grateful for having led a much easier life. Well done!
Thank you, Sandra. It’s easy to forget that the battle doesn’t end on the battlefield and those who are left behind don’t only have grief to contend with.
After having read up on Culloden, I could vividly imagine the scene you describe, Carrie. It’s a very well made story and shows a good insight into what it might have been like for the people under those circumstances.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThank you, Christer. There are always difficulties for those left behind. Even those on the winning side may have lost the menfolk who supported them, but the degradation given to the families of the ‘traitors’ was often quite horrendous. Many lost everything but the clothes on their backs.
Carrie, I’ve learned something new today. I was not familiar with Culloden. You depicted the scene so beautifully, it felt like I was there in the room with them! Like Allan, I’m curious about what will happen after this.
Thank you, Marianna. It’s a very distressing but important part of Scottish history. And a very difficult time for those on the losing side who were left behind. If I can get my head into gear in the next couple of days, I’ll try and submit something from Linnie’s POV, but it’s another one added onto the pile of ‘would very much like to extend’!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleI do hope you extend on this. I cannot imagine how distressing it must have been.
Sounds intriguing. Thanks, Carrie
Thank you for reading and taking the time to reply, Steven. Much appreciated.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with Google100 words and we are all immersed in the period – amazing, isn’t it
Thank you for commenting, Susan. I would have liked many more words!
Congratulations Carrie! One of my favourite stories of yours.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThank you, Linda. I’m happy you liked this one. I hope you like Linnie’s new story if it gets shortlisted.
Another achievement unlocked, Carrie. Congratulations on winning again. So happy for you.