A Mother’s Requiem 1999-2017 #microcosms #shortstory

Posted on Jan 14, 2017 by TanGental

This is my latest response to the Microcosms prompt; it also takes its ideas from a  piece I heard on the radio this week

Ariana pushed the child at the smuggler: ‘Take him, please.’

‘How much?’

She held out the rings. He turned them, sniffing before a single nod. She enveloped the boy in her tears and hopes before bundling him in the car. She sang as the hot wind blew dust in her eyes.

*

‘I need to go, mum. I just do.’

Ruth hugged herself, her tears falling freely on the marble counter. She nodded her understanding.

George picked up his rucksack. He hated hurting his adoptive parents but he had to find his roots.

‘Is it safe? Kosovo?’

George shrugged. ‘I’ll call.’ He picked up his guitar and left.

*

They found the hidden guns. Ariana sat in the schoolyard, knowing the end would be soon. She wondered if her boy was safe, somewhere north, somewhere cold. Please make her cold and keep him warm.

*

Sweat beaded his face. He’d never experienced 40 degrees. Bring back Birmingham, he muttered wryly.

‘Here.’ The official, Elira, was pregnant. ‘We found your family.  A village in the mountains. Teachers. Muslim.’ She stopped, ‘You okay?’

‘Sure.’ George’s tears joined the river of sweat.

‘There was a mass grave.’

*

The bodies were treated with contempt. No records kept. They would never be found, never remembered. No comfort, knowing they’d be mourned. The final indignity.

*

Elira waited as he collected the remains. ‘What will you do?’

He didn’t know. Him born Muslim, adopted Jew. He thought of Elira’s child; soon she would hold her baby, something taken from his mother.

‘She wrote songs, your mother. Maybe you can play them?’

He scanned the scores. The language escaped him but the music held his heart lightly in its grip. ‘I’ll take her to the mountains, let her sing with the wind.’

About TanGental

My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline. I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy. I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere. These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
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12 Responses to A Mother’s Requiem 1999-2017 #microcosms #shortstory

  1. Ritu says:
    Jan 14, 2017 at 1:42 pm

    Sad but beautiful, His Geoffleship!!!

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Let's CUT the Crap! says:
    Jan 14, 2017 at 5:34 pm

    Oh, my. Oh, my. Oh, my. I agree with Ritu. ❤ ❤ 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  3. thecontentedcrafter says:
    Jan 14, 2017 at 6:33 pm

    Yes, very moving – profound even!

    Liked by 1 person

  4. willowdot21 says:
    Jan 14, 2017 at 8:53 pm

    This is great Geoff , did you listen to On Kosovo Field – Chain of Keys Radio 4
    you captured the tale so succinctly!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. jan says:
    Jan 14, 2017 at 9:24 pm

    Singing the verses of tragedy to the wind. Lovely read albeit sad.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Norah says:
    Jan 15, 2017 at 12:21 pm

    Sad story, Geoff. Too sad.

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.