The sight of the seaplane meant the influx of summer visitors had begun. Their arrival brought a buzz to the shoreline and increased revenue to many. But Jack did not look forward to the return of the family that had embraced him last year, then rejected him on the eve of their departure based on malicious gossip. He had thought their relationship stronger.
Days later, he saw them. She was cradling a baby in her arms and her parents were shame-faced. They had realised the error of their accusations when the child was born. He was obviously not Jack’s.
© Colline Kook-Chun, 2019
(This post was inspired by Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle. The challenge asks for bloggers to write a story in 100 words or less in response to the photo prompt.)
A good, well-written story, Colline. Spreading rumors can be so damaging. I’m glad the truth came out in this case. Now the parents and their daughter need to apologize. —- Suzanne
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Rumours can be very hurtful – especially when they are untrue.
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Perhaps they’ll apologise and ask his forgiveness? But perhaps not
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It depends on how willing they are to face him and admit that they were wrong.
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Dear Colline,
I hope they can rebuild their relationships.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It will take a lot of work to build trust again.
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Sometimes rumors and innuendoes can kill what was thought to be strong relationships. Well done.
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Yes, they can. A strong friendship will weather gossip.
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Interesting tale, but the last word – ‘mine’ – surely does not fit with the third person POV.
Or am I misreading this?
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No, you are correct! Thank you for pointing out my error 🙂
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Well done, Colline.
Too often, people don’t look for the truth but assume the gossips are telling the truth. What a waste…
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I agree – and a good friendship would have been ruined.
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Jumping to conclusions… poor guy!
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I agree. At least the parents now he was telling the truth!
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Hmm, well I hope they apologised!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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One would hope so. Though in my experience, not everyone does.
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Oh dear, jumping to conclusions. Hopefully his reputation has not suffered!
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I would like to think it hasn’t – but many people believe gossip and rumours.
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A story which said so much in so few words, when trust is shattered, it is so hard to rebuild it.
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It is. And sometimes it is never regained.
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I wonder at the girl’s motivation at allowing the rumors to run without correcting them. Speaks to a larger story here.
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It certainly does. And she has some issues with her parents I think.
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A bitterly feel good ending. That’s an achievement!
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Thank you so much for the compliment Sandra.
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Poor Jack. To be misjudged is painful causing irreparable damage to the relationship in most cases. At least he was vindicated. Nicely written, Colline.
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Something which doesn’t always happen.
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Lots of backstory there. I’m glad Jack is exonerated. Gossip is so evil.
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It is. It can destroy lives.
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Of all people, this girl should have known who the father was without naming and shaming Jack. Good that Jack does not welcome them anymore.
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She probably did not want to deal with the fallout. And in so doing, she lost a supportive friend.
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I’m quite surprised they returned. I’d like to think they were able to put it behind them and start afresh.
My tale – ‘Plane sailing!’
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I imagine that they have some sort of holiday cottage on the island.
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I hope they apologise. Great read.
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If they do apologise, it may help to mend the relationship.
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Goodness Gracious! No wonder the people had de-friended him. They should have found out the truth before they accused him. – Nice story!
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It is always best to find out the truth behind the gossip. 🙂
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I like this scene of vindication with delicious reveal at the end. It feels like the end of a novel.
I assumed that the parents’ shame was simply because of the out of wedlock birth. Your final sentence redirected that shame. Their looks were begging forgiveness–from him. Nice example of pivoting on the head of a pin.
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Thank you and I appreciate your comment. It can be difficult sometimes to encapsulate an entire story in 100 words and your comment suggests that I have succeeded in this.
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A very different take on the prompt. Great!
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Thank you so much.
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