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“Mama! Look what I’ve found!”

The child’s mother straightens, glad for a moment’s reprieve from her backbreaking work. She is too far away to see what the child is holding, but she's certain it'll be worthless. Everything to the child is treasure: a paper bag, an empty tin, a coil of wire.

“Bring it here,” she shouts.

Her child hop-skips down the rubbish heap, like some dark-skinned mountain goat.

He shows her his prize: a bag of rice, intact, enough to feed the whole family for at least three days.

For a starving family, it is treasure indeed.

7 comments add one below

  • avatar

    Neville Hunt almost 8 years ago

    Sad, but moving. A very warming story with a sad aftertaste. Great drabble, Julie.

  • avatar

    D.M. almost 8 years ago

    delightful description of the boy and all that is treasure

  • avatar

    Julie almost 8 years ago

    Thanks for reading and commenting.

  • avatar

    Michael Cook almost 8 years ago

    Lovely story Julie. On the one hand it's a warming tale, but behind it is a family going through hard times.

  • avatar

    Julie almost 8 years ago

    Thanks for reading, Michael, and for your kind comment :)

  • avatar

    George Stephens over 7 years ago

    Very nice! A lot of backstory squeezed into those 100 words.

  • avatar

    Neville Hunt over 7 years ago

    I agree with George. There is so much backstory to be unlocked can from this.

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