"Two wrongs may not make a right but a thousand wrongs make a writer.”

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Made In Pakistan

She threw her Eddie Bauer and Land’s End catalogues
in the burn barrel—
cleft chins and pretty faces
burned beyond recognition,
like the workers in a building with no exits,
climbing past barred-up windows
to the top floor to jump.
In her sleep, eyes peer out of the closet
and charred hands rustle the fabrics.


It's fiction loosely weaved around fact, sadly so.

It's Friday, so write a story in 55 words then link to the Friday Flash 55 Host, the G-Man.



TGIF

24 comments:

G-Man said...

YVONNE!!!!!!!!!!
You are so mean...
But you know something? Having the audience BEGGING for more is the trait of a very talented writer.
Your morose 55 was fantastic.
Thanks for playing, I figured harvesting and gardening was taking up all your time, I knew you'd return...:-)
Have a Kick Ass Week-End

Brian Miller said...

fark....hard hard images here...the burning mags alluding to the people trapped...of course 9/aa rang in my head....brutally good...

Anthony Duce said...

I do like the options proposed by your words, the possible relationship with current events, and the beautiful models faces viewed so far away from the horror… Well that’s what came through for me. Don’t tell me if I missed the meaning completely… I’m presently thinking you are brilliant☺

Other Mary said...

What a poignant 55 Yvonne.

Unknown said...

Well, I think you are very mean as I want to know more... You are definitely ROCKING this 55! Such an intriguing and awesome 55! Mine is here
Have you an AWESOME WEEKEND!
hugs
shakira

Olivia said...

ohhhh! dark to me... and realistic!
weekend hugs xoxo

izzy said...

Oh yes, good job on this one! love the last line. Really pulled me in-
thanks.

Maude Lynn said...

Oh. wow. Excellent 55.

Bubba said...

Unexpected turn at the end... a surprising 55, Yvonne!

hedgewitch said...

A perfectly drawn parallel--very well done in just 55 words, to draw that analogy so completely, effectively, and grimly. I try not to shop at Wal Mart, either.

Alice Audrey said...

Wow. Strong writing.

hope said...

Quite the vivid image.

Daydreamertoo said...

Having seen their latest factory fire and the people trapped inside who died yet again through dreadful or non existent safety regulations, this is a very apt and yes, sad 55.

Mona said...

Ok, I get the picture, but the title is a bit confusing...

Yvonne Osborne said...

Thanks Everyone for commenting!

G-Man,
You know me....inherently morose. Yes, I'll always come back. More frequently come November.

Brian,
Thanks. The garment industry has always been fraught with abuse. Why are our clothes so expensive?

Anthony,
Awww you are so sweet. And you never miss the point.

Mary,
Thank you so much!

Shakira,
Don't mean to be mean....can't finish the story. Thanks.

Olivia,
Hugs back. Thank you.

Izzy,
Thanks! That's what I think about at the end of the day, the faces behind the tragedies, of which there are simply too damn many.

Mama,
Thank you so much!

Eric,
Thank you! I'm glad you liked it.

Hedge,
Thanks! I'm glad you think so. Walmart? What's that?

Alice,
Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

Hope,
I tried to connect it, tried to make it as vivid as the scene deserved, as those trapped children and young men and women deserved. Thanks.

Daydreamer,
Yeah, I was appalled when I heard that there was only one exit which was where the fire began and bars on the windows! Like a freakin jail, for godsakes. No such thing as sprinkler systems in those places. And people complain about govt. regulations here. This is what it means to have no govt. regulation. Profiteers run amuck. No thank you. But thank YOU for commenting!

Mona,
Pakistan is where it happened, in one of the garment factories where they make things for us. What we buy in our malls and high-end catalogues. Where the cheap labor is never reflected in the price tag. Thanks for stopping by.

Christine said...

I believe recently there was a horrible factory fire somewhere is the mideast, this sure left my heart pounding.

magiceye said...

Wonderfully done!

Yvonne Osborne said...

Christine,
Thanks for commenting. I think it would be a horrible way to die.

Magiceye,
Thank you so much.

Margaret said...

Wow! Very few people consider where what we buy comes from. I was going to comment on WHY these corporations go overseas.. but I won't. I'm sick of politics. But I feel very sorry for the factory laborers over there...

Yvonne Osborne said...

Thanks, Margaret. I would expect an American company to see that basic safety standards are adherred to regardless of where their garments are made. Alas, that is expecting too much.

steveroni said...

In Karachi, Pakistan lives a young Peep who has become a very good blog-friend. We communicated about the horrors of a week ago only few hours after it happened.

You wrote a fine piece, tying together several distinct, yet related scenarios...all in 55 words. Brava!

Thank you for visiting mine.
PEACE!

Yvonne Osborne said...

Steve,
How nice to hear from you. That's what I like most about blogging...meeting people from other countries and hearing about their experiences first hand. Thanks so much for commenting.

Jemi Fraser said...

Wow. Powerful stuff. Again. :)

Yvonne Osborne said...

Jemi,
Hi! And Thanks...again!!