The boy stood beside his car seat, coat open,
small duffle bag at his feet,
like a hitchhiker,
left where he’d been dropped.
His mother talked on her cell phone,
voice carrying across the lot,
watching the cars drive by the gas station,
impatient to get on with her life.
Somebody is late.
Written for G-Man and his Friday Flash 55. He has a wonderful poem this week extolling the inner witch in us all. Click on his link to read the history behind the Hedgewitch.
TGIF
22 comments:
Oh my I love this! thanks. I often was left standing with my suitcase,
expected to stay put and entertain myself- while the adults got on with important things!
It's a lonely feeling, one I've felt and one I've observed too many times. You captured it in fine fashion.
You bring into the focus the terrible peripheral-ness children often feel, I think. One of my major pet peeves in life is watching parents ignore their children who are desperately trying to get their attention. All I can say is, what goes around, comes around. Great 55.
And to think there was a time when this was the exception rather than the norm.
probably waiting on dad to pick him up for the weekend...the neglect in this is rather glaring to me...smiles.
Yvonne...
Heart wrenching and overwelming pathos!
You add so much class to my little prompt, I can't tell you how much I appreciate your fantastic observations.
Loved your sad 55
Thanks for playing, and have a Kick Ass Week-End
Poor little guy! We sat at a restaurant a while back where a mom talked on the cell phone the entire meal and left her little guy to entertain himself. *sigh*
A complete story in so few words. You do this so well.
... hmmm. I've done this a few times, talked on the phone a bit too long with my little son impatiently waiting. But, I read books at bedtime and listen "enchanted" to stories that make no sense ;) And at times he has fallen asleep in my arms while I have talked on the phone. And when I'm done talking, I sit and look at his angelic face... a give him a hundred kisses as I know all too soon he will be "too" big for them.
Awww how sad. Gezzz... even more so when you know it's the truth too.
Izzy,
Thanks. It's a common thread amoungst us, I think.
ReBelle,
Thank you so much.
Hedgewitch,
It certainly does, the endless spiral of bad parenting. Thank you!
Alice,
True. So sadly true. Thanks.
Brian,
Yes, that is the end of story. Thank you.
G-Man,
Thanks! You set the bar and we are only trying to hang on.
This is so sad. I watch mums talking on their phones, pushing toddlers in pushchairs facing away for them, and the kids look so alone. You capture this beautifully.
This is so sad!
Thanks for the visit!
This sounds like the divorce trade-off for kids whose parents haven't found it in themselves to work together.
Jemi,
I guess we've all seen that blatent neglect. Thank you.
Anthony,
Thank you so much!
Margaret,
He'll be too big before you know it. Nothing better than reading to little kids. Thanks.
Daydreamer,
So true, sadly so. Thank you for commenting. I appreciate it!
Frances,
Thank you. The sight of him just standing there beside his car seat and his little duffle bag was kinda heart wrenching.
Mama Zen,
It was a very sad sight. Thanks.
Secret Agent,
Thank you for the visit! Yes, I suspect that's exactly what it was.
You took a little slice of life, and made us all see and feel that sorrow and desolation without any sentimentality. Kudos.
Other Mary,
Thanks. That's really nice. I appreciate it.
Conveyed brilliantly!
Wendy,
Thank you!!!
This is wonderful (awful) but vivid and too often what one sees. You've caught it very clearly. I liked your nationality one too. Thanks much. k.
Manicddaily,
Thank you!! I'm glad you liked this one and then took the time to read two!
When it comes to essential baby gear, a car seat is at the top of the list. In fact, you can't even leave the hospital unless your new little one is safely buckled into a seat. And believe it or not, your child needs to be secured into some sort of car seat or booster until she is taller than four feet, nine inches, according to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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