“It’s not like selling seashells by the seashore, Mom?”
Kayla pulled down her shirt;
…hiding the needle marks?
“But, you were to work for summer only as beach waitress… and then back to university again.”
“Yeah, I had plans, but they were changed”.
“Changed, honey?”
“Yeah, I upscaled my habits… needed more money… and you know there are always men who’ll pay…”.
“You are coming with me…now, or I’ll get your father.”
Kayla threw back her head laughing, her hair was still as I remembered it, sunbleached smooth… but her eyes were pebbles.
“Maaa… my clients are buddies of Pa.”
Friday Fictioneers is a weekly challenge run by Rochelle. Soon running on my 6th year writing. It’a amazing the amount story you can put in 100 words.
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October 3, 2018
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Gritty, Bjorn
More mud than sand at that beach…
Wow, definitely not seashells anymore, Bjorn! Selling something else entirely, and I fear it will not end well.
Not for anyone… the beginning of the end.
I agree with Iain. This doesn’t sound like it’s going to end well. The calm before the storm.
Yes… things will happen… maybe in the end it will be better for Kayla though
Ouch
Ouch indeed… I think Pa either lose his buddies or his wife.
….and very likely his daughter with those wasted eyes…already too far gine
I like this piece, especially the irony of that last line.
Alas… way too common.
That’s a toughie. Great take on the prompt.
I think it’s a warning of worse things to come.
Dear Björn,
She’s selling more than seashells by the seashore. Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Alas.. there are too many men who don’t want seashells
very moving because it is so real these days.
and last year – a lady at a small group we went to had a gorgeous daughter (like maybe the one here) who was using and just a mess – did not finish school – etc.
__
and the last line that came under the photo – well it felt not needed to me. I mean, it added another element so it was a nice closing thought.
But leaving off at the “clients are buddies of Pa.” was powerful.
and then again, maybe having the line come after the photo added to the disjointed feel of that last line – but still give this a ten out of ten – wink – just like to share my experience with a piece –
Yes… I see what you mean… I think you are right that sentence does not add anything
Well thanks for the reply –
And …
I think It does add something – and could be a nice lead into 500 word piece with some more info un folding –
I had an idea for FF post, but when I read your story, I got inspired.
https://mythrider.wordpress.com/2018/10/03/friday-fictioneers-walk-along-the-beach/
Glad I could inspire…
Thanks for the help. ;0)
Well done, Björn. Heartbreakingly real…
I hope it’s rare still… but it definitely happens.
You have a twisted head, Mister.
twisted sister…
Oh no. Friends of the father. This is not going to end well at all.
From disaster to catastrophic
Great last line.
Thank you 🙂
Sadly, it seems too many go this route, known or unknown.
Alas… and I’m ashamed to be a man.
This is real tragedy, with the waste of potential and the destruction of the family. An abrasive write, Bjorn.
It has to be the worst kind of disaster… but I feel that it might give some hope for Kayla….
Unfortunately that’s quite a common tale.
I think so too… but I hope that it can bring change for them both,
Ouch! That last line wrapped up your story in one ugly bow. Very well done.
Indeed… life can always get worse… the bottom is always further away.
So sad, so true in all too many cases. 😦 Great story in a few lines. Nicely done!
Na’ama
Here’s my contribution, if you’re in the mood: https://naamayehuda.com/2018/10/03/the-gift/
Thank you.. I will get around to read later… 🙂
Brutal and heart-wrenching.
Life is hell… but the first stage is that the all is out on now… maybe it’s the first step to recovery.
Sad and unfortunate drug peddling habits. Equally unfortunate is friends of Kayla’s father are her clients.
Probably her father is involved as well…
So terrible. Sad reality for many.
Well narrated, Bjorn.
Here’s mine- Nature’s Treasure
very sad alas… i will get around a bit later.
Ghastly tale, powerfully conveyed.
Terrific writing
Life can be dark even in sunshine…
Ouch, that’s a tough life to get out of, especially since Pa doesn’t seem to care and may even be sending clients her way…
Now it’s up to Ma to correct it… I hope she does the right thing
The shells she sells aren’t seashells any more. Powerful.
Life is just a shell…
I sincerely hope that her father’s friends didn’t drag her into this life.
Great story man, from the mom’s perspective her daughter is hopeless, but from her perspective she is just taking life as it comes.
I think the daughter is ready to make a change… but she need Ma’s help.
Ooh, that last line! And “eyes like pebbles.” I could feel the stab the mother must have felt in her heart. Well done!
The hard eyes of a drug addict in a child must be a parent’s worst nightmare.
Oh, what a wicked twist of events. Great weaving of a tale.
Thank you.. I hope all will be better, but Ma need to chose side.
Mom’s got two problems on her hands now. Dad and this summer job.
I think she has one… dad…
That’s so sad. I had to read it twice to make sure I got it, and I did. Good writing.
No mercy in disaster… but maybe they will find a way out
I enjoyed your use of descriptive words
Thank you…
excellent writing, the dark humour and all.
The irony is: there is no one to trust…
That’s chilling Bjorn. Lost to all those men who’ll use her, something else washed up on the shore. Sad and well written
I still have hope though… as she told her mother, maybe there will be a way out of the sunshine…
Always hope – other people survive such things, lets hope she can too
What a tragedy for Kayla, she had no chance with a dad like that. A gritty, real tale for many unfortunately. Intensely well-written.
It is a slippery slope that some try to master only to find themselves laying in the mire. Nicely done.
It certainly is downhill only.
Oh this is dark Bjorn. Well written. I think that ma has just had a horrific shock
Yes… but maybe she gets stronger by know she has to solve it by herself
What a horrible man you’ve portrayed here.
What a dark story! Mother got the shock of her life that her little girl is not little anymore and that the world is not what she thought it was.
Such a strong ending – the mother oblivious and I imagine leaving even more shocked that she arrived. Great story telling so much in those 100-words.
I’m with Neil on this one–very gritty. Not a great new hobby.