Featured Image – Victoria Borodinova.
Today’s story is in response to Charli Mills’ 99-word challenge. August 22, 2022, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story exploring shame as an emotion or theme. Consider how to use shame to drive a cause-and-effect story. How does it impact a character? Is there a change? Go where the prompt leads!
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His tiny bones were found buried deep in the earth; unworthy of a holy grave. He did no wrong!
He was born from the innocent womb of a young woman. Her voice too small to be heard. Powerless against a society filled with sanctimonious humans. She did no wrong!
An insignificant woman, robbed of her deserving place in society—impure, blemished, broken. But she did no wrong!
Those who hid under black and white habits, the ones behind the twitching curtains, and the men who robbed and walked away, weren’t the ones who carried shame. But they did wrong!
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Irish Mother and Baby Homes: Timeline of Controversy!
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Gloria McBreen 
This is an excellent short story, full of meaning and feeling.
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Thank you Darlene!
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A beautiful story, Gloria. And the article is very interesting and sad.
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Sorry Judy. I have no idea why your comment went to spam. (Occasionally I check my spam folder)
Yes, it’s a very sad and shocking story indeed. Thank you Judy.
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No problem. Occasionally I find legit messages in my spam as well.
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Powerful. I feel we haven’t progressed as far as I would like when I look around the world over who has control.
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I often wonder if we’ll ever get that far! Not likely to happen in my time anyway. 😐
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Emotions… Nice read ✨
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Thank you Simon!
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Such a powerful story.. And only took 99 words… Totally grips the the readers attention and makes you think how unjust life can be…
Well done Gloria!
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Yes, amazing how 99 words can tell so much. It’s a story that will be told forever more, in many different ways. Thanks Margaret.
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Oh they did wrong!! Gloria, what a powerful piece!! The older I get, the more I realize that things don’t change, in some people’s minds, at least, and they pass that down to the next generation, which means – nothing will change!! There are still people standing behind the “lace curtains”, men walking away – untouched by it all (how about we teach our sons, instead of saying – boys will be boys!), the hypocrites, the shame – oh the shame – what will the neighbours think?
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You’re so right, Carol. Things won’t change as long as hypocritical points of view are passed down to the younger generation.
I dislike the term, ‘boys will be boys’. Boys are what we teach them to be! 🙂
Thank you Carol. (Hope you’re keeping well)
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WOW! This is a powerful and important piece. How true it is, though. So sad.
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Yes, Marsha. Very sad indeed! Thank you.
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It is both Powerful! Heart wrenching and desperately sad. Shame on everyone who knew, the onlookers, the silent many who could have spoken up and shouted them down. Shame on those who closed their eyes and turned their backs, All with the backing of church and men/women of the cloth.
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People were controlled and conditioned to be that way. Of course, there were a small number families who didn’t cast their daughters out. Illegitimate babies were often secretly born into families and reared as a brother or sister; to avoid ‘shame’. But at least they had a home. I’m pretty sure this type of behaviour still exists in parts of the world today. The part that always annoyed me was… what about the men? They weren’t ostracised!
Thank God the Irish people finally woke up to themselves and stood up to the cloths. (Some) Thank you Ellen. 🙂
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It does still happen and the fathers are not held accountable only those with a good upbringing stand by their actions and in their children’s lives. Xx
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The inverse of who does and who should carry shame is quite poignant. Well written!
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Exactly Nicole. Thank you!
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Wow, Gloria, what a powerful story! It was short, well written, and poignant. One story that will stick with me for a long time. ~nan
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Thank you. Happy you enjoyed it.
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Reblogged this on Empowered Women.
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Thank you!
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You are welcome.
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I was thinking of going down a similar storyline with a piece of flash about women in the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s who had their babies taken away from them simply because the woman was not married. But your piece was much better, Gloria.
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Thanks Hugh. We could write many stories about those days!
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Timely and touching.
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Pingback: September Story Chat Summary – Marsha Ingrao – Always Write