Mama said it would be “an adventure.”
Lizette knew this meant no argument. No whining. Mama needed “Mama Time”.
“Just the weekend,” Mama said.
Lizette knew this meant at least a week. Till Mama grew tired of her new Beau. Or the Beau grew tired of Mama.
Did Uncle Ronnie know Mama’s language? Will he care?
It was dark when they arrived. Light flickered in the cabin’s window.
Mama let her out. Told her to knock. Drove away as the door opened.
Lizette shuddered. Entered. Gasped. Sighed.
The chandelier tree. The moose. Her uncle’s smile.
She could stay a while.
For Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers
Photo prompt © Alicia Jamtaas
Na'ama Yehuda 
Oh! I am so glad this was a wonderful thing! Maybe she can choose to stay with Uncle Ronnie 😉
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Yes, I think if this works out, it would be better than being dumped places whenever there’s a Beau around. … And you gotta hand it to that tree chandelier!
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Indeed. And I love that Uncle Ronnie is not a creep, either 😉 Too many go that route, so I thank you!
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Yeah. There are oh-too-many creeps, for sure! But … there are also many decent men who’d never harm a child. And they matter, too! 🙂
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Yes. And we need to spotlight on those ones!
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Exactly!!
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“Lizette shuddered. Entered. Gasped. Sighed.
The chandelier tree. The moose. Her uncle’s smile.
She could stay a while.”
I went through every emotion with her – thank you for a happy ending!
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So glad you did! So glad you liked! And, yes, we need us some happy endings. 🙂
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i must be reading so many horror stories lately. somehow his smile gives me goosebumps. hopefully, i’m wrong. 🙂
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I hear ya! I think in this case, it is a good person’s smile … and the reality is that there are many good people who would not harm a child and would be safe caregivers for them. But, yes, the risk remains, that when a parent dumps a child someplace, that child is at a much higher risk of being harmed. In this case, I would like to think that she’d be okay.
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Mama is way too focused on her “ME” time, it seems. I hope lizette finds comfort and delight in her stay with Uncle Ronnie.
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Yes, I agree, and I hope so, too! As Dale suggested, maybe Uncle Ronnie will end up being a better place for her for the longer run, given that it seems that Little Lizette had been dumped places “for the weekend” before, and perhaps not always in the best or safest place, and without even the option to object …
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I’m not sure if it was the chandelier or the moose head that swung it
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A mystery indeed! 🙂
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Na’ama Y’karah,
Better Uncle Ronnie than an uncaring mother and a string of boyfriends who do who knows what to Lizette. May she be allowed to stay in this safe haven.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yes. Yes. Yes! To all of the above! Amen.
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Oh dear, what a roller coaster ride. I was afraid that Uncle Ronnie’d be a creep. Thanks for that last line. That poor child, I hope she has a great time.
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Yes, I hope she will! It is, at the very least, promising. And … I have a feeling they’ll get along swimmingly, and that perhaps, even, as Dale had suggested in her comment, it may end up a more permanent home for this child. Also, while children like her are indeed at a very high risk of abuse, many men are NOT creeps, and I think it is a fact that often gets forgotten. So, whew for her. 🙂
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Absolutely. It’s the person who takes good care of the child, not necessarily the biological relationship who is a good parent.
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Exactly! 🙂
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A happy ending! Maybe Mama will stay away for A LOT longer than a week. My fingers are crossed.
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Yes, it seems everyone wants this for little Lizette, and I hope Uncle Ronnie can do it, and that Mama lets him. Because, well, it may be a better solution for this child. I worry about the revolving door Beaus …
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Thankfully Uncle Ronnie seems like one of the nice guys.
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Yes! And the nice guys also deserve a spot! 🙂
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I was worried, but it seems she is glad to be there with her uncle. Whew! Hopefully, he’ll be more attentive than her mother. So many emotions. So much said but not said … in very little words. Well done!
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Thank you, Brenda! Fab comment! Yes, I am glad that she’s glad to be there, and it seems, at least, that she is safe there and happy to be there (which quite possibly was not always the case for her …). Yes, we all hope Uncle Ronnie will prove more attentive, and a more stable caregiver than her mama seems to be … Lots of story there …
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How very sad she already knows the routine. A blessing she has a safe space to go when mom is doing her thang.
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Yes, and hopefully this place will be a home when she is put on the back burner of her mom’s agenda … And at least it seems it is a good place for her.
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I’m happy that things worked out for the girl. Sounds like she would be better off with her uncle.
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Yes, I am of the same mind as you about that. I think she indeed would be better of with him.
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