Jekyll Island Beach 2012

Jekyll Island Beach 2012

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

WRITE, RIGHT?

The Rogue Speaks:

I can hear it now!  All those bloggers whispering under their breath, "Thank God! She's off her political and religious rants!"  I thought I would give you all a break and highlight my son Joey's writing for a change.  I read about a writing contest on Studio 360's website and decided to participate.  The subject was called "Significant Objects," and the contest contained photos of three, rather strange, objects found in thrift stores.  Two were of particular interest to me.  One was a hand-made wooden thing whose purpose was definitely lost to me.  I chose that one to write about.  Another was a strange-looking handmade doll.  I told my son about the contest, and he chose to write about that doll.  Neither of us won the contest, whose prize was the object about which our stories were written.  Nevertheless, it was a fun writing exercise, and just perfect for Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday assignment this week--the letter "W."  If you haven't seen Joey's blog, go here.


WRITE, RIGHT?
SIGNIFICANT OBJECT
(doll, $5 thrift store find)
by
JOEY MAU


This is my papa. His name is Abdyl Kreyziu. He was born in Yugoslavia many years ago. This place does not exist anymore. He grew up in a place called Kosovo. This place was not a safe place for my papa. There was much hate for him. Now he lives in my room, watching over me to make sure I am safe.
 I see you smile, laugh, think, ‘That is a doll, an ugly homemade doll. Why does she show us this? Where is Peter’s snapping turtle again, or Emma’s colorful hermit crabs?’ This is no doll. This is my papa. See how he wears my papa’s shirt, the cuffs trimmed just the way Papa would wear them. See the bright sash of his favorite football club? The woolen socks Grandmamma knit for him. See the wink he wore so often, a trickster who loved to laugh? See his hair, his poor hair that would not stay upon his head? ‘If I cannot have a head of hair,’ he’d say, ‘I’ll make the hair that stays memorable.’ Like a cartoon, he wore his hair, sticking up. My papa.

“Mama says that our soul lives on. In the places we live, in the people we meet, in the clothes we wear, in the objects we touch our soul lives. We live. You see a girl with garbage, a frightening doll made from a dead man’s clothes. But to me, this is Papa. Not a memory or a doll. My papa. Alive. He was trying to make for us a better place, a safer life. We are here, I am here because of my papa. This is my show and tell.”

Blerta walked back to her seat and stowed her papa in her bag. As she watched Carlie discuss the Coach purse her mother purchased for her in New York, she did not notice the thieving hands of Adam Feld who pocketed her papa, only to toss it out the bus window two hours later.

Shawna Adams, jogging home, saw Blerta’s papa lying prone on the sidewalk. “Weird,” she remarked as she picked it up.

The idol of the Albanian patriarch was with her as she and her boyfriend joined the throng at the 4th Street Swap Meet.
 “What are you going to do with that thing,” he asked.

“Watch,” she said as she removed a He-Man action figure from a table of retro toys, pulled off the $5 price tag, and replaced it with the priceless protector of a 10-year-old girl whose father had been killed fleeing his home. “Think they’ll notice?”



































31 comments:

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

Very cool! I need to go check out your son's writing...

BTW, I love your political and religious rants... you always tell it like it is and that's something I value...

nothingprofound said...

Really a heartbreaking little story. I like the way it ends on a dissonant note, like a Chekhov tale.

Cher Duncombe said...

This is a fantastic and imaginative story! Joey is quite the talent, just like his mom. :)

I am one of those who love your political rants, so please don't stop them for good. You are savvy and perceptive. Plus I want the inside story on your Governor. Do tell!

EG CameraGirl said...

The tale is thought provoking and well written.

By the way, I enjoy your rants so keep 'em coming.

Anonymous said...

What a great story!

Jo said...

oh wow, talent runs in the family! what a fabulous story! and I also love your rants!!!

Unknown said...

I really enjoyed this!

~✽Mumsy✽~ said...

That was a great story, especially this part: "Mama says that our soul lives on. In the places we live, in the people we meet, in the clothes we wear, in the objects we touch our soul lives. We live."

Your rant never bothers me. I love the rawness of it!

Herding Cats said...

What a wonderful piece of writing.

Donna Heber said...

Wonderful story!

Vicki/Jake said...

Writing Wrants? Whatthehell! WhampWhamp:)

Susan Anderson said...

Love his story. It pulled me in and moved me.

Perfect ending, too.

=)

My name is Riet said...

What a great and lovely story. I love the kids on the photo's, just adorable

aspiritofsimplicity said...

What a great story. I like the ending as well.

anitamombanita said...

Oh my, that was a cool piece. Love your new pic. I'm still in Patagonia and L.o.v.i.n.g. it, but it means I'm way way way behind on blog reading. Will try to get caught up once we're back in the states. Meanwhile, have a great week.

ellen b. said...

Hats off to you for taking on the writing challenge!! Well done...

The Poet said...

Dear Judie,
Great job with this post. You should be proud of him. No, you are not getting older...only more beautiful (smile).

Ames said...

I love how you pull off stories like this. I also love to read your rants too. Don't stop.~Ames

21 Wits said...

WoW! Just when I was ready to read all about Wingdings, was it, among some other wild w's that you teased us with! But instead you write this charming tale, you are such a good author of topics that take me to such interesting places. Now I have to go back and see if I can find that contest that you and your son entered! See you Saturday, if not before!

Pondside said...

Don't ever apologise for your political writing. Please.
Your son's story was a heart breaker. He is like his mum.

Lola said...

Hi again!

Visiting from Mrs Matlock’s, thanks for stopping by!

Great post – we all love your rants - so keep 'em coming!

Have a great weekend too.

Gattina said...

Great story, but also a little sad !

Denise Covey said...

Hi new visitor. Love your son's story.

Denise

Splendid Little Stars said...

ooooo....
captivating!

I like this:
"See the wink he wore so often, a trickster who loved to laugh?"
and this:
"See his hair, his poor hair that would not stay upon his head?"

glad you shared!

NanE said...

What a cool writing assignment! Love the story too, have a great weekend, Nan

Tammy said...

Wow. You sure did pass along those creativity genes!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Thank you for sharing your son's poignant story...he definitely has inherited your superb writing skills, Judie.

Anonymous said...

Interesting post... Yes, I think we touch so many in everything we do- the smallest thing we do in life can create an everlasting memory in even a person that we never met- like our walk can live on forever in the memory of someone sitting in a restaurant window, and we never even knew it....

KDL said...

I loved this story. It should teach us to be gentle with each other's memories. How sad for the little girl when her papa went missing. But thanks to your son we know her story.

Jenny said...

WHAT!!!! This perfect little story didn't win! Are they blind!

This was really great Judy.

And you write whatever you want...whenever you want.

I admire that you're always true to yourself!

Annesphamily said...

Judie your son writes beautifully like you! :)
The story is thought provoking and really written well.
Thank you.