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| From Elephant's Child |
The bus tour gave them 45 minutes to roam about this park in the middle of Canberra called “Garema” Place.
“Hell, Esther, if I’da wanted to look at weird metal sheep sitting on a bench, I’da made one at home,” Billy Jim stood with his big belly balanced by hands on hips. “Mighty dumb, if ya ask me.”
‘Glad I didn’t ask.’ Esther Sue mentally responded. She came to a lonely plaque on the sidewalk. As she read it silently, a tear slid down her cheek. ‘Well, at least you rejoiced when it came, Linette Bone.’
Billy Jim hollered, “Time to git back on the bus. Git on over here, woman!”
Esther sighed, looking one last time at the plaque. ‘Hope you were loved, ….’ Then she joined Billy on the bus.
I had so many thoughts going in so many different directions after I read this. Very nice....
ReplyDeleteThe plaque left me with so many questions. I wondered how other tourists viewed it.
DeleteMe too, very emotional.
ReplyDeleteEC made such an awesome choice with this plaque.
DeleteWonderful as usual. I love the way you painted this picture. :)
ReplyDeleteI wondered how many people stop and look at that plaque. It is so humble, yet thought provoking.
DeleteLMAO Git on over here woman!..that is funny indeed. Nice mix of emotion along with humor.
ReplyDeleteI loved EC's choice of PhotoPrompt--really unusual. Gave a lot of room for writing.
Delete... lovely piece, mixture of sadness and joy... I wonder what became of the mother and baby...
ReplyDeleteI know! So do I! That story begs telling, doesn't it.
Deletewhat a poignant story
ReplyDeleteSomeday, I would love to see this plaque. So many options built up in my head. There is more to this plaque's story, I know it.
DeleteWhat an amazing find! Thoughts went all over the place. You amazed me with how deftly you wove the rawness of both stories, Billy so clueless and gruff; Esther's silent suffering and empathy with someone she never met.
ReplyDeleteGreat take on the photo!
What we see is only the plaque. What the plaque sees is totally different.
DeleteThank you, thank you, thank you. And serendipity is at work. Last time I was in town - the day I found this plaque I had been chatting to a tourist on a bus tour, and just had to point it out to him. He basically scratched his head and wandered off, while I stood and wondered.
ReplyDeleteThere are no coincidences--just serendipity and divine appointment. I wonder what that tourist was thinking after you pointed the plaque out to him? This was a great photo choice, EC. Inspired choice!
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