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The Storefront, by Mon House

8/7/2022

2 Comments

 
I passed by a little store. There was a collection of handmade jewellery and other ornaments. The display window showcased these items beautifully. The woman behind the counter looked up as I approached her shop.

“Hi, these are some lovely bracelets. Which one would you recommend?” I asked.

The shop owner pointed to a woven blue and white bracelet on the top shelf.

“That’s adorable, how much would that be?”

She gestured the number ‘4’ for 4,000 Rupiah.

“Sorry, this is all I have,” I handed a 20,000 note.

The woman took the note and went to the back of her store. I caught a glimpse through the unhinged doors. There were 5, maybe 6 children, playing on the wooden floor. They had found an apple from the tree outside and were playing a game to see who gets the first bite. The little one was at a disadvantage, but she had one of her older siblings rallying on her side. I could see a few sheets scattered on the floor, a tiny bathroom in the corner and a little pot used to cook rice.

The woman came back out and handed me the change.

“No, you keep it.” I thanked the woman and took the neatly-wrapped bracelet.

She gestured at me to take the money.

I couldn’t.

I shook my head and politely said, “It is not much. Please use the money to buy another apple for the little one.”

The woman was filled with happiness and wept.

“Make sure you tell the little one to share with her siblings!” ​
2 Comments
Jim Bartlett link
8/7/2022 04:39:38 pm

Nicely done and touching, Mon
Jim

Reply
Sue Clayton
9/7/2022 07:00:33 am

An apple costs 16,000 Rupiah; more than a hand-woven bracelet? A story that strikes at the heart of the disadvantaged.

Reply



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    Friday Flash Fiction is primarily a site for stories of 100 words or fewer, and our authors are expected to take on that challenge if they possibly can. Most stories of under 150 words can be trimmed and we do not accept submissions of 101-150 words.


    However, in response to demand, the FFF team constructed this forum for significantly longer stories of 151-500 words. Please send submissions for these using the Submissions Page.

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    One little further note. Posting and publishing 500-word stories takes a little time if they need to be formatted, too.
    ​Please note that we tend to post longer flash fiction exactly as we find it – wrong spacing, everything.

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