The Blogging from A to Z April Challenge was first held in 2010. The challenge is that we have to post every day of April, except on the four Sundays. April 1st is a theme with letter A, 2nd with letter B and so on till April 30th which will be Z themed. This year, I’m planning to do short pieces of fiction (not a series), or a poem based on a word with that letter.
The night was silent, eerily so. The wind whistled through the branches of the trees outside his window, and the crickets had perked up. Through the thin walls, Tanmay could hear the soft snores as his parents slept in the next room. But he wasn’t sleepy. He stood at the windowsill staring outside at the full moon, and listening owl that stood vigil on a tree nearby. He called her Hooty, because she had stood vigil while he slept, always on that same branch.
After a while, he tiptoed to his parents’ room, and went to his mother’s side of the bed. She was fast asleep, but he shook her a bit.
“What is it, Tannu?” she asked, still half-asleep.
“Sleep no coming. Read me story Mama,” he said, shaking her again.
“Sleep will come baba. You go lie down in bed. Mama is tired,” she said, turning away from him.
Tanmay tried shaking her again, but she had gone back to sleep. He went back to his room, and tried lying down, and staring at the slowly turning fan. But still he was wide awake.
It was then that he heard a beautiful song coming from somewhere, and closed his eyes as he listened to that serene voice.
Hush little baby, don’t say a word,
Mama’s gonna buy you a mocking bird.
And if that mocking bird won’t sing,
Mama’s gonna buy you a diamond ring.
And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Mama’s gonna buy you a looking glass.
And if that looking glass gets broke,
Mama’s gonna buy you a billy goat.
And if that billy goat won’t pull,
Mama’s gonna buy you a cart and bull.
And if that cart and bull turn over,
Mama’s gonna buy you a dog named Rover.
And if that dog named Rover won’t bark,
Mama’s gonna buy you a horse and cart.
And if that horse and cart fall down,
You’ll still be the sweetest little baby in town.
When the song was over, Tanmay had drifted off to sleep. He didn’t hear the hoot of the owl, or his mother’s sniff.
The next morning, he woke up to the sunlight streaming in through the window. His mama was sitting near his bed like she was every morning.
“Mama, you sing beautifully,” he told her as she fluffed his pillow.
They listened to the sound of footsteps, and knew his father was awake too.
Moments later, the bedroom door opened.
They saw him look at the two of them, his face expressionless as always.
He saw her look back at him, a small pillow in her hand, as she sat at the foot of the crib they had once bought for their stillborn son.
To write 26 days in a month on a theme, a moral support is quite useful I feel. This year, I’m taking the challenge along with my friend Bhavya. We’re writing on the same themes each day, and giving each other the themes on alternate days. Day 12, the word chosen by me was LISTEN, around which this story was written.
Lullaby lyrics from Parents.com
(14th April 2014)
Honestly, to my mind this is as real a depiction as can get of losing ones child, a pain that is never ending and can never go away…..a loss that always lives within us…..its beautiful the way you have written it…..
I can’t say I’ve been in such shoes, Jb. But it was hard to imagine, and write that ending.
Glad you liked the story, and the way I have written it.
Oooooh… is the child real? I was not sure. I love that lullaby, and I enjoyed your story, whatever the answer!
Liz http://www.lizbrownleepoet.com
The story is fictional. The child was a figment of the mom’s imagination after the trauma she went through.
Glad you liked the story, Liz.
Very well written, Leo. With a twist at the end just like your other stories.
Thanks, Prathima!
One of my first posts this morning, and it is ‘eerie but beautiful’…. the pathos hidden herein is enough to make it one of your best creations, Leo 🙂
Glad you felt it was one of my best, Sree! 🙂 but it was tough to write that ending!
omg.. that was heart breaking! 🙁
Yes, it was, Pixie! 🙁
Started with sweet lullaby and ended on a sad note… felt bad but as always well penned !!
Yeah. Sad note ending, yes 🙁 Glad you found it well penned though, Afshan. Thanks!
You are amazing with giving a twist to your stories. As I’ve said before, you remind me to O Henry… I can’t pay a bigger compliment than that. 🙂
Thank you for the honor, for comparing me with one of my favorite writers in o’Henry!
Glad you liked the twist too, Dagny 🙂
Ouch! The pain of a lost child… not easy to understand or write about. You’ve done it with such tenderness 🙂
No. Neither easy to write nor understand or even step into the shoes of someone who has.
Glad you liked the story, NJ. Thanks 🙂
Such a beautiful way to portray unbearable loss…
L for loved-Random Thoughts Naba
Thanks, Naba.
Many moms go through such times.They are too shocked to accept reality.Excellent !
Yes. I think that the shock is something they can’t accept easily, Vasudha. How can they, right?
Oh really really sad! You have an uncanny ability to empathize and express emotions you have never experienced. Well done!
Yes, it is really sad, Sfoo. And I’m glad you felt the story was well done.
This was heart breakingly beautiful! Ah the beautiful imagination you painted through the mom’s eye!
Thanks very much, Soumya!
There is no love greater than mumz. It must be painful, extremely painful to be in such a sad situation. Well written.
Yes, I imagine it would be, Arpita. Glad you liked my story!
Oh my god! I had gooee bumps! It can be very painful loosing a child, but your story is very well written 🙂
Yes. It would be painful, Ghata.
Glad you liked the story.
What a twist! Gut wrenching story.
Thanks, Janaki.
Well written story. And heart wrenching in the end.
Thanks, Shrikant.
Leo….Wow! Brilliantly handled this piece!!
Glad you liked the way I handled it, Aditi 🙂 Thanks.