A Child is Born in a Miner's Town
By EllenKey10
word count 396, allowed 400
Elizabeth’s man was not back from the mine yet, with busy hands she swept the dirt floor until no dust was necessary to bend down and clear. While hanging the broom in place the mine whistle blew, three-blasts warning disaster. Her body straightened rigid with fear, pale hands instantly crossed her huge belly. Looking down between bare feet water began to pool, Elizabeth was in labor.
All morning Elizabeth could not rest; she paced, kept hands busy and feet tired. Now gripped with fear that her man could be in danger labor betrayed her body and mind; she never planned to be alone.
Without warning Mary, the neighbor, forced the cabin door open while gasping for air to shout, “The mine collapsed!” Wide-eyed Mary summed the fact there was perilous trouble facing the young pregnant woman. Without moving or speaking and with an ashen face, Elizabeth stared at Mary. Blood mixed with water and dirt below Elizabeth’s near standing body. Out the door, Mary ran to the road among the chaos to gather help for this desperate need. A woman with worn hands, weathered face, and soft voice coaxed Elizabeth to her bed in the one–room cabin. Mary ran to the outside water pump while a third woman started a fire in the hearth. Water boiled and all three women were busy at work for the baby and mother to survive. These three women prayed hard, Elizabeth pushed hard and gently the weathered woman quietly talked Elizabeth through the worst day of her life.
A baby boy announced his arrival as the four women cried and prayed that their men would be all right and thanked God this small baby survived. Elizabeth exhausted, relieved, and worried tucked a handmade quilt around the wee one. Swiftly the door flung open, Elizabeth’s man rushed to her side, he brought news of twenty deaths. In this house, only the husband of the woman whom delivered the child was killed. The newly widowed woman’s composure drained, openly showing her only powerful emotion all day, she wailed as she knelt down, covering a grieving face with worn hands. How was she to survive this harsh life with none of her children old enough to work the mine? The baby’s cry reminded her of nine mouths she would have to feed on her own. Elizabeth's young family of three clung to each other.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Worries of Places Unknown
Worries From Places Unknown
By EllenKey10
Word count 294, allowed 300
Elizabeth walked the mountain slowly, a modest spun cotton skirt brushed bare legs as she walked though the pasture grass, she was in no hurry to reach the store five miles away, this was private time away from the family. Her slender frame bent easily as she gathered a few wild flowers between callused small fingers, tiny bare feet allowed the cool grass to comfort her and the quiet breeze softened the echoes of living with a loud family. Each member had such strong opinions of the warnings War was coming and would it matter to their mountain. How could the government take their men folk when harvest was near, fence posts need fixing, worn barns and sheds needed shored up for the animal’s winter keep?
David crossed into her thoughts. He was strong man, a few years older than her sixteen and able to work the lower end of the mountain alone. Elizabeth could marry a man that worked that hard and he was so tender when they were together. Twisting the flowers in her long, dark, black, trusses of hair she hoped he might be at the store for his own staples. Gentle full lips smiled, soft green eyes, and long lashes shaded the morning sun as she remembered his hello when he came calling. A crease traced across her brow as she wondered if war was to come to their mountain and take David. Would he leave her without a good by?
Strong legs quickened along the dirt road, maybe Elizabeth could catch David at the store or the mountains bottom to the little two-room house he was building. She wanted to ask him about this war. Was it true? Could she reach him somewhere and stop the worries she carried.
.
By EllenKey10
Word count 294, allowed 300
Elizabeth walked the mountain slowly, a modest spun cotton skirt brushed bare legs as she walked though the pasture grass, she was in no hurry to reach the store five miles away, this was private time away from the family. Her slender frame bent easily as she gathered a few wild flowers between callused small fingers, tiny bare feet allowed the cool grass to comfort her and the quiet breeze softened the echoes of living with a loud family. Each member had such strong opinions of the warnings War was coming and would it matter to their mountain. How could the government take their men folk when harvest was near, fence posts need fixing, worn barns and sheds needed shored up for the animal’s winter keep?
David crossed into her thoughts. He was strong man, a few years older than her sixteen and able to work the lower end of the mountain alone. Elizabeth could marry a man that worked that hard and he was so tender when they were together. Twisting the flowers in her long, dark, black, trusses of hair she hoped he might be at the store for his own staples. Gentle full lips smiled, soft green eyes, and long lashes shaded the morning sun as she remembered his hello when he came calling. A crease traced across her brow as she wondered if war was to come to their mountain and take David. Would he leave her without a good by?
Strong legs quickened along the dirt road, maybe Elizabeth could catch David at the store or the mountains bottom to the little two-room house he was building. She wanted to ask him about this war. Was it true? Could she reach him somewhere and stop the worries she carried.
.
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