Image by Douglas M. MacIlroy at http://ironwoodwind.wordpress.com/
Big Ted has a temporary house made of cushions from the lounge. His car is parked out front. He uses a tea-towell for a bed, and a tissue box for a chair. Jemima lives in the fully-furnished doll’s house. It is spacious with two storeys and a pool.
Little Rabbit is on the carpet between the houses. He doesn’t really have a home anymore and he doesn’t want to choose. It was easier when Jemima and Big Ted lived together.
Under the tiny cotton nose on Little Rabbit’s face, someone with a permanent marker has drawn a big black frown.
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Friday Fictioneers is a challenge set by Rochelle Fields where writers around the world create 100 word stories inspired by the one image. For more information see:
http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2014/04/16/18-april-2014
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Jessie Ansons 
Dear Jessie,
Unless I missed something, I’d say that little Jemima is going to her happy spot where life is safe and parents don’t fight. Am I warm? I knew a child like her. 😉 Good one.
shalom,
Rochelle
You were close! As biologically impossible as it might sound, Jemima is Little Rabbit’s mum and she got the big house in the divorce settlement. Thanks for another fantastic week Rochelle!
A sad tale told beautifully
Thanks Siobhan!
Oh no, Jessie. Big Ted and Jemima have split up?! Clever to use them to tell a bigger and sad story.
Yes, and we all thought it was a match made in heaven. Thanks for reading and supporting my work!
I also wonder if we are inside the POV of a child from a broken home. This sweet story seems to have a sad layer. Well written .
Thanks Patricia, I’m glad you felt the sadness of that second layer.
Well written and quite sad. Good job.
Thanks for the read Alicia!
Jessie, that’s a wonderful way of telling a sad story from a child’s POV. Well done. (“Towel”, not “towell.”)
janet
Thanks Janet. When I first wrote towell it didn’t look right and now I know why 🙂
Ah, poor confused Little Rabbit – very inspired way to relate an all too-common situation in our society. Well done, Jessie!
Thanks Di, it is all too-common, I agree!
Well told.
Thank you Shandra!
Very clever! An effective way to communicate an important story.
Thank you and I’m glad you found it effective.
Things are not going very well in the Rabbit world, is it? I wish the permanent marker was a cheap duplicate and the frown comes off soon 🙂
Great POV!
Thank you! I hope the frown wears away too.
I’ve known many children over my years of teaching who knew this place intimately. It is always a sad story. You’ve told it well.
Thanks Lynda. As a child from a broken home I know all too well how toys can play a part.
Very cleverly told. Divorce through the eyes of a child in her world of toys. Loved it. Fabulous POV
Thanks for reading!
I know close friends who lived through this and it was awful – hard on them and hard on the parents. Poor kid – hope you make it through! Nan 🙂
Thanks Nan. I’ll have to attempt the sequel in a future FF to show how everything turns out fine 🙂
This is so cleverly told. I almost feel like it should be made into a book to help children express their feelings about divorce. Brilliantly done 🙂
What a lovely thing to say! I feel I do have a couple of children’s books in me.
Wow… I think this is the best I’ve read. I love it.
Who the heck are you?
I’m just a girl who loves writing… And I’m thrilled when others love reading it!
Poor Little Rabbit – you really described well the sense of loss and desperation at his parents divorce.
Thanks Sarah Ann. I’m glad you picked up on those feelings 🙂
I was smiling along thinking what a sweet story it was,until I realized what had really happened. I feel very bad when children get stuck in the turmoil that erupts between two parents who just can’t stay together anymore, not even for their kids’ sake… You wrote this beautifully.
Thank you! I like starting a story with ‘things are not always as they seem’ so I’m happy to have taken you on that journey.
🙂
When you said we had similar writing styles, I knew I had to check it out. This is really good. The subtlety and metaphor effectively set up the perspective. Well done. Cheers!
Thank you for your comment! And apologies it’s taken me so long to respond 🙂