The Boy in the Red Shoes – #100WordStory #FlashFiction
September 15, 2017
Fiction
They stood next to each other at the bus stop. She in her pretty yellow frock and frilly hair band. He in his tattered brown shirt, faded jeans and bright red canvas shoes. Shoes that clearly stood out against the rest of his attire. Probably hand-me-downs. She looked down at her own golden sandals, the divide between them apparent.
Even at her young age she realized the privileges that she had that he probably never would. As she clutched her mother’s hand a little tighter, gold bangles jingling against her mother’s silk sari, she smiled at the boy in the red shoes.
Photo by Tirza van Dijk on Unsplash
I am taking My Alexa rank to the next level with #MyFriendAlexa by Blogchatter. I thought it would be fun to take a look back at how and where it all began for my blogging journey.
This story was originally submitted as an entry to the YellowSeed Speed Blogging Contest at Social Media Week Mumbai 2014, which I won. I had entered the contest completely unplanned and unprepared. I happened to have some time free in between two of the workshops and walked in to see what speed blogging was all about. As it turns out, “speed blogging” meant exactly that…we were given a blog prompt every 10 minutes and a tweet prompt every 5 minutes. In a span of 90 minutes we had to publish 5 blog posts and 5 tweets! I was typing faster than I ever have in my life, barely processing what I was writing but having so much fun. I ended up winning the contest and getting quite a few encouraging comments on my posts. That planted a tiny seed (no pun intended YellowSeed 🙂 ) in my mind about taking up blogging seriously. I didn’t entertain that thought again till last year when I finally stepped out of the corporate world and started my own blog. I owe it all to that random unplanned event 3 years ago.
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My heart went out to the boy in the red shoes. Beautifully written, so much said in such few words.
Speed Blogging! The idea sounds cool. 5 stories on 90 minutes that really calls for speed.
Sweet, simple and speedy story of red shoes 🙂
It was indeed beautiful, given the time restrictions. Well done and enjoyed the background.
Wow the story sounds interesting. As you explained it with beautiful words I can see the whole scene through my eyes. And those pair of red shoes looks fabulous.
Thats an interesting story.Specially becausr ypu wrote it in 10minutes during speed blogging.Liked the backstory too
Beautiful1 few words but impactful.
At least she smiled. Many others would have looked away too. 🙁 Beautifully written indeed.
You are right. Children seem to be untouched by social divides, it is our prejudices that rub off on them as they grow older. I see it too with my own son and the way he is friendly with everyone from our house help to every watchman and auto rickshaw driver.
Flash Fiction is always fun- I am a fiction lover off late I have been doing a lot of posts on photo prompts which I have been thoroughly enjoying. Yours was a nice take on the prompt. The social divide is really saddening.
Very beautifully written!!! Loved this one!!
Apart from the tattered shirt, the description seems to be of any “hipster” of today!
I loved this short and powerful story.
Love
P.
Sometimes even when we have a lot in our life, never feel the sense of satisfaction. We should indeed be grateful for what we have as there might be many who cannot even dream of those things. This point is profoundly shown by u in this post which is brevity at its best! Loved it.
Thank you so much Keerthi. You have stated the very essence I wanted to convey.
The idea that the girl realised the privileges she had is an excellent form of gratitude to life for her age. Beautiful concept for a flashfiction
Yes well said
Many a times we don’t need many words, paragraphs to say or express what we want. This post is one of them. Very well written with so few words. Thanks for sharing.
#MyFriendAlexa #Foodietweeter #BlogChatter
A great effort.
I would have liked to know what happened after. Did they strike up a friendship or did it remain just that chance encounter. Sounds like an interesting beginning. Kudos on maxing the speed blogging exercise. I don’t think I’d manage it at all.
I think that is the beauty of flash fiction, it gives the readers a glimpse and then leaves it up to them to create their own story. I hope to write more in this format.
That’s so inspiring and encouraging blogging journey you have congratulations for win
Thank you Bushra
Beautiful story…few words with greater impact..
What a great story. I agree with Mayuri, lot said in few words.
Beautifully penned! The scene was recreated in front of my eyes as I read
A wonderful take on that prompt. I am happy to hear the ‘origin story’ of the blog… it is awesome to see you took the positives from that victory to heart and continued
awww! Such an amazing thing to happen and what a surprise it would be to win <3
Beautiful crisp story talking about the divide we have created
Great story. Very well written. It deserved the accolades you received.
Such a lovely story. As Mayuri said, the boy is the hero of this tiny tale! 🙂
This is the beauty of fiction. So much can be shown in such few sentences. I love the way you described the shoes and her sandals.
Beautiful little story and I can see why you won the contest. 🙂
Thank you Deepa!
You conveyed so much in sich few words. Beautifully written story.
The social divide becomes apparent at an early age and that teaches compassion. Nice story.
So much in few words…really loved it
Such a nicely written flash fiction, Mahak. You have managed to say so many things in few words. Keep writing.
Thank you so much
What a brilliant piece. Such little words, soo much of meaning!!
i could visualize the smile of the cute girl in yellow to the boy in red shoes.. and WOW for ur speed blogging
Brevity is truly an art form. Divide is always there but we rarely observe it.
Nice short n sweet fiction. Liked reading it 🙂
a lot said in the unsaid!Wonderful expression.
A good story. And more so for the understanding of privilege.
With the use of merely 100 words you created a lovely piece!
Thank you
The great Indian divide.. beautifully captured in a few words.. and also that kids are always above this demarcation in society.. well done
Yes that was the essence I wanted to portray. Thank you!
I’m happy to know about your entry to the world of blogging. Your creativity towards the foto fiction was really good and crisp. My wishes to you. Keep blogging.
To the boy in red shoes, you will get through.
You have a way with words 🙂 .. I cant write a story in such a few words . So its definitely an art.. Loved your story and the way you ended it ..
Thank you Neha
Sweet story. The harsh realities of life. Well written post this.
This is a great flash fiction and will look forward to more from you.
Lovely story! How effectually you unfolded their class divide in one sentence “She looked down at her own golden sandals, the divide between them apparent.”
It is encouraging to look back and observe one’s journey. Gives strength and encouragement to tread upon the unknown path to future.
Yes well put Gayatri. Thank you.
Hi Mahak! Such a lovely tale as well as the backdrop of the tale. Glad you came back to blogging during the hiatus. I loved this one…the social divide, the acceptance despite it and the feeling of gratitude is all well-conveyed. Keep writing! Cheers!
Thank you Tina.
I love such stories. That gives hope through everything. Beautiful
That’s some fine art of weaving a story in just a few words. I love to read flash fiction and this such crisp, simple and effective tiny tale. Kudos! 🙂
Thank you so much!
short sweet and crisp and wonderfully put!
Mahak, very few people can write such a crisp story in just few words… You have that talent. Keep going.
Thank you Alpana
Ohh…that is so touching. Lovely fiction. #FlashFiction
The picture is awesome. The supporting story is amazing too… Thanks for sharing such an emotive post.
Soo much said in such little word count. Flash Fiction sure is fun to read and write too. 🙂
Last night I was watching Fitoor and remembered the scene in which she smirks at his hole ridden footwear while reading this! We all are more priveliged than the next person; if only we could realise that and be happy and grateful in our stead!!