The Whole Wide World
She loved the big atlas in the dusty corner of the schoolroom. Her tiny fingers paddling across the mighty oceans, she visited the whiskered Chinaman and the black-skirted lady outside her little white house.
At playtime she tipped her chin to the sky, opening her arms to embrace it all and turning round and round as she pictured the people – North, South, East and West – living their strange lives beyond the stamped earth of the schoolyard.
Miss James sighed. At least that funny little mouse was a quiet one; but really, what was the point of educating farm labourers’ children?
M J Lewis 2016
Welcome to Friday Fiction, hosted by writer and artist Rochelle Wissoff-Fields. Thanks also to Jan Marler Morrill who provided this week’s photo prompt. To visit more 100 word stories from around the whole wide world click here.
Here in the UK – don’t shout it too loud – summer finally seems to be arriving. No rain so far this week of Wimbledon, that resilient Scott Andy Murray through to the next round (although wouldn’t have minded if the lovely Tsonga had won through) and the Welsh football team playing Portugal as I write this.
Hope all is well with you and yours in these uncertain and troubling times.
Miranda
This little one will change the world. I’m glad my teachers saw through the poverty and took a chance on me. As a physician I have changed a small piece of the world. All girls deserve an education. This piece really struck a cord with me.
Thank you,
Tracey
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Thanks Tracey. This little heroine has a big heart and a huge imagination which I think you really got. All children deserve the best, but I think girls all over the world miss out. Thanks for reading and appreciating!
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Amen to that, sister.
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At least the seeds have been sown in this farm labourer’s daughter. Excellent.
PS. Watching Wimbledon as I write!
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Me too!
Thanks for reading and for the pun which I love!
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It’s a shame the teacher has that attitude, but at the least the girl is allowed to be at the school. She has big thoughts of the wider world!
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She has indeed!
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An all too common attitude… but a few comes out all the stronger from such a background… a dandelion child perhaps.
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I had not come across this expression before (a dandelion child). Have looked it up – fascinating concept!
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It came originally from Sweden I think.
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I was a farm child too. My dad never made it past the 4th grade and Mom had an eighth grade education, but both encourage learning and a healthy imagination. I’ve always loved to make up stories and now I get to share them with the world. Life is good.
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Really interesting to hear your story! Encouragement is so important. And each step that’s taken makes it a little easier for the next generation.
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Such a charming story, highlighting the vividness of a child’s imagination. The touch of irony at the end was expertly inserted. I was thrown momentarily by the POV change, but the clues were there – I just missed them. Lovely!.
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Thanks for your lovely comments. 🙂
The child isn’t me exactly, but I didn’t find it hard to get into her heart and her head.
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Sow the seeds..
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Indeed indeed! Water that fertile garden.
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Perhaps Miss James needs to really see that quite little mouse and understand what’s been planted in that very fertile brain before passing judgement… Nice story.
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Dispite Miss James I think that this young lady will go far. Like. Mike
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Let’s hope so! Thanks for the visit.
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This is beautiful and sad, what a sad attitude from a teacher. I experienced the opposite. A teacher talked to my parents so passionately on my behalf that they finally agreed to let me go to highschool. I love this story, the child will go far/went far, I hope.
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I’ve really enjoyed hearing people’s stories of their education. Fascinating and heartening.
I think most teachers want the best for the children in their care and look out for potential – but not this invented teacher!
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This this is one of my favorite stories this week. So much said – beautifully.
tiny fingers paddling across the mighty oceans
stamped earth of the schoolyard
Thanks for a lovely story.
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What a lovely comment Alicia – thank you!
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This story has so much hope. Everyone deserves their shot at happiness and experiencing the world. You really thought out of the box with this one. Nicely done, Miranda.
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Thanks Amy. I am just about using the prompt with this one! So pleased you enjoyed it.
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Oh my..I was enjoying that until you made me wince.
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Sorry about that – but did you really expect me to make Miss James Miss Lovelyteacher?
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LOL…no.
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Beautiful descriptions of the child’s open-hearted embracing of knowledge. She’ll get there. Miss James’s narrow-mindedness isn’t enough to hold back a mind like this little one has. A really powerful story.
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Thank you Margaret – really appreciate your comments.
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Dear Miranda,
Lovely story. I think the teacher needs an attitude adjustment. That child just might grow up and discover a cure for cancer. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle. You’re right about that teacher!
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I empathized with the little girl so much – she could have been me! I loved school and loved studying. I hope she finds a better teacher soon. Great story.
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