© Bruce Goodman 26 July 2015
(This is written for the Cherished Blogfest. It is the third and final day of the blogfest, and this is the third story of a cherished thing. I depart for this “fest” from my daily fiction stance to the non-fiction. Todays cherished thing, however, is not about me; it’s about a friend of mine – name changed and all. Click here to find fellow bloggers blogging for the Cherished Blogfest!)
When Rupert was found as a baby, in the dead of winter, in a cardboard box on a snow-covered park bench, he was wearing a pendant. It was a piece of waxed dark string holding a slightly curved fragment of black coral inset with an opal. Possibly it had some monetary value. Perhaps the mother, unable to care for her baby, had placed her only valuable possession in the box and hoped someone nice would find it.
Rupert was adopted out. His adopted parents weren’t particularly nice people. They couldn’t have kids of their own and were desperate for self-fulfilment. Adopting Rupert was the solution. He was always unhappy. His adopted parents were bullies. He longed to discover his real mother.
Rupert was always told that when he reached the age of sixteen he would be given the pendant to wear. His sixteenth birthday arrived! Could he have the pendant? It was his sole link with his unknown past.
“Nah,” said his adopted mother. “We’ve spent enough on you. I’m selling it.”
And she did. She sold the cherished thing. She got seven dollars and fifteen cents for it.
Surely this can’t be a true story?
There’s a lot more to it than that! True as true (but in another country).
I believe it. And weep.
Thanks, Cynthia. The full true story will never be told.
I too know it can be true, and my heart breaks! You write non-fiction in such a compelling manner Bruce.
Thanks, Pauline.
What a tragic story Bruce.
Thanks. It is tragic, but people tend to “get on with it” !
ah! what a jip! i want to know what happens next…
good job using cherished for a prompt!
Thanks for visiting, reading, and commenting. (And you’ll probably never know what happened next!!!)
You have rendered me speechless. How cruel. (Not you, the adoptive mother.)
Thanks Yvonne. (And glad to have rendered you speechless!)
Sad in many ways.
Indeed! Thanks for reading.
Nicely told, but how cold-hearted and petty. Reminds me of the characters in “Annie”!
Never thought of “Annie” – but yes!
Wow. People can be pretty nasty. I hope Rupert escaped them and moved on.
I believe he did!
Bruce, Interesting these windmills at which you tilt ! Thanks
Thanks for visiting and commenting, John.
Bruce, I hopeRupert was able to create memories of his own that were beautiful and fulfilling.
I’m sure he has! Thanks for visiting!
Not a happy ending, but not all stories have them. It really brought home the poignancy of the cherished object. Thanks for sharing it! And thanks for visiting my #Cherished page and English Teacher blog. Write On!
Thanks for visiting and commenting!
Sadder than sad
Thank you.
Hate it
You detestation is noted and “appreciated” and sort of agreed with!
I felt mean pushing the like button! Please tell us he overcame a rough start and is now happy and successful… x
He is happy and successful, and regarded by some as one of the greatest textile chemists in the world!
If we cannot adapt to that which we adopt, especially another human being, where is the love we claim to be boiling over with? Surely seven dollars and fifteen cents, even in those times was not worth the trouble. So many questions pending…
You leave us pendent in this pendant tale.
The pendulum portents pending promises (or words to that effect).
Often the truth is more cruel than fiction, isn’t it? Those last lines knock the wind out of you. So glad to note in the comments that he eventually got away from such abuse, but still the heart bleeds for the child he was. A story well told.
Thank you Sheree.