Everyone dreams to become something growing up- Doctor, fire-fighter.
Joe’s dream was not to become …a casualty of war.
That desire, his sole aim in life, kept him alive when war rampaged all around him, burning all his possessions to the ground.
He didn’t let the horrors of war keep him awake at night. He laughed, loved, worked and sired his family tree as if his soil had never met blood.
Joe neatly arranged the used matchsticks. He might need those for fuel ,he thought, if there was a war.
“…war changed him…”, people whispered behind his back.
— end —
This 100 word story was written for the 100 word photo challenge. More details about this challenge can be found at: https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2016/04/27/29-april-2016/
PHOTO PROMPT © Mary Shipman
Click on the Froggy below for other amazing takes on the same prompt by fellow “Friday Fictioneers.”
Roots & Water 
The wounds inside are harder to fix. Nice piece!
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Thank you Ali.
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I liked the juxtaposition between his view of himself and other peoples’. That’s hard to do in 100 words. “Joe neatly arranged the used matchsticks. He might need those for fuel ,he thought, if there was a war.” is very powerful
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Thank you Neil.
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Dear Ansumani,
War and trauma effect different people in different ways. You illustrated that beautifully in few words. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you Rochelle.
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I think the wounds of war the desperation to survive will linger far longer than the war itself… a great piece
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Thank you Bjorn.
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Well-written expose of what a soldier had and didn’t have.
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Thank you!
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Very captivating story of survival against the odds.
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Thank you.
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war is hell. nobody comes out of it unscathed.
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It is. Thanks for reading.
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Well penned, Joe did good, so what if in his old age he feared the turn of war. Mike
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Thanks Mike. It’s a commentary on the insidious nature of war not on Joe.
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Well done, some wounds never heal!
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Post-trumatic stress order takes many forms. Thanks !
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Very well crafted. Great take.
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Thank you!
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An interesting ambition—-to NOT become something. It may have changed him, but at least he’s still alive.
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Yes, He has reached his ambition without much damage except the hoarding.
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It seems war made him who he is.
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War has changed so many lives and made people heroes or villians depends on what side of history they landed. Thanks for reading Dawn.
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A casualty just holding himself together in the best way he can. Nicely done.
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Thank you Sandra. Everyone finds a way to cope and those who don’t end up in the cracks.
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It’s fascinating how he sees the world, and how the world sees him. He’s still a winner. Good story.
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He still is a winner as he met his goal in life. Thanks for reading Gah.
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Joe needs help but mental issues are easily overlooked. Nice one.
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That is a great dream 🙂
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Physically he survived. Mentally there are scars that don’t show. Good story, Ansumani. Well done. —- Suzanne
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I thought your beginning was really effective. People are thrown into wars, disrupting their lives until the very end. It’s always tragic and yet we can’t seem to stop having them. Nicely done.
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Memories do haunt and leave lasting imprints on the soul!
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Very moving story, Ansumani. War can be a good thing.
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