Saturday 12 March 2011

The Truth - Sunday Scribblings # 258

"When I'm big, I'm going to go to all these places."  She smoothed the map on the floor, pointing to every single country in turn, "... and I'm going to have a house by the sea ... and swim with dolphins!"

Her face was alive with smiles and possibilities.

Feelings flooded over me, prompting memory after memory.

"I can't wait to be grown up!"

She turned her face to mine, eyes wide.

"Is it going to be as good as I think?"

There was a seriousness in her tone, the question was real. It required an answer. I'd promised never to lie to her, to always be honest. She knew she could trust me to tell her the truth.

I hesitated, causing her brow to flicker.

I couldn't tell her, I just couldn't. I felt a knotting pain deep in my stomach.

"Mummy?"

She stood, tilting her head to one side, a smile creeping across her face. I felt my breath ease, and the pain in my stomach lift with relief. I smiled back, a huge smile that spread ear to ear.

It was her truth she was asking, not mine. Hers.

I leant down and picked her up, tears in my eyes as I swung her around and around.

"Yes, Amy ... it's going to be the best thing ever ever, EVER!"


Written for Sunday Scribblings prompt 258 - Big.

57 comments:

Linda Jacobs said...

Oh, this is so sweet and full of wisdom!

Jae Rose said...

Hi Deborah - what a mighty punch this piece delivered. I can only imagine what 'truth' the mother knows but that answer - the best any parent could give..there will always be dolphins and houses by the sea..no matter what happens..Jae

Nanka said...

Complete faith and trust is really a big thing!! And staying true to your word of honor is even BIGGER!! Seen in these beautiful lines ~
"I'd promised never to lie to her, to always be honest. She knew she could trust me to tell her the truth."

trisha said...

thats what a good parent should do. cute story deborah.

trisha

Christine said...

The truth never needs to be from our point of view, such insight, Love the innocence and purity of this.

Tracy said...

Oh Deborah,
that is really well, let's see, very luring, I guess. There's truth, and sadness, and love and tenderness, protection...a slew of emotions...
I really enjoyed that...

mamahasspoken said...

WOW that was a great story and oh so true....

Unknown said...

This is a wonderful piece of writing. I enjoyed reading all of it and especially love 'It was her truth she was asking, not mine. Hers.'

Sandra said...

But it is the best thing ever! And the hardships only serve to make the good times ever more sweet. This was a terrific post!

Susannah said...

Oh I really love this! So well written, and just...wonderful! :-)

Josie Two Shoes said...

To give a child hope and belief in the future is the best gift of love ever given. Wise are the words about the mother's truth versus hers. All life stories are different! Excellent writing!

Old Egg said...

Oh there is so much more in this piece than can be absorbed in one reading. At first I read the disappointments of the mother but next it was the impossibilities for the daughter.

Utterly heartrending.

Anonymous said...

Oh, you're making me cry. And it is more than likely it will be the best ever. She has you as her Mum. It is a very good place to start!

Deborah said...

Thank you everso much for all your lovely comments, I really appreciate them x :o)

Cynthia M said...

Beautiful and aching. I love that you acknowledge that there is not one universal truth, and you make that okay :)

eralybird said...

a lovely moment of realisation and truth.

Deborah said...

Thank you everso much Cynthia and earlybird x :o)

Altonian said...

With my children and grand children I have always given them the mundane, everyday facts they seek; the greater truths have often had to be deferred, for their own good. This was a warm, but heartbreaking story.

Me said...

Just lovely. A beautiful moment captured on the page. :)
-C

Andy Sewina said...

I still have the same dreams as your daughter, wonderful!

LeiffyV said...

Ah, Deborah. This is a great piece, filled with sweetness, love and honesty. Sometimes it's tough to not be overwhelmed by negativity when faced with such pure honesty. Great work, gave me a little smile to start the day off with!

Rashmi said...

WOnderful story.......so beautifully written...

Hazel said...

Giving a child her truth in a "big" way is a feat only a mother can accomplish. I love your intelligent emotion here. Thanks for dropping by my nook. I appreciate it.

Brian Miller said...

yes it will and what a mom for believing in her..

Anonymous said...

This was such a beautiful tale !! saving it in my bookmarks :)

Deborah said...

Thank you so much everyone for your lovely comments x :o)

Jinksy said...

Let the children hold on to their innocences as long as possible, eh?

Harry Nicholson said...

A touching prose poem.You write well, Deborah.

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

perfect,

with encouragements from parents and friends, one certainly can dream big and achieve big.

Catherine Denton said...

I was captured by her struggle and the longing for it to be her daughter's truth! I wish that for my own children. Compelling story!
My Blog

Raven said...

Oh, that is just lovely!

Jenny said...

So sweet and poignant. This made me want to cry. It's so hard to not be able to protect them for the world.

keiths ramblings said...

So touching! Simply beautiful.

Unknown said...

Deborah,
you are so good at conveying the truth from a child's [perspective. I love this.

Wendy said...

This is a succint study on truth versus lies. Sometimes, as honest as one wants to be, you just can't squash someone else's hopes, dreams, imagination. That's an important knowledge to have as a mother.

J Cosmo Newbery said...

A parent's dilemma. Thank you.

tattytiara said...

She can only go where her beliefs take her, after all!

Sophie said...

Beautifully written, rich with feelings. Thank you for sharing,

Elizabeth

Deborah said...

Thank you everso much for all your lovely comments x :o)

Doe said...

YES "Her" truth! going to all these places..! that's my dream too :)
Children learn and flourish if we expect them to-- Great take on the prompt

gautami tripathy said...

This is SO very good. Look forward to read more from you...

Here is my Sunday Scribbling post:
unknown gap

Anonymous said...

Wow! You really set a scene quickly and brought it to a satisfying resolution. I appreciate the conflict between adult sensibilities and childlike observance. Well done!

Meryl Jaffe said...

That was really touching! I was waiting with anticipation...how was she going to respond!

Thanks,
Meryl

vivinfrance said...

A beautiful, loving story and a lesson for all of us. It can NEVER be right to destroy a child's illusions.

Deborah said...

Thank you so much for the lovely comments, I really do appreciate them x :o)

Lynette Killam said...

Well, that was just beautiful and amazing! I absolutely loved it -her truth indeed...well said!! You've packed a lot of wisdom and love into the space of a few words...:)

Lynette
Imagination lane

Deborah said...

Thank you so much Lynette x :o)

trisha said...

waiting for your next post.

all the best!

Deborah said...

:o) aww thanks Trisha x

jabblog said...

Thank goodness she didn't learn the truth at this point. Oh, to have the innocence and belief of extreme youth and to be allowed to grow at one's own pace. Well done:-)

Deborah said...

Yes indeed ... thank you jabblog x :o)

Nessa said...

Great ending. I love the idea of each person's own truth.

Deborah said...

Me too :o) Thank you Nessa x

cj Schlottman said...

Deborah,

You are a wise woman. I so enjoyed the concrete images that make your vignette so visual. I like the way you write!

Namaste..........cj

PS - Thanks for your comment on "48 Hours Missing." I'm thinking of renaming it simply "Again."

Deborah said...

Thank you cj x ... and yes, I think 'Again' would really work!

DandelionBreeze said...

Love your blog and thank you so much for your gorgeous comment on my blog.... here following you now :)) xoxo

Deborah said...

It was a pleasure visiting you New Year Mum, thank you x :o)