PRICE TO PAY
A father! Tim thought of his own father and the things they’d shared in his 17 years,--the backyard games of catch, the fishing trips, and the advice his father had given him. How he wished he’d paid better attention and been more careful. His father had always told him, "Son, there's a price to pay for your actions". But, he and Alicia had fallen head over heels for each other, and allowed their teenage hormones to overcome their best intentions. Now he’s to be a father himself. At 17. He wanted to do the right thing. But, could he finish school, go to college and establish himself if he had a wife and a baby to care for? How could they tell their parents? Alicia was as frightened as he. Yesterday, he was young and carefree and the world was his oyster. Today it felt as if the world sat squarely on his shoulders. A father! Tim felt a churning in his belly. He felt old already. This, he thought, is the price to pay.
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Wednesday Scribblings and we're asked to consider
the term "price to pay". I chose to use flash fiction,
but the scenario happens all too often in our modern
society.
Submitted to Poets & Storytellers United
October 14, 2020
Life's lessons on actions and concequences. Nice one Bev
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by to read mine
Much💛love
Nice work, Beverly. Real world life has a real world pricetag, eh? Tick Tick Tick Before he knows it, HIS son will be delivering some similar news. Salute!
ReplyDeleteI am sure this happens quite often but regardless of the difficulties if there is love they will be able to cope.
ReplyDeleteA sweet yet sobering little tale. You brought Tim very much to life!
ReplyDeleteSounds discouraging at the first. Time will make that gift priceless, the couple will have to alter their plan to reach the goals still. I would recomend to my students to enlist in the armed forces or the Reserve and then go active duty. To save money if they can and he use the GI bill. Most I think at least consider following that. It took me eleven years to finish college, mostly at night. I had GI Bill and used it all, my company paid tuition when GI wasn't. I ended up with three degrees, a good set of skills from the service (I could work as an engineer with experience in lieu of a degree) and four kids.
ReplyDeleteJust a little slower but things still can get done!!!
..
You're to be commended for your sticktoitiveness!
DeleteBev, I like how you told this story from the male perspective .... more often than not it's the female telling the tale. I think Tim is a good fellow.
ReplyDeleteNo matter what Alicia decides to do, there will be a price to pay, no arguing that!
ReplyDeleteSadly, your Tim sounds like my own son, whose story has not turned out well.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry. My story is fiction, but it is repeated far too many times. Life's lessons can be very difficult.
DeleteAt some point in our lives we find out some decisions turn out to cost more than we thought they would.
ReplyDeleteGood example, Bev!
ReplyDelete