This piece I wrote is about a young boy called Silas who is a dreamer and wants to see the world. I truly enjoy flash fiction and can see this as a good start to something that could be in my book. I like to write ideas out in flash fiction sometimes. It is a great practice in free writing and getting the mind in the mood to write.
I like to keep track of the words I write and this is 518 words…just right for flash fiction.
Dreams of Adventure
Sister Ann looked around the classroom of 7-year-olds. The children sat with their hands folded on the tops of their desks and looking straight ahead, but one child was missing. Sister Ann shook her head and asked the children if they had seen Silas. A young boy raised his hand; Sister Ann told him to speak.
“He said he was going to work,” he said timidly.
Sister Ann threw her hands in the air and told the children to be still, and she would return. She stopped by the front desk and told Sister Misty in a hushed tone, “Silas has gone missing again. I think I know where he is; could you watch the children for me while I go retrieve him?” Sister Misty nodded and hurriedly walked down to the classroom but could hear Sister Ann say to herself, “That child is going to be the ruin of me,” as she ran out the front door.
The street was busy, and Silas could be anywhere. Most people in this situation would get worried for the young boy, but Sister Ann knew just where he would be. He would be down by the docks on the ships helping the men with their morning chores. “ Why that boy tests me I will never know,” she thought to herself, and she made her way to the docks.
“Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum,” Silas sang as he was mopping the deck. He felt so at home here with the men, even if he was a small boy. The men walked by laughing and admiring the young boy for the hard work he would do for them. He was just about to grab another bucket of water when he saw Sister Ann walk up to the gangplank.
“Silas, you get down here right now,” she yelled.
Silas dropped the bucket and looked at the men around him; they laughed, and one of the men got on one knee and said, “You need to go before the penguin waddles up here to get you.”
Silas nodded and made his way off the ship. Sister Ann looked at him and said, “What do you think you are doing? We do this most every day. You can’t be down here, young Silas; you are not old enough to be doing this.”
Silas looked up and said, “But Sister, I don’t learn anything from the books, and I’m bored.”
Sister Ann smiled, “I know, but in order to be wise and learn to respect the Lord’s power, you must finish school and learn the Bible. It will guide you in the rest of your life. I know this is hard to understand now, but when you are older, you will.”
With that, she gave him a big hug and said, “I know you are going to do amazing things and see the world, but for now, you must learn and be educated. Do you understand?”
Silas smiled and said, “Yes,” and with that, he took her hand, and they walked down the docks, talking about all the great adventures he would have.
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