In Loco Parentis – Friday Fictioneers – July 2017

Copyright Janet Webb

First it was his art teacher.

“Jimmy’s talented, Mrs Graham, but he tells lies.”

Then his football coach.

“He stole from the locker-room.  I saw him, but he denies it.”

I remember the confrontations – the jutting under-lip, the tiny clenched fists.  His protests were indignant, then stubborn.

Eventually the complaints ceased, but Jimmy was never the same, distracted, resentful.

I saw them on the news last night, the teacher, the coach.  Heard how they’d operated all those years, the network they’d organized, lives they’d ruined.

Jimmy’s back-packing somewhere.

He doesn’t paint; doesn’t watch football.

And he never calls.

Friday Fictioneers – your story in 100 words.  This week just 99 for me, so I’ll carry a credit over to next week.  🙂  The inspiration for this derives from a popular modus operandi – first you rubbish someone, set up an expectation of lies, and then when the truth, or something closely approaching it, is told, no-one believes them. 

Thanks to the multi-talented Rochelle for continuing to host our weekly gathering.  I know it’s a lot of work.