Cruel and Unusual Punishment

PHOTO PROMPT © Bradley Harris

She viewed the vastness of the ocean,
a watery path to another place,
where life waited; called from distant shores,
a cruel taunt at the close of yet another day,
while she remained confined.

She could jump out the window,
Over the fence,
Roll down the hill into the sand,
waves lapping at her feet,
Unencumbered, free.

He would be there,
Of course,
To meet her.

Hand in hand,
they would walk off into the sunset,
chase their dreams,
She and that guy,

Leave behind the jail of her room.
Let’s see what Dad would have to say about that.



Photo prompt © Bradley Harris from “Friday Fictioneers” at Rochellewisoff.com

28 responses to “Cruel and Unusual Punishment”

  1. There is no defiance and frustration to compare with a grounded teen.

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  2. After getting to the end of your piece I had to go back and reread the beginning to feel the impact of that confinement she is feeling. Sounds almost like a prison but could simply be the interpretation of a young girl. Nice!

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    1. To a teenage girl who can’t go out and meet her boyfriend (because she’s grounded due to previously going out with said unapproved boyfriend), her window might as well have bars on it.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Ah youth! Everything is so extreme!! Her chance will come… when she is of age, I suspect 🙂

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  4. This brings back memories, LOL. You so welldescribed the untameable urge to break free from… something, go to… somewhere and of course meet… someone. Let’s hope some of it will come true.

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  5. Dad? what’s he got to do with it?

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  6. Perhaps she ought. Do do all that … One day, at least, and till then, hope holds fast.

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    1. Hope can go a long way on a long day.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Yep. It sure can! And good thing, too! 🙂

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  7. From my experience as both a teenager and a parent, kids don’t always take any notice of what Dad says, they do it anyway!

    Here’s mine!

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  8. What would Dad know? He has grey hair!

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    1. He must be doing something right because she is only imagining ‘escape’.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Dad gotta sleep sometime!

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  10. An interesting scene. Nicely done.

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    1. Thanks Bill!

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Wow, I can feel her angst. Not sure whether this Juliet would really be better off with her Romeo or not though – it’s hard to tell at that age.

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    1. She just met ‘that guy’ so his Romeo status is dubious! Lol

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  12. I hope she is blinded by young love, I have a feeling maybe Dad knows right on this one! Nicely done.

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    1. Thank you!

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Defiance and young love in a nutshell.

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  14. Dear CGraith,

    I suspect she isn’t the prisoner she thinks she is. Nicely written.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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    1. Thank you. She is surely a drama queen!

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  15. Either this is teenage angst or she needs to make that leap of faith.

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    1. Glad the tale prompted some thought. Have a great day!

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  16. I expect Dad would have a lot to say about that. And I suspect she will not be there to listen.

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    1. It is certainly hard to parent a determined teenager.

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  17. A good rendering of the adolescent mindset, CGraith. How bitterly we resent curbs on our freedom!

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    1. Thanks, once upon a time I was a teenager.

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