Time for Flash Friday, hosted by Rebekah Postupak. This week’s photo (below) tied with the prompt “Coming of Age” should make for an interesting set of stories. After reading mine below, please click > HERE < for the rest. Enjoy!!!

source: Past and Present No 2, by Augustust Leopold Egg, 1858. Public domain photo. Reprint permission assumed.
Crisis of 1885
SVBookman 160 Words
Janet smoothed her daughter’s long hair and whispered “Shoosh, my little lady. All will be fine.” The young girl’s head and body was racked with emotion. Janet had not even been able to get her daughter to speak of what had happened. She knew it dealt with the Johnson boy, the rascal. The mother breathed short, shallow, and fast to keep from tensing and adding to her daughter’s troubles.
Finally, she spoke. She looked up at the older woman’s sweet face and said with all embarrassment and with hushed tones, “He, he wanted me to to…”
“Yes,” continued mother with some urgency.
“He wanted me to … kiss his his…” again the pause. Janet was dreaming up ways to kill the boy without anyone finding out.
“…Kiss his … hand! Oh, mother, how could he ask me to do that so soon?” The tears started freely again.
Janet tried to let the air out slowly. Oh, to be young again.
____________________________
Namaste,
Scott