The ring
Trouble about ...23 total reviews
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
This sounds like chaos and how terrible to threaten children in such away, but that is how things were back then. Your story certainly had me feeling sorry for poor Robbie, love Dolly x
reply by the author on 13-May-2022
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This sounds like chaos and how terrible to threaten children in such away, but that is how things were back then. Your story certainly had me feeling sorry for poor Robbie, love Dolly x
Comment Written 13-May-2022
reply by the author on 13-May-2022
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Thank you Dolly. Great review. The strap was a rare event. We feared it enough to learn our life lessons quickly! Not allowed these days of course!
Wendy
Comment from jessizero
This was quite an adventure. I am glad your mother didn't catch you. I am sure she didn't want to catch you. Thank you for sharing your true family story here. Best wishes.
reply by the author on 13-May-2022
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This was quite an adventure. I am glad your mother didn't catch you. I am sure she didn't want to catch you. Thank you for sharing your true family story here. Best wishes.
Comment Written 13-May-2022
reply by the author on 13-May-2022
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Thanks so much Jessi. She was probably often overwhelmed with having five young children! The threat of the strap was usually enough to keep us in line!
Wendy
Comment from lyenochka
Oh, I'm so sorry for all of you! I guess your mother was raised harshly so that's why she felt she had to repeat the same kind of cruel punishment. You explained the situation well and built up the suspense perfectly! I hope you do well in the contest!!
reply by the author on 13-May-2022
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Oh, I'm so sorry for all of you! I guess your mother was raised harshly so that's why she felt she had to repeat the same kind of cruel punishment. You explained the situation well and built up the suspense perfectly! I hope you do well in the contest!!
Comment Written 13-May-2022
reply by the author on 13-May-2022
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Thank you Helen. The strap was rarely used - but greatly feared. The threat was usually enough. She was still very young (32) with five children at that stage (from 4 to 12), so she was probably overwhelmed at times! I appreciate your review.
Wendy
Comment from Verna Cole Mitchell
This story made me sad. I was glad though that you were a kind and loyal big sister. My husband told me that when he was very young, and his mother made him get a switch from outside, he would get the tiniest one-than she'd make him get another till he got one stout enough. Then he would hide under the bed.
reply by the author on 13-May-2022
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This story made me sad. I was glad though that you were a kind and loyal big sister. My husband told me that when he was very young, and his mother made him get a switch from outside, he would get the tiniest one-than she'd make him get another till he got one stout enough. Then he would hide under the bed.
Comment Written 13-May-2022
reply by the author on 13-May-2022
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Things were very different when we were young! The fear of the strap was usually sufficient for us to learn lessons very quickly! Not tolerated today though, not even a smack is allowed. Thanks so much for the great review.
Wendy
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We gave our kids spankings, as we got them, and I don't think we or they were the worse for it.
Comment from barbara.wilkey
Thank you for sharing this writing prompt entry with us. My parents didn't have a strap but Dad's belt. Pretty much the same thing. We used to get money too, and we always had to make sure to save part of it for the Church's offering plate. So similar.
reply by the author on 13-May-2022
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Thank you for sharing this writing prompt entry with us. My parents didn't have a strap but Dad's belt. Pretty much the same thing. We used to get money too, and we always had to make sure to save part of it for the Church's offering plate. So similar.
Comment Written 13-May-2022
reply by the author on 13-May-2022
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We are alike in many ways! Thanks so much for reviewing. I always look forward to your thoughts.
Wendy
Comment from K. Lang-Slattery
Ah! The good old days of parenting! How well I remember. . . This story brings back some memories. Well written and engaging, though I wonder if Robbie ever was actually punished. There are lessons to be learned hear and they aren't what you'd expect. I'll bet Robbie learned not to lie so badly. Thanks for sharing.
Mentioning the 5 siblings crying in sympathy is odd as you never mentioned the other siblings in this piece. Reader's of your other work will realize who the "we all" are, but I'd suggest trying to make each piece stand alone when posted.
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reply by the author on 13-May-2022
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Ah! The good old days of parenting! How well I remember. . . This story brings back some memories. Well written and engaging, though I wonder if Robbie ever was actually punished. There are lessons to be learned hear and they aren't what you'd expect. I'll bet Robbie learned not to lie so badly. Thanks for sharing.
Mentioning the 5 siblings crying in sympathy is odd as you never mentioned the other siblings in this piece. Reader's of your other work will realize who the "we all" are, but I'd suggest trying to make each piece stand alone when posted.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 13-May-2022
reply by the author on 13-May-2022
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Thank you again. You are right. However the others weren?t involved in any of the first part, only came in when her voice was raised, to see what was going on. I just stuck to the essential truth of the day, as the word limit was pressing. I did say "we all got pocket money" which suggests more than two.
Wendy
Comment from robyn corum
Wendy,
Can't win, either way. hahaha It's so funny. Moms just KNOW. I mean, your sister could have waited and worn the ring when Mom wasn't around - but I suppose she was far too excited to think that clearly. I understand. I did the same thing - only different. I should write about it. Thanks!
reply by the author on 13-May-2022
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Wendy,
Can't win, either way. hahaha It's so funny. Moms just KNOW. I mean, your sister could have waited and worn the ring when Mom wasn't around - but I suppose she was far too excited to think that clearly. I understand. I did the same thing - only different. I should write about it. Thanks!
Comment Written 13-May-2022
reply by the author on 13-May-2022
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Thanks Robyn. I enjoyed your review - glad you enjoyed my story!
Wendy
Comment from Wayne Fowler
Very well written.
I could see it. I particularly like the cacophony.
My mother would have caught the guilty one, but prob'ly not over a crime such as that.
Did she enjoy the ring after that incident?
Best wishes.
reply by the author on 13-May-2022
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Very well written.
I could see it. I particularly like the cacophony.
My mother would have caught the guilty one, but prob'ly not over a crime such as that.
Did she enjoy the ring after that incident?
Best wishes.
Comment Written 13-May-2022
reply by the author on 13-May-2022
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Thank you very much for reviewing, and for the good wishes. I appreciate it. The funny thing is I don't know about the ring. I don't remember her ever wearing it again. Probably the memory of the strap spoiled the pleasure of the ring!
Wendy
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My guess is that it went onto the offering plate the next Sunday.
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Lol. Maybe!
Comment from Tom Horonzy
Inventive, as usual. Likely, another true story. Several tidbits strike true. When did banks stop incentives for kids to save? And I bet my last cent most homes no longer have "the strap." Keep writing, my dear.
reply by the author on 13-May-2022
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Inventive, as usual. Likely, another true story. Several tidbits strike true. When did banks stop incentives for kids to save? And I bet my last cent most homes no longer have "the strap." Keep writing, my dear.
Comment Written 13-May-2022
reply by the author on 13-May-2022
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Yes, absolutely true from start to finish! And yes, you are right. The strap (or the wooden spoon, or a smack) would be child abuse these days. But we did learn not too steal or tell lies. Even the FEAR of the strap will do that for you! Thanks so much for reviewing! Always appreciated.
Wendy
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As if I did not know. One untruth cost what trust my father had with me. I took a match from above our wood burning stove and gave it to a friend who in turn set fire to a discarded Christmas tree fort unintentionally. My dad asked if I started the fire which technically I did not but guilt got the best of me a two days later I confessed my part. The double hung doors slid shut and off came the belt for forty strokes. I was nine years old.
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Forty!!! My goodness. It's a wonder you are still here!
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Well, it was 1955. It likely was less. I finished reading Ali Baba at the time. I may have gotten confused.
Comment from Pantygynt
And that, oh dearly beloved, is the origin of the term 'I was strapped for cash'.
I'm sorry I simply couldn't resist that comment after reeading your short story here. In UK now no one is allowed to smack a child at all for anything.
reply by the author on 13-May-2022
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And that, oh dearly beloved, is the origin of the term 'I was strapped for cash'.
I'm sorry I simply couldn't resist that comment after reeading your short story here. In UK now no one is allowed to smack a child at all for anything.
Comment Written 13-May-2022
reply by the author on 13-May-2022
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Oh what a wonderful and timely comment: "Strapped for cash". How very appropriate. Made me laugh!
That was in the fifties. These days it would definitely be child abuse here too. No smacking is allowed, let alone a strap. But we did learn the lesson not to steal or lie, even though we escaped punishment. The fear of the strap was sufficient!!
Thanks so much for reviewing. Always appreciated.
Wendy
