This post is written for Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneer’s challenge.
On the day Fritz was released from jail for the last time, staff dropped him off at a Metro stop in suburban Chicago. He had forty three dollars in his pocket, money he had earned in prison, and a one day bus pass. He had nowhere to stay.
Convicted on a voluntary charge of manslaughter he had served twenty three years behind bars for killing his own brother in a family dispute over money.
As he looked up on the window at the familiar brownstone building he wondered. They say a mother’s love is never ending.
Oh Danny Boy! 
You’re gonna have to finish this. Great start.
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That’s an idea. Thanks for stopping by.
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What a tragic situation. The ending is particularly poignant – leaves us to ponder how it will turn out.
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I’m a bit pessimistic about his future.
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After 23 years, if she hasn’t visited him or made any attempts at communication, I don’t think his odds are good. Hopefully he’ll find another way. Unless there’s some other reason why she’s been quiet. Well written.
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I think you are right, the odds are not good.
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We are left wondering too. Im sure its hard to forgive the. Person who took the life of your son, no matter how out of their mind with passion or anger they may have been. But when that person is your only remaining son…i think there’s hope.
Now,that Hamilton song, “forgiveness” is running through my head. According to the musical, Hamilton’s wife forgave him for his part in the death of their son in a duel over Hamilton’s honor. Its possible.
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True!
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Perfectly paced.
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Thank you!
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He’s entering into a shaky world at best. Good luck to him.
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Odds are against him.
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Such a sense of sadness permeates this story. Nothing will ever be the same.
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That’s true. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
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What a mess, sentence served, and no where to go. You offered a fine story
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Thanks so much!
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A touching story, Fritz. Such a horrible loss for a family; one hopes there is redemption.
I think your second sentence is meant to start with “With,” vs “He.”
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Yikes! Thanks for the catch.
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43 Dollars and a bus pass–what a way to introduce someone back into society. If he doesn’t find anyone to help him, he’ll be back in jail soon. The mum… if he doesn’t know, she hasn’t.
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A fairly large of released prisoners do indeed return because of what you mention.
Thanks for the read.
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It is difficult to say should one be happy that Fritz is released from jail after serving twenty three years but he is not sure where to go? He has little money and he is not sure if his mother has forgiven him. So few words, such deep situation!
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Very insightful.
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I guess he’s about to find out…
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Good news or bad? What say you as an author?
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Well, I did initially take the line “released from jail for the last time” to mean that maybe his days were numbered – since there’s no possibility of him ever going back 🙂
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If she’s still alive, I almost hope she’ll allow him back… though she seems to have not visited him during that time so he may be thinking wishfully…
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You built the tension and left quite the cliffhanger. Well-done!
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Lot’s of possibilities there.
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Does she even still live there? So many possibilities. Intriguing.
Click to read my FriFic tale!
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That is an interesting possibility. I wonder if he had the time to check that out.
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You’ve constructed your story carefully to engage our sympathy for the character. Well done!
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Thanks for the kind words and stopping by.
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Great job building sympathy in Fritz. Quite the emotional cliffhanger!
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Many thanks for the read and commenting.
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That mother is going to be conflicted. Good tension created here, DJ.
BTW I assume there’s a typo in your last paragraph and “widow” should read “window”.
It’s often very difficult to proof your own work because you often see what should be there.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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You are so right. As much as you reread there is always one that gets through. Thanks for the catch! I appreciate it and will fix it.
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Too many scenarios running through my head….too many cop shows on TV! Good one, DJ.
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Agree with that. I seldom watch tv but my wife is a nut for those shows.
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My husband is the same. Blue Bloods is the show of choice at my house. Copy that. 😀
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I wonder if she will take him back… Interesting scenario.
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Tough love tested!
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