That day, Peggy was a gold panner searching for treasure. She sat astride a river boulder in only her knickers whilst the sun etched an invisible stamp across her back, undiscovered until bedtime.
At first she only found grit and tiny insects that sprang away as soon as she had them in her enamel plate. Half an hour later she was ready to give up, but one final slosh brought an incredible find: a worn and bent pearl earring. Peggy thought it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
In the winter, without telling her father, she held a lump of ice to her earlobe and pierced it with a needle. Then the earring was truly hers.
***
This piece of writing was for the 100 word (or so) prompt for Madison Woods’ #Fridayfictioneers. I’d be very happy to receive comments and constructive feedback. Click here to read other people’s.
I liked the jump in time from summer to winter and the suggestion of an independent mind in a young girl. cheers, Lorelei
Thanks Lorelei. Peggy has a very independent mind!
Oops, forgot my own response is here: http://www.westcoastwriters.blogspot.com/2012/08/fridayfictioneers-cherrystones.html
Really good. I loved the bit about the sun etching a stamp on her back … great imagery. I hope she cleaned up the ear-ring though… 🙁
Thanks Sandra. Not sure about cleaning the ear-ring, perhaps if she didn’t that’s a whole new story…
aww. very sweet. I remember piercing my ears and my friends too. Until we got in trouble …
Brave girl! Thanks for your comment.
lovely story Claire! 🙂
Thanks Raina
Very nice story Claire, i like what you did with this. Thanks so much for stopping by mine
Thanks for visiting
I am unsure of the era, but I’ll bet the act of piercing her ear is very rebellious indeed.
~Susan (www.susanwenzel.com)
I think it’s 1970s, but it was still a very rebellious act. Her father wasn’t pleased.
good one — as father of two daughters I can appreciate it
Thanks for reading.
A lovely, simple story that packed a wallop bec. it reminded me of a pearl ring I found in a field when I was a kid. It was worth nothing but priceless to me. I wore it for years until I lost it. Hopefully, some other kid is wearing it now.
That’s a great memory. Glad that it touched a chord with you.
What a lovely story!
Thanks
Great imagery. Too bad she didn’t find the earring’s mate. 😉
I think that might have been too much luck! Thanks for visiting.
I loved that time shift and also the emphasis in age, from what must have seemed childlike summer to a more adult seeming winter, well done. Here’s mine too: http://womanontheedgeofreality.com/2012/08/10/friday-fictioneers-shell-seeker/
Thanks Linda. I find moving stories along in leaps of time quite difficult so I’m glad that worked for you.
It worked beautifully Claire 🙂
Love this story! And I, too, love the imagery of the sun etching a stamp across her back. Well done, and thanks for your comment on ours. 🙂
Thanks for your kind comments.
I’m glad she found something so meaningful. Treasure is where you find it.
Nice job.
http;//russellgayer.blogspot.com/
Great slow development of the details. I especially liked the sun etching her back as she sat on the rock. Something about the self piercing seems to perfectly capture her character. Nice job!
Brian (http://pinionpost.com/2012/08/10/the-reunion/)
Thanks Brian, I’m glad you liked it.