Opal Reflections
Perspectives through Prose, Poetry and Photography
A Smart Girl
WRITTEN IN RESPONSE TO THE TRIFECTA WRITING CHALLENGE (www.trifectawritingchallenge.com), Week 50.
Prompt: YEAR…a calendar year specified usually by a number (died in the year 1900)
She was six when it happened, if it happened. Whether it was the overactive imagination of a first grader, a dark dream, or an actual brush with evil, she may never know, but will never forget.
It was 1951, the year her family relocated to the third floor of the three family house on West End Avenue, just outside the inner city. She was a resilient little girl, and would adjust to the new neighborhood, so her parents had no reason to be concerned. Besides, her younger sister and infant baby brother needed Mom’s attention.
With a good head on her shoulders, she was, by all accounts, mature beyond her years. She rode the #31 bus alone, to Sacred Heart School. Often unaccompanied, she commuted into Manhattan for voice lessons. She sought, received (and in a real sense, she needed) the adulation and approval of adults. Their perception of her defined her own self portrait. She was confident in her competence and could take care of herself. She was a smart girl!
The engaging young man lived on the second floor (the landlord’s son) and reminded her of Joe DiMaggio, her favorite. His tall, dark handsomeness disarmed her. She liked him. So on that afternoon, as she swooped up his newspaper from the front walk and bounded up the stairs to his door, she was unguarded; ambushed by the blindness of her innocence.
When the door swung open, she didn’t understand, but instantly and instinctively froze with fear. She offered the rolled-up newspaper, her gaze fixated on his glaring eyes, blocking out everything else. Feigning ignorance of his open robe and refusing to look at the shockingly blatant nakedness beneath, she turned and raced up the stairs.
Later, alone in the safety and solitude of her room, her mother’s words reverberated inside her head. She hears them still:“For a smart girl, you can be very stupid.”
She told no one.
15 Comments on “A Smart Girl”
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Opal Reflections 
ambushed by the blindness of her innocence–just one example of what I loved about this piece.
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Thank you!
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As I recall, my reaction to that stuff at that age was “Ew! Ew! Ew!” Thankfully none of my exposures to public nudity left any scars.
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Well done – Disturbing yes but well written. Love the last lines.
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Thank you!I appreciate your comments and the fact that you took the time to read my piece.
Joanne
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Whoa, wasn’t expecting that! o__O With great smartness should come greater common sense. And maybe the parents should pay better attention to their kid. Yep. *wise nod*
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Yes – exactly! Thanks, as always for your comments. I’m still catching up with my reading and writing after hurricane Sandy. And now it’s snowing!
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WOAH creepy guy. That is very wrong. Poor kid!
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Yes, indeed!
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What a creepy jerk! I’m so glad she got away, but it’s too bad her mom couldn’t offer guidance instead of insults. We all do stupid things at times and it’s nice when they can be chalked up to learning experiences rather than evidence of our solid ignorance.
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Yes…it was a favorite expression of my mother’s…to remind me that book knowledge didn’t always trump common sense. And yes today a six year old would never be left so alone…different time, different world..but maybe not so much. We just hear about more garbage these days. Thanks for taking the time to stop by.
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Wow, what an uncomfortable situation that must be. I had a smart-girl phase when I was younger, and I relate.
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Yes – and more uncomfortable for the remaining 2 years her family continued to live in that house. Thank you for your comment. Smart girls are both blessed and challenged – material for another post 🙂
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A disturbing little tale. Tense and well written.
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Thanks, Misky. Yes it is disturbing. My husband agreess with you:) Thank you for reading and sharing your comments.
Joanne
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