at a street corner bar
under a red light shadow
she reminisces
dust from roads
so far from home
clouding eyes behind
Bangkok's neon glare
teaching her to
lay down
her body,
her dignity
for the tin roof
on her families hovel,
or food in their bellies.
fifteen and life
at twenty-four dollars
a night.
Tell a story in 55 words. Want to give it a try or just read more, go see g-man.
Want to know more about the battle to rescue women in Thailand from the slavery of prostitution, go here.
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86 comments:
Oh, Brian. This is an amazing 55.
Mine's up, too. Have a happy weekend.
http://boomerbabybliss-bfs.blogspot.com/2009/10/flash-55-fiction_29.html
I just LOVE Thai Hooker 55's!
Excellent job Brian!
Thank you so much for embracing the Friday Fun-Fest with so much creativity and zeal.
Have a Kick-Ass and Spooky Week-End!
Zing. Perfect.
oh that got me.
Really well done Brian. Not easy to tell a complete story in so few words.
Do you speak from experience...me love you long time...;/
Poignant 55. mines up!
Wow! What a powerful message along with a linky to be part of the solution. Brilliant!
So sad. When I was 15, I was collecting Lego sets and hoping for a Nintendo game system for my next birthday. This really puts my life into perspective.
-smarmoofus
Powerful story told so succinctly.
This reminds me of how very blessed I am to have been born in America. I am very grateful. God bless the poor souls who live lives of such desperation.
A very intense 55.
PG
Emotional. And for a good cause. I am often thankful for being a female born in the USA.
I think many have said it already, but that was very powerful, and should make us all grateful for what we have...
thanks for that.
Well done. I'm all sad for her and wanting her to move in my basement.
Whoa! That was good.
Thanks
Once again you tell it like it is ~ with grace and dignity you bring light to such a tragic and shameful situation. Thank you for the link ~ you are a treasure.
You'll find my 55 ~ Skipping Stones is posted.
~Chef Kar
Perfect...can't believe it was only 55. The story was told and the point taken! Great info link but such a sad tale...
excellent...it is truly sad what is going on Thailand...great way to shine light on it.
much love
A bitter life indeed.
Hi-HO, Hi-HO, It's off to work we go....
This had punch, Brian. Very thoughtful.
Wow! So sad and heart breaking. I went to that site and started reading but had to stop for the night or it will bother me all night. I will pray for them as I go to sleep tonight. I will have to look at that site when I have more time. Do you know if it's a legit site?
Anyways, your way with words was wonderful once again. Thank you!
I read a book about this recently and it's heartbreaking!
Sometimes I think I am in a rough season, then I read something like this and realize how wrong I can be!
Fantabulous 55. So much work done with so few words.
hi!
i will be having a triple medical celebration. It is a mini medical blog thing game, not a contest, but a game - a posting game. In this regard, I am looking for bloggers who are willing to sponsor EC credits, 125x125 ad space or cash (thru paypal). Aside from these prizes, I, personally, will be giving medical freebies to the lucky winners and to the sponsors as well. Winners and sponsors who will receive my medical freebies will be chosen using Random.org.
I am looking forward to hear any from u!
gacias!!
gagay
gagay,MD
What a powerful 55. Makes me think I have a lot to be thankful for. Thank you.
It's wonderful to see these forgotten humans acknowledged. Beautifully done.
Beautiful words !! Nice one !! Thanks for sharing..
They just get better and better, Brian.
I love how you weave in memories of her village life in and the why of her story and her stark reality of her mood.
Very inspiring!
Mine's here:
http://inlindenhills.blogspot.com/2009/10/flash-fiction-friday-mom.html
An excellent 55 today, with a powerful message.
This was the most powerful of all your work. An unhappy subject that is often skirted around, but written so succinctly for all to take notice.
that was incredible.
EXCELLENT!
You always do a good job at nailing this...It speaks HUGE to me as this is the plight of SO many orphans in Asia (girls put out around 14) and orphans ARE SO VERY CLOSE to my heart.
Have a great weekend with T and the the little guys! Happy Halloween!
oooo, 55 words with such meaning. great writing.
Whoa.....this is just simply awesome. You have an opening, and ending in the story... and yet, only 55 words tells a lifetime!
Have a terrorific Halloween tomorrow---
My 55 is a two-parter this week...
Trick or Treats HERE
WE live in a harsh world and your 55 highlights a harsh reality. Very well done
I have finished my 55.
You’ll find it
HERE.
.
But it’s a groaner.
Wow.
Too often life just isn't right. It just isn't fair. It can make you sick to your stomach. It seems that when you are just about to write it all off you hear your child's laughter, you see an elderly couple walking along hand-in-hand, you see a young man hold open a door for his sweetheart. Yeah, I guess it's not all bad everywhere. Embrace the good and right and work to change to dark areas.
wow, that is a vivid heart-wrenching 55. Nicely done.
Love the telescoped canon. Like a sketch one can read and fill in with pictures. -Jayne
Wow, this 55 just breaks my heart. Excellent work, Brian.
Thoughtful and harmful, yet great 55!
You're keeping it real. Another mini-movie. Thanks so much.
beautifully stated -- sadly true.
Excellent way to bring home the atrocities in Thailand and other such countries. Well done!
Awesome and heartbreaking. And only 55 words!
Good for you, Brian. Reality is powerful.
wow Brian this one was powerful.Sad reality!
So sorry, didn't mean to delete both comments, it's really late. A very sensitive poem about a sadly sensitive subject, excellent writing.
The post - poignant - the link helpful - the intent of the poet fulfilled - convey - relay - and move to awareness. Well Done Brian.
Wow! What a powerful message about a cause that is so important.
Our kids worrying about fingernails, their kids grew up before their time..
Wow . . . You've done it again Brian! A powerful post in 55 words! Goes to show how thankful we should be for all that we have. Others don't have it as well off as we do and have to sell their bodies to put food on the table for their families.
So this made me cry. I have done charity work in the Philippines and the story of many women over there is quite the same. This hits very close to home for me for reasons I can't begin to get into. Thank you for touching my heart :)
Rachel
Wow Brian this is so amazing! all that impact in 55 words I am gob smacked!
In never ceases to amaze me how a complete story that is clear and concise can be told in 55 words! This was powerful and evoked emotion. Thanks for sharing it...great 55!
Having actually seen this situation when we visited Bankok your 55 struck a real cord!
Excellent, but sad 55 Brian.
Very well done. Even though I don't want to think about it.
Great job. 55 words. wow...that's tough. :) But you did it!
What a great 55! Thank you for taking on such a serious topic. I will go check out the sites.
my heart aches for those poor girls.
well done.
Wonderful posting. And important. Thanks!
This is really, really powerful!
Very well done Brian- and a cause worth highlighting. It's sickening how some women are treated.
So powerful---and such a good cause to highlight. Imagine, those of us who hated waiting tables!
*sigh*
Hmm sad . . .but true
I love your blog. Your words are poetic even when you're not writing poetry. You rock.
Brian, I often wondered about that Holloway girl? They said that the kid that they had suspected had some kind of tie to a prostitution ring in Thailand. I am not usually too much on conspiracy, but....
Tehre are so many good orgs out there now for this sort of thing. Thank God for all of them--thy labour away for little pay or respect from the world community but do so much eternal good.
your prose writes down the situation so well at hand indeed.
I've read your flash 55 and Thought it was great. But I've also read about the girls from asia your story has a true ring to it.
Thanks Brian for stoping by and leaving a comment. It also helps me create my peaces more interesting. Then I feel I have people waiting to see what I come uop with for next weeks 55 which is done and ready to post.
First we dragons thought the $24 was for the tin and the food but then we decided it was for her body. You humans are so weird. A dragon would never do that.
Great 55
This one is simply striking. I have several friends who have taken short-term ministry trips to Thailand to work in street rescue with the Tamar Center in Pattaya.
It breaks my heart (and surely God's as well) to see preteen girls sold out of desperation. What sort of world is this!
That one makes you sit up and take notice. Nicely done!
Wow! That is pure excellence.
That takes a lot of talent to be able to tell a story in 55 words. Wow - you did it again! Great job, Brian!
15 and life - wow. Sarah
Great story, but you know I could never do a story in 55 words or less. Heck I barely can leave a comment in less than 55 words. So I think I will just enjoy yours.
I know that you have written about this subject in other posts. I somehow think that you are really affected by something you have seen. This goes on all over the world, even young girls here in the US. Families from other countries even bring children over here which they use as slaves and they hide this fact. There is so much evil out there in the world.
My latest thing was to realize that the illegal immigrants here in the US are basically our slave laborers. Even though they get paid something, they are slaves of the employers who take advantage of their illegal status. This reason alone should make everyone against illegal immigration. I am not sure that those that support illegals living in our country realize that they are proponents of slavery. It may not be the same type of slavery that went on in the south, but it is still slavery. Americans should be more willing to try and put a stop to this practice. I had never thought about it before and I think that the only way to stop this practice of illegal immigrant slavery is to punish the employers who hire them. Then maybe we need to increase the numbers of immigrants allowed into our country legally. When these people are legal and treated with respect by employers then the slavery will end.
Although I know that the slavery of young runaways by the pimps needs to stop, I am at a loss of how to stop this, other than to go after the men who use the services provided. Embarrassment of the service users is one way, and I know the ACLU would prevent this, but still something needs to be done.
Yes, there is so much evil that goes on in our planet. I guess I better stop or blogger will cut me off. 55 words rarely happens for me.
God bless and thank you for keeping this story out there.
A very enlightening and touching 55.
Ghost, Goblins, Ghouls, Oh, My
Hey there, please follow me over Google because I'm already following your blog. Return the favor. Thanks!
Oh Brian! what great words and cause and promotion! I have heard alot of horrible stories out Thailand!!
Your posts, whether 55 words or 10 are so thought provoking. This 55 word post deserves to be brodcasted, giving us all a glimpse into the lives of those young ladies in need of rescue!
What a wonderful 55 my friend. Very powerful. I so enjoyed it. I'm late but I'm on vacation and not home. Have a great week ahead :)
a very humbling 55, sad and true. touching, sorry so late to check busy weekend and all, love your costumes too, i looked from later posts!!
Very powerful 55!
it is simply a different way of living, who go these places?
Complex issues, if no man needs them, then they have to find something else to do.
Thank you for the highlight,
15 is golden age, I would be afraid to death if I was forced to do such.
I have fear thinking about men, strange men, ...
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