“Where did you get these strange plants from?” Wei asked.
Sue tried not to panic. “They are gifts.” Why does Wei have to be so nosy? And why is she here instead of at the market?
“Who gave them to you?”
“A friend, I think. I don’t remember.”
“You don’t remember who gave you these ugly plants?” Wei sounded skeptical.
“Wei, aren’t you going to the market?”
“Oh, yes. I’d better leave now.” She scurried off.
Once the coast was clear, Sue went over to the plants and removed the Bibles. It was time to find new hiding places.
99 Words
This story was inspired by an article I read about China shutting down churches and seizing Bibles in an “ambitious new effort to lessen or even eradicate the influence of Christianity and religion from the country”. So far, the government has shut down hundreds of Christian house churches.
According to Willy Lam of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, “Xi is a closet Maoist—he is very anxious about thought control. He definitely does not want people to be faithful members of the church because then people would profess their allegiance to the church rather than to the party, or more exactly to Xi himself.” Faithful Christians would rather obey God than men and will do so even if it costs them their lives.
This was written for the Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. For more details, visit Here. To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit Here.
It’s an oppressive world when you have to hide books, wherever it is.
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Yes, it is, sadly.
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Wow! Modern day persecution. God protect the universal church, in Jesus Christ name. Amen.
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That was a novel take on the prompt and a very good one. I liked the way you used so much dialogue to tell the story – it’s a very economical way of writing when you only have a 100 words!
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Thanks, Penny. And you’re right, I find using dialogue goes a long way in telling a story.
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Now that was a story and a half. Good job.
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Thanks, Ellen 😀
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A novel take on the photo – well done.
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Thanks, Sandra 😀
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I learned something new here, Great take.
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Thank you, Yarnspinnerr 🙂
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Interesting where our writing inspirations can come from.
Nicely done …
Isadora 😎
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Thanks, Isadora 🙂
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Interesting story. I’m not religious, but I do think people are entitled to their beliefs whether I share them or not. Shame there are still governments trying to suppress peoples’ right to choose.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thanks, Susan. People should always have the freedom to choose.
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Wow. THAT was a surprise, and a very good one. You kept the tension very well right through to the last word.
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Thanks 🙂
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One should never need to hide anything as long as it is not harming anyone, especially a book.
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I agree.
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I really like your take – it’s nice when one goes outside of the box as you have done. And a sad day indeed, when books must be hidden…
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Thanks, Dale. And it’s sad when people aren’t allowed to worship freely.
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A very unusual and interesting take. So sad to imagine books being hidden and forbidden but it has tragically happened down the centuries.
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Thanks, Jilly. And, yes, it’s sad when people have to hide books.
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I had not realised China was trying to shut down Christianity too. I read of how they persecute Uighur Muslims and forbid more and more practicing of religion. Books of any kind should not have to be hidden. Thank you for the informative post.
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You’re welcome, Fatima. I was inspired to write this story because I felt that since the Christians were told to take down images of Jesus and crosses, and gospel passages from their homes it’s only a matter of time they will confiscate their Bibles. Already, Bibles are banned from being sold online. Persecution of any kind needs to be stamped out.
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Very interesting. Brilliant piece.
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Thanks, Lisa 🙂
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That’s a pretty thick book to hide under a plant.
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There are thin Bibles nowadays and little ones as well. I’m guessing they were small enough to hide in the plants.
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