Berta sat down, dog tired. Tears ran down her cheeks. She brushed them away.
What had she done to be saddled with a life of hardship and misery and an ungrateful child? Hurt and anger welled up inside her as she thought about her only daughter, Clarissa. She, Berta had worked so hard to make sure that Clarissa went to a good Negro school where she’d meet a fine Negro man and what does she do? She runs off with an Injun. All that money wasted and all that hard work for nothing.
Slowly, she rose to finish the ironing.
100 Words
This was inspired by the movie, Unbowed.
This was written for the Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields For more details, visit Here. To read other stories based on this week’s prompt, visit Here.
Notes to Women 
Discrimination can be found in every society.
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That’s very true.
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Dear Adele,
Perhaps Berta will learn to accept her daughter’s choice. Love the voice in this.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Perhaps, in time, she will. Thank you 🙂
Shalom,
Adele
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Oh the irony. 🙂
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🙂
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Even the iron won’t be able to get the wrinkles out of this irony.
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Good one, Andrew 🙂 Pun well taken.
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I hope everyone lives happily ever after…. {smile}
~Donna
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So, do I, Donna 🙂
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Racism and discrimination are all over.
Well written, Adele
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They are. Thanks, Dale 🙂
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There’s always somone who’s worse off and can be slighted, isn’t there? Sad story but true in many places around the world.
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The mother worked hard for her daughter to end up with a good prospect but is bitterly disappointed that she ran off with an Indian. It’s a sad that this mother’s Her hopes and expectations for her daughter were not realized but it would be even sadder for the daughter to marry a man she didn’t love just to please her mother.
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Parents and their expectations have caused a lot of anguish over the years. Your story illustrates it perfectly.
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Yes, you’re so right that parents’ expectations have caused anguish for them and their children over the years. Thanks 🙂
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A well told story.
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Thanks, Sascha 🙂
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Berta is like all mothers. She thinks whatever she has her daughter’s best interest in mind. She forgets that daughter also has a mind of her own.
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I wouldn’t say that all mothers are like Berta but we all want what is best for our children. It comes a time when we have to let go and hope that our children choose their path wisely. My mother always used to say “it’s your life” or “you make the child but you can’t make the mind.” As parents we teach and raise our children the best we know how and hope that they will turn out well. And you’re right. Berta’s daughter has a mind of her own and she chose her own happiness rather than have her mother choose it for her.
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While I feel for Berta, she’ll be happier if she accepts and adapts to what has happened. That’s easy advice to give; not always so easy to follow.
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I agree with you, Linda. Berta will be much better of if she just accepted her daughter’s decision. I think it will take a while for her to do so, though.
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