John 8:7
When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
There's a young woman on the street corner. She twirls fingers through threads of black hair that reach her bikini topped breast. Her other hand holds a cigarette, the red ashes falling in the dim light. Her black boots click, click as she walks. Her elbows rest on a grey sedan's open window ledge. She opens the passenger door and she gets in, rides away.
There's a teen on the driveway. She twirls fingers through threads of black hair that reach the lettering on her t-shirt across her breasts. Her other hand holds an over-flowing bag, the red sequins on the straps flashing like diamonds from the house lights. Her white converse runners squeak, squeak as she walks. Her elbows rest on the red mustang's open window ledge. She opens the passenger door and she gets in, rides away.
There's a child in the house. She twirls her fingers through threads of black hair that reach the collar of her pink sweater. Her other hand holds a blonde barbie, the doll's clothes laying on the bare floor unseen in the darkness. Her bare feet tap, tap, as she walks. Her elbows rest on the bedroom's open window ledge. She hears a door open behind her, closes her eyes and dreams of a white car and she gets in, rides away.
********
There's a 17 year-old woman, her name and picture flashed up on my television screen. A public risk, they say, charged for aggravated sexual assault for not disclosing her life-threatening STD to consenting sexual partners. She is hand-cuffed, chained, behind bars.
She is bad, people are told, for having HIV.
Her story today, as told by others, is all that anyone sees, knows.
**********
There's a baby in the crib. She twirls her fingers through threads of a pink blanket that reach her tummy. Her other hand holds a brown teddy bear, a red ribbon around it's neck highlighted in the moon light. Her toes wave as she giggles. Her elbows rest on the mattress. She hears a door open behind her, her eyes open wide and she waves, waves her innocent tiny fists and feet in the air, ready to be embraced.
In today's headlines, do you question "What is the story behind the story?"
17 comments:
Can I just say WOW! That was very very powerful.
However, in news, as well as in writing, I don't think we're supposed to 'know' the backstory. Sound bytes and blurbs are all we're told. And unfortunately I think we need so much more of the backstory to make that connection.
I am so with Anne on this one. I always want to know the story behind the story.
Karen
Just a lot of Emmy award wrap ups stories, and there is no story behind those stories. Great post and very powerful. People shouldn't be judgmental. They need to know the story behind the story.
That was amazing. And I feel like the others, we really don't know all the back story (although, I'm curious at times).
Beautiful writing, Lynn! I had to read it twice, and I'm in awe.
Seriously, we shouldn't judge. Because we don't know.
There is so much truth in what you say. We just dont take the time to find out the real story. That's what good writing is all about!
There's always a bigger story. It's an author's job - any artist's job - to make it visible. :) Great post
That was awesome.
my husband is a prosecutor, I always see the behind the story, story.
Most of them are too sad/horrible/awful to share.
I'm with Anne and Karen and everyone else... WOW! Wonderful piece of writing. Finding the real story is always the difficult bit...
So true--the story behind the story is often not told in today's media. Your post today was so eloquent!
(And p.s., as an aside, I'll forgive you for not liking a certain unnamed movie, if you forgive me for disliking it. :) )
I'm teary eyed. I've worked with kids who end up like this - the ones who've suffered so much, survived unimaginable situations. Anything is better. There is always another story. Always.
Is it any surprise I prefer stories with happy endings???
i'm with ann and everyone on this, too. to actually talk about any back story is to actually talk about any issue. that's why there's no back story. that's the problem when a society has 'official' sources of information.
terrific post.
Media has a tendency of showing the angle that garners the most sensation. But it can destroy lifes too. Like the news flash that a 17-year-old [insert name here] is missing. Next thing you know is that the girl has been found but the news can no longer mention her name because she has been raped. Except now ALL of her classmates know the ordeal she's gone through, even if she never wanted them to know.
Fascinating post, Lynn! I would love to know the story behind that 17-year-old. I don't usually think new stories through that deeply, but you're absolutely right - there's so much more going on than we know.
This is an intriguing concept. I suppose there's always a side that isn't told.
Beautifully written, and so powerful.
I'm always wondering about people - about their history and what came before the moment in time our paths cross. Why is the lady in line cranky? Why did the jerk in the red car cut me off and then act like I'm the offending party? Why does the mom of a five year old dress like a prostitute?
I think if we as human being could really stop for a minute and imagine being in someone else's shoes, we'd be much more compassionate.
What a great post Lynn. Everyone has a story and we need to remember that.
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