Conflicted
November 27, 2019 at 9:41 am 40 comments
For Friday Fictioneers 100-Word Challenge: 29 November 2019
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| Photo Credit: C. E. Ayr |
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This was based on a story told to me by a Korean veteran. He said back in the day, women were treated as property in that part of the world. However, I didn’t have the heart to quote him word for word. I took the liberty of editing it as I saw fit. After all, I’m not a journalist.
The drought caused much hardship in Seojun’s village. Everybody was struggling to survive.
“I have a job for your daughter in Bangkok,” the recruiter said. “Excellent pay plus tips.”
In a roundabout way, she hinted, “She can’t be a virgin.”
Ji-woo was very excited when told of the news. Finally, she could help the family in need.
Still, Seojun felt conflicted about the offer.
That night, he found her already in bed. The daughter that he carried as a child was now a grown woman. Slowly, he approached her.
“Forgive me, Ji-woo, but I can’t let you take that route.”
Entry filed under: Blogroll, Daily Post, friday fictioneers. Tags: 100-word challenge, fiction.
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Musings of a Random Mind 
1.
Iain Kelly | November 27, 2019 at 11:54 am
I’m glad he came to his senses in the end.
2.
plaridel | November 27, 2019 at 1:14 pm
iain:
she’s entitled to be treated with respect.
3.
neilmacdon | November 27, 2019 at 12:21 pm
I wonder what her fate will be if she stays in the village
4.
plaridel | November 27, 2019 at 1:14 pm
neil:
i shudder at the thought. most likely, an arranged marriage.
5.
pennygadd51 | November 30, 2019 at 1:30 pm
Many arranged marriages are happy, Plaridel. The two that I know personally are certainly good marriages.
6.
plaridel | December 1, 2019 at 4:36 pm
penny:
true indeed. i have a pakistani and an indian friend who were married the same way and it seems that it’s working for them. 🙂
7.
rochellewisoff | November 27, 2019 at 2:21 pm
Dear Plaridel,
First, kudos on the very clever use of roundabout. Ji-woo will one day thank him for seeing her as more than property. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
8.
plaridel | November 28, 2019 at 1:45 pm
rochelle:
it’s very generous of you. thank you. 🙂
9.
Dale | November 27, 2019 at 6:22 pm
I love when a father chooses to protect his daughter over the rest…
10.
plaridel | November 28, 2019 at 1:45 pm
dale:
i guess as a father should be. 🙂
11.
Na'ama Yehuda | November 27, 2019 at 7:25 pm
Whew! I was holding my breath!
12.
plaridel | November 28, 2019 at 1:44 pm
na’ama:
what a compliment! thank you very much. 🙂
13.
Na'ama Yehuda | November 28, 2019 at 2:34 pm
🙂
14.
plaridel | November 30, 2019 at 9:55 am
na’ama:
aw, this makes me blush. 🙂
15.
Keith's Ramblings | November 28, 2019 at 2:28 am
What a dilemma. He did the decent thing, but at what cost? Well done plaridel.
16.
plaridel | November 28, 2019 at 1:44 pm
keith:
it was the right decision alright. 🙂
17.
Susan A Eames | November 28, 2019 at 9:07 am
This was so powerful in view of the fact it’s based on a true story. How sad when families are forced to make these sort of decisions. Thought provoking take on the photo prompt.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
18.
plaridel | November 28, 2019 at 1:43 pm
susan:
you’re very kind. thank you. 🙂
19.
Abhijit Ray | November 28, 2019 at 8:30 pm
Seojun is a good father. Poverty and hunger can make people do horrible things and take bad decisions.
20.
plaridel | November 30, 2019 at 9:54 am
abhijit:
i second the motion.
21.
msjadeli | November 28, 2019 at 11:14 pm
Blessings on Seojun and his family for the right decision. Did you find out what happened after that? Did they get through the difficult times?
22.
plaridel | November 30, 2019 at 9:55 am
msjadeli:
i could never imagine.
23.
siobhan1967 | November 29, 2019 at 11:41 am
I’m glad he didn’t let her go. That would have been awful.
24.
plaridel | November 30, 2019 at 9:54 am
siobhan:
it was always the right decision to protect his child.
25.
draliman | November 29, 2019 at 12:54 pm
I’m glad that, despite their situation, he did the right thing.
26.
plaridel | November 30, 2019 at 9:53 am
draliman:
me too.
27.
Tannille | November 29, 2019 at 11:13 pm
It’s sad that some women are fated to this sort of work. I hold no judgement.
Well written.
28.
plaridel | November 30, 2019 at 9:53 am
tannille:
i hold no judgement either.
29.
granonine | November 30, 2019 at 6:59 am
The tragedy of oppression and poverty often leads to unimaginable solutions. This was a refreshing ending, except I have to wonder what he’s going to face when the purchaser comes to collect Ji-woo.
30.
plaridel | November 30, 2019 at 9:52 am
linda:
good question but i don’t think it could be any worse than giving up his child.
31.
granonine | November 30, 2019 at 11:19 am
True. No easy answers, way too often.
32.
plaridel | December 1, 2019 at 4:36 pm
linda:
sadly, that’s the way it goes sometimes.
33.
Liz Young | November 30, 2019 at 9:31 am
He wouldn’t have been able to live with any other decision. Good story.
34.
plaridel | November 30, 2019 at 9:52 am
liz:
i totally agree.
35.
pennygadd51 | November 30, 2019 at 1:33 pm
Good story, Plaridel, and an extremely important issue. I like the oblique take on the prompt.
36.
plaridel | December 1, 2019 at 4:35 pm
penny:
i’m glad you liked it. thank you. 🙂
37.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) | December 1, 2019 at 12:06 pm
His choice made me happy… hope all worked out well for them
38.
plaridel | December 1, 2019 at 4:35 pm
björn:
one could only hope for the best.
39.
Dawn M. Miller | December 1, 2019 at 2:56 pm
So glad this ended as it did.
Thank you.
40.
plaridel | December 1, 2019 at 4:35 pm
dawn:
it was the way it used be in an ideal world.