Saturday, March 23, 2013

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Weekend Writing Warriors
23 March 2013

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August has gone to get his sister; it seems so long ago. The straw mat is on the floor to catch the fluid from birthing and there is a sharp, clean knife to cut the cord plus string to tie it off. Auguste is sitting on the very edge of a wooden chair as the forces of birth are bearing down on her with the weight of the world. She’s had four previous children, all born fine, but Emma had a child who could not be born alive after many hours. Things do go wrong with births and she has had four children already die.  The baby’s head is pushing out as she leans back in the chair, yet trying to catch it.  The baby pushes out as Emma and August burst through the door. As Emma takes over, Auguste can hear the cry of a baby.

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16 comments:

  1. Whew. I was worried reading along with the story, and her being pregnant while everyone was sick, that something would go wrong with the birth. Good description for your 8!

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    2. Funny, when I was writing this, I picked out one of the sisters of August who lived in the same small community. Why did I pick Emma, I don't know. But after I posted it, I realized that this child would be named Emma.

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  2. What a gripping scene! Giving birth seems to come so easily to Auguste. Such a rugged life she had. Well done.

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  3. I like the way you build up the concern for Auguste and her unborn child throughout these eight sentences. She's obviously a very practical and hardened woman. I'm curious to know her internal thoughts about her lonely birth...

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    1. Practical and hardened, I don't know. Life just goes on. Today we can have medical help, but even with that it seems to have a lot of chance to it. I never imagined living as old as I am.

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  4. I've heard it gets easier with each child, but I've had four and can't imagine giving birth without any modern help. Ouch.

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  5. Wow, talk about tense. Though, I will be honest about something - I'm still not entirely sure if August and Auguste are two different people or if there are typos. The names are VERY confusing.

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    1. I know. It is hard for me too. But it is real. I have the marriage license and the birth and death announcements. If I were writing fiction, I would not name them this way. But since I am writing for my family, I need to keep it correct.

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  6. So raw, Carol--and that makes this incredibly unique. My heart still breaks for the four they lost. Still, one foot in front of the other and trudge on.

    Good eight! :-)

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    1. Thanks, Teresa. I wonder how long to stay with this family. I want a bit more information for the years between 1890 and 1902.

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  7. Really great job showing the racing thoughts of a woman as she labours. The fear, the self-comforting, the desperate need for assistance/support. Really great 8!

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  8. Your excerpts really show us how hard life was then, and how much we take for granted nowadays - like most of our children being born alive and surviving to adulthood.

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    1. Yes, we have different trials now. Life was hard for many people, those who were poor and those in leadership also.

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