Don Schneider
December 4th 2011, 01:43 PM
I wrote a short story that is a thinly-veiled personal memoir of my youthful days in a Catholic parochial school. The story is about school bullying and a child’s reaction to it; a reaction that is all too typical of such youngsters (about 54% according to a study by the State of Nevada). It was originally intended as a private catharsis and not for publication. I changed my mind after having read a wire service report of a thirteen-year-old boy who had taken his life after having suffered school bullying for years. The boy came from a good family and from a very similar background as me.
What struck me so saliently was that his (very loving and attentive) parents had been in complete shock. They never saw it coming. The answer as to why that had been—why that is in most such cases—is the point of my story. Many parents would be flabbergasted to learn what accomplished child actors their kids have learned to become; how the instant smile appears on their faces the moment they return home; their pat answer of “fine” when asked about their day.
The piece has thousands of hits and many have contacted me via email with kind comments. It was recently picked up by a Russian language online literary publication with a very kind introduction. Although I appreciate their sentiments, I can’t agree with them that it will make good reading for children. As I state in my introduction to the story on my personal website, it is intended for an adult readership. Many find the beginning of the story to be disturbing. It was intended to be as social commentary. Also, it was the only realistic way I could think of to present it as alluded to within the editor’s introductory remarks. Although it has humor, it’s very poignant. It was published on Bewildering Stories, an online literary publication.
Not only do I make no money from the story, I actually pay to promote it (occasionally on this forum). I want it to serve as a warning to parents and potential parents as to what their kids might be hiding from them,,,and why. With such foreknowledge, perhaps just even one kid will be saved unnecessary misery and, in extreme cases, a family will be spared a lifetime of grief. In that event, it will have been worth writing.
If any are interested in reading it online or by printing it out, here is the link. It is entirely free access with no ads. If any appreciate it, please pass it on to others via SN sites and word of mouth:
http://wwwdnschneidercom.xbuild.com/#/prides-prison/4520652424
Thank you.
What struck me so saliently was that his (very loving and attentive) parents had been in complete shock. They never saw it coming. The answer as to why that had been—why that is in most such cases—is the point of my story. Many parents would be flabbergasted to learn what accomplished child actors their kids have learned to become; how the instant smile appears on their faces the moment they return home; their pat answer of “fine” when asked about their day.
The piece has thousands of hits and many have contacted me via email with kind comments. It was recently picked up by a Russian language online literary publication with a very kind introduction. Although I appreciate their sentiments, I can’t agree with them that it will make good reading for children. As I state in my introduction to the story on my personal website, it is intended for an adult readership. Many find the beginning of the story to be disturbing. It was intended to be as social commentary. Also, it was the only realistic way I could think of to present it as alluded to within the editor’s introductory remarks. Although it has humor, it’s very poignant. It was published on Bewildering Stories, an online literary publication.
Not only do I make no money from the story, I actually pay to promote it (occasionally on this forum). I want it to serve as a warning to parents and potential parents as to what their kids might be hiding from them,,,and why. With such foreknowledge, perhaps just even one kid will be saved unnecessary misery and, in extreme cases, a family will be spared a lifetime of grief. In that event, it will have been worth writing.
If any are interested in reading it online or by printing it out, here is the link. It is entirely free access with no ads. If any appreciate it, please pass it on to others via SN sites and word of mouth:
http://wwwdnschneidercom.xbuild.com/#/prides-prison/4520652424
Thank you.