Six feet under

Like bogus notes excusing him from P.E. in high school, forging his mother’s signature on enlistment papers was simple. When he left, taking little more than a change of clothes and all the money he saved that summer, everyone believed he ran away and was up to no good.

Months later, watching news coverage of the fighting in Afghanistan, his cousin Ralph kept saying he saw him aboard one of the carriers in the Gulf of Oman.

His grave, at a depth of 4,600 meters, was a few feet deeper than his mother told him he’d end up one day.

The 100 Word Challenge, a writing prompt created by Velvet Verbosity, takes a single theme to tell a story in only 100 words ~ no more, no less. This week’s theme is ‘Depth.’

Rows of white granite
Aligned in sharp formation
Shadows lengthening

* Haiku Friday is hosted by Lou at LouCeeL.

18 thoughts on “Six feet under

  1. Wow. Tragic.
    That’s what I love about a good writer; I’m remembering the piece long after I’ve read it. This will be on my mind for awhile.
    Thank you.

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  2. Very cool. I had to figure out the whole 4600 meters thing, then I had to look up the depth of the Gulf of Oman – I had no idea it was that deep. Cool. You taught me something I didn’t know. Also, I learned I should trust you.

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