Every crop of students has their own personality, their own foibles, and strengths.
This crop is strong.
Teachers plant seeds in their students. Good teachers strive to improve the future with every lesson. Hope is paramount.
There is no future without hope.
Teachers who don’t get that weed themselves out pretty quickly. Kids know far better than adults who is truly interested in them and who is just putting in the hours.
By the time they become teenagers, students who’ve been exposed to too many putting-in-timers are apathetic and that apathy might be the biggest problem facing the world today.
People who don’t care about anything breed more people who don’t care. Then society goes to hell, doesn’t even need the help of a hand basket.
This crop of students isn’t apathetic, they aren’t going to contribute to those issues. This group is going to do something about apathy. The future will be better because of those seeds planted long ago.
A ceremony isn’t strictly necessary, but pomp is never out of place at a moment like this.
The full moon brightens the clearing and the three take their places around the altar, black robes swirling around their feet. Each raises their hands and speaks the words.
After a symbolic beat, the words are repeated.
Sparks sizzle at their fingertips and blue light arcs from one to the next and the third, completing the circle.
Sulphur burns the air, robes blow in the sudden wind, and the howl of the unknown fills the woods.
They’re ready.
The most successful crop in history.
The world will never be the same.
***
This story is part of the WEP/IWSG challenge. Check out the link to find all the details - there's still time to sign up. Make sure to check out the other stories - it's always a blast to see how everyone interprets the theme!
How about you? Any memorable graduation ceremonies? Anyone else worried about Apathy?
40 comments:
Reminded of the famous lines by Auden - I and the public know/what all schoolchildren learn/those to whom evil is done/do evil in return. Holds for apathy as well.
Great, crisp flash and loved the ambiguity running through it.
Thank you for participating in this Challenge.
Apathy is a prolific breeder. And simultaneously an epidemic.
Loved this flash and do hope the trio bring light to the world (despite the fear implicit in change).
Mystical and multi-leveled, and very short. Well done!
Well done and it took a turn I wasn't expecting. Loved it.
Somehow Darkness seems more dedicated than Good ... especially these days. Very vivid.
Hi,
As I read, I thought about the end of the world. There is an amazing coldness and hard heartedness that has entered but can the few change things. i believe so. i like the way you wove the beginning with the good teachers into the end with the students that were about to change the world.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G
That's such a powerful line - and so often true.
Thanks!
Apathy is tough to battle!
I hope the trio is working for good as well :)
Thanks Olga - it was fun to write :)
Thanks Mason - twists are always fun!
Yes it does - and we need to make Good stronger somehow!
Thanks Pat! We need the Few to spread their determination to the Many!
Who are these students?
At least we know that they mean good :)
Or so we hope! :)
I like this take on the prompt. There's alot here in so few words. Its clear these students will change the world, I just hope it's for the good.
Oh, this was so good! It starts out feeling so hopeful and positive, but then it took a sinister turn. What do these students hope to accomplish? Will they do something that will benefit us all, or will they only seek to benefit themselves? So much possibility here! Brilliant!
Amazing. You said so much without saying much. I agreed with your words fully until the mood suddenly changed. A great piece of writing.
Well, my graduation ceremony was stupid, filled with pranks and other nonsense, which said something about my graduation class as a horrible crew of ninnies.
Wit the bit about the robes I thought of wizards. I think perhaps many of us believe ourselves to be wizards when we are young. Then life knocks the magic out of us.
I'm rambling. You did an excellent job with this.
I wasn't expecting the ending - well done.
I hope so too! :P
Thanks Laura - the twist was fun when it showed up!
It's fun when the mood swings! thanks :)
Thanks Cie - it is so sad when life & growing up knocks away that magic. Adults need more of that!
Thanks Sally - it's always fun to twist away! :)
That was a different take, nicely done. Yep, kids can tell when people, teachers, etc. are interested and when they aren't. They see it and then repeat. And onward it goes. Hopefully many a light starts shining through.
Thanks Pat - it's been fun to see where people are taking this theme - lots of surprising directions!
Hoping for that light to keep spreading!
Hello Jemi, this was tripping along with some 'normal' psychoanalysis, then boom, the ceremony. It could be these students are anything but good. Time will tell. Well done for the prompt! Thanks!
I love how you twisted this "good crop" of students around! I love to read more! Well written.
Thanks Denise - love the twistiness of flash fiction :)
Thanks Carrie! It's fun to twist :)
What a twist! Loved it.
Thanks Damyanti! :)
oh, I like the turn. Very cool.
Thanks Lynda :)
Thank you so much Jemi for this uplifting piece. Agree with you, as teachers professionally or personally , we have a duty towards future generations on education at all levels, to transmit our best and ignite the Spark in every youngster or young adult. The future of our planet and humankind are at stake. Very effectively and poetically written.
As a long-time teacher I couldn't agree more. Kids are the future and we have to help them find their sparks and their joys and help them stretch to be the very best they can be!
A clever contribution, Jemi. You start with some wise observations about teachers and students. Ones I totally agree with having had a range of teachers: one that was a brilliant mathematician but lousy teacher that got paper darts thrown at him. In contrast, my English Literature teacher inspired us so helped make me a writer.
And I never saw the ending coming. I was expecting Greta Thurnberg, but still your punchline worked well, promising a better future.
Hi Jemi - certainly a different slant on end of school life - before putting 'our talents' to the greater good or omen on life ... congratulations - cheers Hilary
I hope so!
I had a few teachers like your mathematician - some can be soul-destroying
Thanks Hilary - it's always fun to go sideways :)
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