Here’s the final installment of my Voice Week entries. You can see what it’s all about, and read the first installment in Monday’s post, then follow the other voices over the rest of the week. The voices are designed to be read in any order.
Thanks for reading along!
Guns in the Toy Box
So, he’s a Commando now. Off to kill some innocents in another pointless war. I heard through his sister.
I knew he’d turn out that way. Always had guns in the toy box, thanks to my ex. Just like his father: first into the fray, last one to consider anyone else’s point of view. He’d no more be an ordinary soldier than an ordinary son. Why not go blow up some people who never did anything to him?
Mind you, though, he’d better not come back dead. If he does, I don’t know who I’ll kill first – him or his father.
elmowrites 
You did a really good job with the perspectives, darling. What an interesting exercise.
Thanks Helena – hopefully see some from you next year?
Stranger things have happened… I’m going to check out your link to the prompt.
This one was your best.
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She can’t help caring through her anger. Nicely done. The variety of voices and perspectives this whole week, especially since you kept the situations so similar, have been fascinating. You deftly move from one extreme to the other, but we never lose the souls of the characters along the way.
thanks for your kind words and all your work putting this together, Steph!
I love it how when the kid does something bad, he becomes “your son”. How odd that he’s “my son” when he does something good 😛 Fantastic series, thanks so much for sharing!
That’s exactly it! I do that to my husband with the cat – “your cat” is being naughty, but “my cat” is being good! Thanks for stopping by to read them this week
Haha! Keep your eyes open for a follower!
Ah, and the other end of the spectrum. Wonderful voice, especially at the end when the mixed love and frustration burst out. Well done! I loved this series. Thank you!
I love the illogical “He better not come back dead…or I’ll kill him!”
Love this sardonic view of the situation, very dry and real but clearly still with a layer of sarcasm as protection from feelings. Great way to end the week; thanks for sharing!
I enjoyed reading your ‘voices’, Jennifer. You done good… as they say. (just speaking in another voice) I liked how ‘mom’ hear about her son by way of his sister. She’s trying to be matter of fact, but you can hear her concern. I think I missed one voice, I’ll have to go back and look.
Did you find it, Ted? There was no order to them, so it doesn’t matter as long as you enjoyed what you read. Thanks for your kind words, and I’m glad the love shone through the anger here.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — it’s truly amazing how you can repeat the same thread of a theme (a mother/son relationship) and craft five entirely different voices. Thank you for sharing a wonderful week’s worth of stories. 🙂
Thank you, badguy, I enjoyed the challenge!
I like how the bitter, angry tone doesn’t change — she hates what her son has become and she’s so estranged from him that we don’t get any softness or affection for him. The anger is focused on her ex who made him this way, which is made clear at the end. **But we knew it even before you said it because the scene was set up so well!** Great job!
I think she still loves her son even through the estrangement. I hope that came through; i’m pleased you liked the story.
A fantastic end to the voices series.
The love is still obvious even though mum doesn’t approve of what he’s doing (and he knows it too, as she gets updates on his life through his sister).
Loved the last line!
Yeah, I decided this was the best last line to end the week on!
You can really tell that what drives her bitterness here is her inability to think of losing her son to war. So sad and yet so well written:)