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Age of Innocence: flash fiction
Age of Innocence
Ikal watched his daughter, only a child, walk in front of the crowd, dressed to impress. Her name was Yatzil. She was nervous, shy, and afraid, too young to understand the significance of the pageantry and the honor it was for those in charge to have chosen her from among all the girls present.
At such an event, a ring of red, blue, yellow and pink flowers might have adorned her long black hair. A necklace of white blossoms might have hung low, emphasizing her undeveloped youthfulness and innocence.
But there were no flowers in the ceremony, no efflorescence at all in the surrounding countryside. These were mere insinuations of even greater impending perils which led to the selection of the child and the solemn tradition that was to follow.
Dan Fogelberg's The Innocent Age
In the shade of the trees which lined the brim of a deep pit and a pool far below, Ikal and all the people watched. The priest's assistants escorted Yatzil to the stone waiting-chamber on the brink of the chasm.
Rain had not come to the Yucatecan hinterland for many months. Garden and wild plants withered, curling like the tzabcan snake when it hides among dead leaves. Food became as precious as obsidian and hunger everyone’s constant companion. Desperation hung in the air like a heavy fog.
In the innocence of childhood, Yatzil stood on the far side of the chamber, naked, obedient, hands and feet bound, perched above the gaping mouth of the sinkhole. The priest reached out from the chamber and lightly touched the curve of her lower back. Yatzil fell.
The people wandered away with heads bowed and hearts hopeful, leaving Ikal gazing into the clear sky through eyes clouded by pooling tears.
“Mighty Chaac, rain god of the Mayan people, are you happy now?”
Pool, or Cenote, at Chichen Itza, in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico
Human Sacrifice in Maya Sinkhole
- Pictures: Human Sacrifice Found in Maya City Sinkhole
The submerged remains of six humans, jade beads, and ceramic vessels are among Maya objects discovered in a giant hole in Chichén Itzá.
Comments
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Deb, Thanks for reading. Great photos on your blog.....of the birds and of you.
It is always the innocents...
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Lawrence, Thanks for reading my story. I seem to be in a sad story mode at the moment. I'm just getting ready to publish another right now. Thanks for taking time to check out the story.
Powerful and as michelle said. Heartbreaking and profound.
Lawrence
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Frank, thanks for that generous description of my story. I'm glad you found it to be so.
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Shauna, as I wrote this story, my mind kept returning to thoughts of the Nigerian school girls who were kidnapped by the Boko Haram. No doubt these evil men had evil purposes for taking these children. Thanks for reading and commenting here. This isn't a happy, carefree story, so I don't take your participation for granted.
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Genna, There will always be evil ones among us who will seek out ways to do harm to the innocent among us. And just as there is no end to the ways to cause such harm, there are unlimited ways to do good to all men. Thanks for reading, Genna, and for the comment.
wow, amazing powerful and strong I love it
I love Dan Fogelberg. His songs tell stories. You've told a story accompanied by a song. What a tribute to a great songwriter! Your words epitomize the message of lost innocence. Sadly, too many of the world's children don't know the joys of childhood.
And we still sacrifice the children of humanity…albeit in different ways. Very powerful, Chris.
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Linda, thank you for coming by and reading the story. Sad? yes, very. I came across some photos of Chichen Itza and this came to mind. I had to write it. I am thankful for all the insightful comments as well.
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Bill, yes, the perfect song for a story like this. Thanks for pointing it out. Do things ever really change? Not really. There are those among us who will always find ways to hurt the most innocent. I'm thankful for the good homes and good people who do their very best.
Cam-this is so incredibly sad. I think it's great how you can write a hub with your thoughts in mind, and then your comments bring it to another level and give it more layers. A sad but well written flash fiction. I'll have to go check out Ann's hub on loss of innocence.
I was reminded of a song by Dan Fogelberg while I read this..."The Age of Innocence"....listen to it and you'll understand.
Very nice work my friend. Do things ever really change?
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Ann, I just read your "Innocence" hub and left a comment there. Well done.
Funny you should say that; have just published an 'innocence' type hub!
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I agree, this hub, surprisingly, has some striking parallels to today. I wasn't thinking that way when I wrote it. I appreciate all the comments.
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Ann, I may need to follow this up with a story about growing up on the farm. Talk about childhood innocence. Me, my pony and endless Indiana farm land. Now that was living.
I think you're right about some parenting and, dare I say it, education does the same sometimes.
Innocence is gone all too quickly; when I was young it was a different story, for me at least. It's a troubling situation.
My, your hub has stirred up some issues, hasn't it Chris?! Well done you!
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Eric, You are without a doubt correct on that point. The innocence of youth can be sacrificed on the altar of a contemporary concept of successful parenting. It may go something like this, "If my child is insanely busy and stressed out, I must be doing something right." Thanks for reading and for the insightful comment.
I am just struck with the reality that while we change much remains the same. Today we may not have such a ritualistic sacrifice, but in so many ways we still sacrifice the innocence of our youth far too early. Here's to the innocence still left in us.
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Ann, you've gotten me to thinking (not an easy thing to do). We've all heard about child suicide bombers, put up to the task by adults of course, who tell the child it is the will of god. What child would think of strapping explosives to themselves and walking into an enemy camp, then blowing themselves and everyone else up. This is possibly a contemporary version of what I have written about.
Not this particular thing, no. I was thinking of the killing of children accused of being 'witches' and, of course, 'honour' killings. Not exactly a religious sacrifice, but close. Nothing to do with your hub of course!
The fact remains, Chris, that your writing is on the button and focuses the mind.
Ann
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Ann, I am not aware of this particular thing being done anywhere in the world today. Is it possible that all societies have evolved to a point of leaving this particular horror behind? That would be encouraging in light of many other horrors that still exist. Thank you for reading and for the votes.
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Mary, thanks for the comment and for the votes. It is scary to think about what kinds of behaviors and deeds are considered good when done in the name(s) of god(s). We can't see our own atrocities any better than these poor folks could.
Even though I knew something awful was coming, this still made me feel sick. These terrible acts happened (still happen?) in many so-called civilizations, of course, but I can't imagine how the father must have felt, to sacrifice a healthy, usually happy child. Even she felt some foreboding, innocent as she was.
Unsettling and gut-wrenching; excellent writing emphasising the shock ending.
Ann
I had a sick feeling when you said the usual adornments were missing, but I was not sure where you were going. Centuries from now civilization may look down on our current society but we do not act as one. Michelle said it best, "heartbreaking and profound".
Voted up, awesome, and interesting.
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John, I wanted to hold off the reality of the situation for as long as possible, therefore the opening photograph. I visited Chichen Itza a few years ago and stood by that very stone chamber. It was a chilling experience. Thanks for visiting today.
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Thanks for being the first to read and comment Michelle.....and thanks for the title suggestion.
I agree with Michelle's comment Chris. Human sacrifice was a tragic practice but these people really believed it appeased the Gods so who are we to judge with all the atrocities mankind is guilty of today. Sad that innocent children were involved though. You had me at the start..I thought it was going to be about child pageantry. Voted up.
Heartbreaking and profound.
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