Sturdy Bones

[Stephen Torelli]

The young woman boards the vessel and doesn’t look back, not even a farewell and with one bag she makes a beeline to the crowded berths to plan a new life. All she has is a change of clothes, spare change, and travel documents.

When the vessel docks no one is there to greet her, yet she manages to find a room and eventually, employment in a New York factory. One Sunday on her day off she observes her rugged hands, strong arms, and purple scar lingering atop her sturdy wrist and puzzles where the strength comes from.

Now, in old age the wise woman has more than can be imagined and understands that sturdy bones saw her through. “Hey Stefano,” she says, “Get out of bed and go to work!”     

 

[Jamie Hogan]

You've got great characters, Stephen. I really like your people. "Get out of bed and go to work!" Of course. What else would a brave woman with sturdy bones say? 

[Angela]

Young people were so incredibly brave back then.  Incredible story about a phenomenal woman.

[Diana E. Backhouse]

Young people these days could do with a few of those 'sturdy bones.

[bolton carley]

i now realize how rare these types of people are and how blessed we've been to have them in our lives.  and i love your ending on this one.

[Simon Halliday]

I like this.

Because we live in our own times, perhaps we imagine things can only ever be as hard as they are today, for us. But that, of course, is not true. And those few of that generation know something that is rarely said.

[Gita]

Brave and sturdy, indeed. I bet you could write a dozen tributes to her, all different. Nice.