Origin of influence
#56: A new 100-word story about examining what we allow before pointing fingers.
Origin of influence
Post India’s independence, the city grew. More housing appeared. Residents were outraged when their new homes abutted the old “red light” district.
Shanti, a vocal housewife, demanded, “Banish these women! They set a terrible example for our children.”
She organized a march to the biggest brothel next door. At the gate, the madam of the brothel, invited Shanti in.
Shanti shook her head. “Leave the area. Respectable people live here now.”
The madam answered, “And go where?”
“Far away!”
The madam laughed. “Then how will we return your husband safely home in a rickshaw after his visits?”
The wives withdrew.
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-reena | Jan 2025
Hope you found the story…interesting. The questions it raises are somewhat obvious. Many feminist as well as conservative points to be debated here e.g., women’s plight and rights, family values, etc.
But today, I’m peering at my story through a slightly different lens.
We worry so much about external influences on our kids—and there are many to be concerned about. Witness the horrific social media driven amplification of misguided peer influences on kids today. Every malaise has the potential to turn into a veritable contagion.
But who do our kids learn from first? Who are their primary role models? Why do we only talk about “outside influences”? What happens at home, especially when we walk a very different walk vs. our elevated talk?
Peers, milieu and culture matter, as does technology—which often proves itself upstream of culture, despite our pretences—but what about our own choices and actions in life? Isn’t it imperative we clean our own lives, homes, words, relationships, phone habits (oops!)… before we point fingers elsewhere?
What do you think, dear reader?
Extra!
On a happy note, my longer story based on my 100-word micro story “Ageless Grace” has been accepted into an anthology by the San Joaquin Valley Writers. The longer story entitled “Fragments Unlived” will be published this fall, in their anthology called Beginnings & Endings. I will share it thereafter.
Ageless grace
A 100-word story about an old actress who publishes her autobiography and is questioned about her surprisingly bold declaration of love this late in life...
I think a lot of regulations and protests are hypocritical at some level. I once knew a woman who droned on and on about climate change while driving a new Corvette and living in an 8,000 sqft house. Sometimes we are the problem.
I could not agree more. One of the worst human tendencies is projection: to see “them” as the cause of problems but not ourselves. Another case in point: the current anger about immigrants. If Americans were honest and looked in the mirror, we would see immigrants as models of how to work hard, to strive for something, to sacrifice for our children, and yes, to respect our own way of life perhaps better than we do. Well done, Reena!