Laughter Turns to Tears

This very short story surprised me with its vividness, and its clear-eyed view of a shocking tragedy. The assignment for Vedah was to write a 500-word description of a place—perhaps someplace she remembered from her childhood. The editor praised Grandma’s use of descriptive words, but did note that she had not entirely followed the directions of a simple description.

I don’t know why Grandma made the choice to go further than the initial assignment. I don’t know whether this was something that she had actually witnessed or heard of as a child (I imagine that it was true), or whether, knowing the ups and downs of life as she did, it seemed strange for Grandma to write a story that didn’t have a conflict in it to be resolved. What I do know is that like everything she wrote, at the end, it was to give glory to God—which we know she did at every opportunity. Enjoy!