Title: Man of the House
Source: Friday Fictioneers sponsored by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple
Word count: 100 words
PHOTO PROMPT © Jean L. Hays
Chaska pulled his truck onto the shoulder, remembering the long-ago day. It was as vivid as today.
He did everything he could to evade the government people. He made sure the children were clean, fed, did their homework and went to school. He intervened when they fought as youngsters do and tried to be a good parent.
It wasn’t enough. They discovered his secret when he cashed his mother’s monthly benefit check. They found her dead, six months prior, in a gambling town. An overdose.
Their mother’s death left his home in ruins and his family scattered to the wind.
________________________________________
Keep on writing.
Jo Hawk The Writer
Jo Hawk 
The tax man will always catch up with you in the end. A tragic tale.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They have a way of interceding. Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
it is stories like this that make me wish we had no records, especially when one is trying so hard and living a clean life –
LikeLiked by 2 people
Life is not always easy or fair. Glad to see you Gina.
LikeLiked by 1 person
it isn’t and the tip in balance can be so heavily one sided. good to read your words Jo, have missed it
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
A sad story
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very sad indeed. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hear that unless you are certain very rich men, the Tax Man is often more likely to catch any attempt to scam the system than the Po-lice or Social Services would … and the Tax Man is less flexible in listening to one’s particular circumstance, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Na’ama. Trying to keep a family together can be difficult.
LikeLiked by 2 people
A shame his family was broken apart, but he really shouldn’t have been scamming the benefits system…
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is the truth of it. Desperate people do desperate things and they often pay a high price.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The State always thinks it knows better.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not everyone fits into the prescribed box. Rules and regulations often take precedence. Thanks, Sandra.
LikeLike
It’s not worth the risk. We should feel sorry for the family but not for him.
‘Retribution’, my short story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is a sad situation. Thanks, Keith.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A story so well told, Jo. How often an eldest child would better serve as parent then throwing the lot into foster care.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is truth there, Dale. Sometimes we don’t give them enough credit or support. Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know in the case of my late friend’s kids, the older son got custody of his sister after her death; making sure the father had no say because he had been out of the picture for ages.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, it sounds like everything worked out for the best! I wish there were more success stories.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So do I! Of course, he did have the help of his grandparents. Which is no small issue. But yes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
❤🙂❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Was Chaska the eldest brother? And he tried so had to keep the family together, growing up before his time, only to lose in the end. What a tragic, but well-told, tale.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wrote it imagining him as the eldest brother. The nice bit about flash is it lends itself to being interpreted from the reader’s perspective. I am glad you liked it, Linda.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Messing with the IRS is not permitted. They’ll find you sooner or later. A good story well written Jo. —- Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Suzanne. I am glad you liked the story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So sad, but reality is often hell.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Life is rarely easy. Thanks for reading James.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A tragic tale. He tried desperately to care for the children and in the end they were separated. Well-written!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Brenda. Even when we try our best we are sometimes defeated.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such tragedy… the state will always do what’s best (or not)
LikeLiked by 1 person
It can be a crap shoot. Thanks for reading Björn.
LikeLike