David's Phobia :The Inkwell Writing #Prompt 12

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I am David, and I was 6, too young, and vulnerable to be deceived, I was the 2nd child in the family of Mr. Samuel. Having an elder brother who was 6 years older than me, I trusted him with his words. "If you wave at those white birds flying high the sky, your fingers will have a white mark," he told me. Each day I never failed to wave at the birds, any sign of a white mark I notice on my finger, I surmise it was from the birds. Look at the sky, the symbol inside the moon is our beloved mary clenching Jesus, we were too small to think contrary to what we were told, just after a tale by moonlight, we stayed under the moon and admire the woman in the moon.

My elder brother must have glimpsed how easy it was for me to believe him when he introduced me to a phobia for some small red insects. Your entire generation will die if you ever kill any of these insects, he said, I had mistakenly stepped on them that day and I believed I was going to die, but later noticed none died, so I was relieved tension but I became so conscious about the red insects and grew an intense fear for them. I was no longer the free me who walks carelessly without taking notice of what lies on my path, I took my steps with caution.

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I tried to find prudent ways to manage my phobia, but the more I was careful was the more afraid I became. The red insects were almost everywhere, it was either I faced my fears or keep running. I will protect you from the insect if you give me a share of your meat and I kept giving my elder brother my share of meat, it didn't help either, the fear was already formed within me. Unfortunately, I never recovered from this fear during my childhood, I grew up still believing if I ever kill any of those insects, my entire generation will be wiped out.

My elder brother must have forgotten what he told me when he squashed the red insects with his shoes. Quickly I drew his attention to the consequence of what he had done, which was likely to affect me. His face was blank as he stared at me,
"Kill which generation," he asked.
"You told me so when we were little"
"Me?, I can't remember telling you anything of such" he responded.
I illustrated the incident that happened but he denied having told me anything about the insect. I had lived my entire childhood running from an insect that made me conscious of playing around the environment only to realized none of what I ever believed was true. My phobia for those insects seizes afterward.



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13 comments
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Anyone who had an older sibling, older friend or even older cousin can probably relate to this story. The innocence of youth is captured here, and the vulnerability. Impressions made in childhood can last a lifetime, as you illustrate.

The development of a phobia is a unique angle and makes the story particularly interesting. Thank you for posting this well-told story in the Ink Well community.

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Thank You Inkwell, no doubt most people with elder siblings encounter something similar

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Oh, that is painful, @dwixer. To have carried that fear with him since childhood. It's funny, though, what older siblings will say to younger ones, just hoping for a reaction and not realizing the impact their words can have. You really captured that well.

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I can relate to this story when a neighbor of mine told me that after Killing such insect all the wild beast will come hunting for me.

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Hahahaha, so we had similar experience, i wonder how long it took you to stand your fears.

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This is a touching story. David carried the phobia throughout childhood only to find out it was a hoax...
I can totally relate... Childhood is so malleable, and with the right touch can become anything. You show that very well in your story.
It's a beautiful piece, I'm glad I read it...

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Thank You for your good feedback. It's nice to know you can relate

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Hello @dwixer,
This is a very effective story, well told. The things that happen to us in childhood have such a profound influence on our lives. I read with particular interest the way this phobia developed. When I was very, very young my brothers were a bit hard on me. They once forced me to swing on vines that hung over a cliff. I managed to survive!but my fear of cliffs never left me.

Your description of the child's fear is persuasive. Good job my friend!

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Older siblings could be a bully, glad you survived the harm from the vine, most children must have developed phobia from such events. I'm glad you related well with this story and thank you for the tip

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Great story, I once made my little sister scared after telling her orange seed will grow in her belly if she swallows it. Ever then she was careful with orange seed and cries whenever she swallow one by mistake afraid it will grow

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