Jo loved school, it was a warm safe place to be. Fridays were hated because at the end of the day life became uncertain.
At the closing bell, classmates eagerly rushed off to their weekends. Jo was in no hurry, already dreading the coming hours. Mother would be late again. Maybe she wouldn’t even show up at all. More than once the doorway behind the school provided shelter.
Keeping all this secret was the hardest part, making up stories to cover the awful truth. Wishing that the stories might come true.
Believing Mother’s promise of better days ahead, Jo waited.
Alphabet Story 
There’s been a few stories responding to this prompt that have resulted in abandoned children, including mine.
I must read yours. Thanks for commenting,
I can relate to this story. Nicely penned. I have to check this challenge out. I love flash fiction and have learned a lot by writing it. Thank you for sharing yours.
I’d enjoy reading when you do. Thanks for sharing..
Good take. One day soon he will stop believing in his mother, a real tragedy.
The problem will not go away any time soon. Lots of work needs to be done.
How sad! I’m assuming he has an abusive home. Heart breaking story! Great story!
Your comment adds more to this story. I had intended the mother to be homeless, but all too often that leads to other devastating consequences. When will the time come when this problem gets solved?
That is true, there are way too many homeless people these days.
Great opening scene, and there’s a poignant echo in that last word. Like, Jo waited…and waited…and waited…
Thanks for the comment, Christine. The intention was to create a character who had hope. And I wanted Jo to be every-child, the reader deciding boy or girl.
Living in hope. A poignant tale indeed.
Click to read my story!
Thanks for leaving a comment and a link to your tale.
Excellent story. Hope things do get better for Jo.
Thank you, Tena.