If
I killed Somebody
Flash Fiction Story
by Joshua Britton
“Hey,
Mom. If I killed somebody, would you turn me in?”
“What?!”
“If
I killed somebody, you know, but I’m still your son. Would you turn me in?”
“Yes,
I would.”
“What?!
Why?”
“Because
you killed somebody.”
“But
I’m your son!”
“True,
but killing is wrong. And, because I love you, I would still need to punish you
for doing bad things so hopefully you would learn not to do them again.”
“But
I could go to jail!”
“I
would think so!”
“But
what if it wasn’t my fault? What if I had to, like I didn’t have a choice?
Would you turn me in then?”
“Yes.
And, if it truly wasn’t you fault and you are truly innocent, I would have
faith in the justice system to figure that out.”
“Faith
in the justice system! Are you kidding me?”
“That’s
what we have a justice system for, judges and lawyers, and a jury: to sift
through everything and determine who’s innocent and guilty.”
“You’ve
got to be kidding me. What if I was black?”
“If
you were black?”
“Yes,
what if I was black?”
“Are
you still my son?”
“Yes!”
“Did
I adopt you? Or am I black, too?”
“I
don’t know. You’re black, too, I guess.”
“Interesting.”
“Would
you turn me in then?”
“If
we were different people than who we actually are, would I turn you in? Is that
what you’re asking?”
“If
you were black and I was your black son and I killed somebody but it wasn’t my
fault, would you still have faith in the justice system?”
“…”
“Mom,
would you?”
“I
would have less faith.”
“So,
you might not turn me in?”
“I
suppose I might not, no.”
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