This is my submission for the Writer's Jam 2024 hosted by JAMRIOT
I used Glass and Legacy as prompts, hope you guys like it.
This story explores a big thing in today's western culture and what's really happening, adapted into a short story.
1289 words.
====================================================================================
Clearview woke to the sound of breaking glass, the old stained window in the chapel shattered overnight. For years, it had been a symbol of our town's glassmaking pride, casting light across the chapel.
Detective Evelyn Shaw stood there in the morning light, feeling the weight of what this meant for our community.
As Evelyn wandered around the scene, shards of stained glass glinted in the early sunlight, scattered like fallen leaves across the chapel floor.
The townspeople gathered, their whispers blending with the distant tolling of the church bells. Some faces expressed sorrow, others disbelief and anger.
Evelyn knelt beside the shattered window, careful not to disturb the fragments. Each piece told a story of craftsmanship passed down through generations as she ran her fingers over the jagged edges.
Nearby, Father Thomas, the chapel's caretaker, stood with tears in his eyes.
"Who would do such a thing, Evelyn?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I don't know, yet."
Evelyn replied quietly, looking at the broken window.
"But I’ll figure it out."
Father Thomas nodded silently.
"I'll gather everyone for you."
As Evelyn straightened up. The community is trusting her to uncover the truth, yet the clues were sparse and the motives unclear.
Throughout the day, Evelyn interviewed witnesses and examined the chapel. Each conversation gave insight of a whispered disagreement about the town’s traditions and industrialization.
By evening, Evelyn found herself back at the chapel. She sat quietly, thinking about the day's discoveries and the question that bugged her all day.
Who would benefit from vandalizing an innocent chapel?
As she stared at the shattered window, Evelyn noticed something unusual in the bunch of scattered shards, a few fragments of rainbow-colored glass mixed with the traditional black and white stained pieces.
Curious, she carefully examined the rainbow fragments.
Could this be a clue? Evelyn wondered, her mind racing with possibilities. Was someone trying to send a message? Or was this just the works of rebellious teenagers’ vandalizing?
Evelyn carefully gathered the rainbow glass fragments and secured them in an evidence bag. She knew these colorful pieces could hold the key to understanding the motive behind the vandalism of Clearview's beloved chapel.
Determined to solve the case, she planned her next steps in the investigation.
The following morning, Evelyn returned to the chapel with a clearer focus. She began by revisiting the witnesses she had spoken to the previous day, asking more questions about any unusual sightings or conversations involving colored glass. Slowly, a picture began to form.
One elderly resident, Mrs. Jenkins, recalled overhearing a heated discussion between a group of townspeople near the chapel just days before the incident. They had argued about the future of Clearview's glassmaking tradition, some advocating for preserving the tradition, others supporting innovation and change.
With this new lead, Evelyn expanded operations, speaking to more townspeople and piecing together their perspectives. She learned that tensions had been simmering for some time now, and made worse by the wokes' proposal to introduce large-scale rainbow glass manufacturing, a move that challenged the town’s commitment to traditionally made black and white stained glass.
As Evelyn investigated more, she encountered resistance from both sides of the debate. Traditionalists feared the loss of the town’s unique identity, while proponents of rainbow glass argued for inclusivity and modernity.
One afternoon, Evelyn sat down with Alex Turner, the young entrepreneur advocating for rainbow glass manufacturing. She found him at his workshop on the outskirts of town, surrounded by sketches and prototypes of vibrant glass designs.
"Detective Shaw,"
Alex greeted her warmly, though his expression turned guarded as they discussed the recent events.
"I understand the town's attachment to its traditions, but we can't ignore the opportunities that rainbow glass could bring to Clearview."
Evelyn listened intently, noting the passion in Alex's voice as he explained his vision for revitalizing the town's economy and attracting new visitors. Yet, she also sensed his frustration with the resistance from traditionalists who viewed rainbow glass as a threat to their heritage.
As their conversation unfolded, Evelyn realized that both sides had valid concerns and aspirations. The challenge is finding a way for Clearview to evolve without losing its identity or tearing apart the fabric of its community.
One afternoon, while reviewing her notes at a local café, Evelyn received an unexpected visit from Mrs. Jenkins, the elderly resident who had overheard the heated discussion near the chapel.
"Detective!"
Mrs. Jenkins began nervously,
"I remembered something else about that argument I overheard. There was talk of someone being upset about the decision on rainbow glass. They felt it was being forced upon Clearview."
Evelyn leaned forward with interest.
"Who was involved in the argument? Can you remember any names or details?"
Mrs. Jenkins hesitated, her hands fidgeting with her handkerchief.
"I'm afraid I couldn't hear everything clearly, but I remember hearing Mr. Thompson's voice. He's been a vocal opponent of the industry glass proposal."
Evelyn nodded. Mr. Thompson was known for his loyalty to Clearview's traditions. If he was involved in the argument, it could provide a crucial lead in her investigation.
Later that day, Evelyn paid a visit to Mr. Thompson's home. She found him in his workshop, surrounded by tools and the mess of his glasswork. His expression hardened as she questioned him about the argument near the chapel.
"Detective," Mr. Thompson said firmly,
"I'm not ashamed to admit that I oppose rainbow glass. It's not just about tradition, it's about what Clearview stands for. Rainbow glass might bring change, but at what cost to our identity?"
Evelyn listened carefully, feeling Mr. Thompson's conviction. She understood his concerns but pressed on, asking if he had seen or heard anything suspicious on the night of the vandalism. Mr. Thompson hesitated.
"I didn't see anything that night,"
he admitted reluctantly,
"but I heard footsteps near the chapel. I assumed it was someone passing through."
Evelyn thanked Mr. Thompson, and left the workshop in thought. There were still gaps to fill. But she knew she was closer to uncovering the truth.
As the sun dipped, Evelyn decided to stake out near the chapel, hoping to catch any suspicious activity. She positioned herself discreetly in the shadows.
Hours passed in anticipation until finally, Evelyn heard voices approaching. She held her breath to listen, recognizing the voices of people discussing plans to vandalize the chapel once again.
"...make sure it looks like they're rainbow glass supporters. That'll really stir things up,"
one voice said.
Evelyn's jaw dropped in shock as she recognized the voices. Those people, they look familiar. The media team! Could they be behind the vandalism, framing the advocates to create sensational headlines?
Carefully, she recorded snippets of their conversation on her phone, capturing their plans. When they finally left, she remained hidden a while longer, planning her next move.
The following day, Evelyn reviewed the recordings and cross-referenced them with her notes. The pieces of the puzzle fell into place, the vandalism of the stained window wasn't driven by progressive values but was orchestrated by the media to manipulate the citizens.
Armed with evidence, Evelyn confronted the journalists and media personnel involved. Their initial denial gave way for nervous admissions when faced with recordings of their intentions.
"We were just documenting the scene, nothing bad was being do-"
"You've been manipulating the situation in Clearview for your own agendas,"
Evelyn interrupted strongly.
"Your actions have caused nothing but harm to this community."
The journalists exchanged glances but offered no defense. They knew they had been caught.
In the days that followed, the truth about the vandalism was revealed and Evelyn worked in cooperation with both traditionalists and progressive citizens tirelessly to repair the damage caused by the fake news.
Or did they?
