craiyon logo

A young woman stands in a cobblestone village square at sunset, clutching a paper, surrounded by solemn villagers and a black box on a stool.

A young woman stands in a cobblestone village square at sunset, clutching a paper, surrounded by solemn villagers and a black box on a stool.

A small town gathers in the square under a fading sun. Villagers stand in a circle, their faces blank, each holding a stone. At the center is Tessie Hutchinson, frightened and singled out, her hands clutching the slip that marked her fate. Beside her sits the black box on a stool, a symbol of tradition no one dares question. The townspeople’s silence and shadows stretch across the dusty ground, showing how ordinary people can become cruel when blindly following tradition. See more