Gazing at Grandfather’s self portrait reminded her of the many times she’d sat in his lap watching him work. After the funeral, Grandmother promised she’d put stickers on all the things she knew us kids wanted,
“No confusion this way” she winked.
When Grandmother passed, her brother called to say he’d auctioned off the old homestead,
” More fair this way.” he’d said.
Years later, when traveling cross country, Emily spied a chair like Grandfather’s in a junk shop and bought it. Loading it into the car the shopkeeper reached out to remove a small sticker.
“NO, leave it!” she cried.
~*~
Words: 100
~*~
For some really great takes on this weeks prompt, please look
Large split level home commands an unobstructed oceanfront view. This 5 bedroom 3 bath home has it all. Large sun deck, big cooks kitchen with a small garden for growing your own herbs and vegetables. Home is situated on 3 lush and beautiful acres. Room for horses in the back!
Hurry, won’t last long at this price!
Lenny and Mary read the ad and couldn’t believe their luck! They had been saving for years and now their dream home was within their grasp. They scheduled the viewing for Saturday, at 9:00AM.
Grandma had teased her from real young about her weight. Reachin’ down with her bony, sharp nailed fingers, she’d just grab onta the bulge hanging over her pants and twist. It always left a bruise.
As an adult weighing over 200 pounds she felt ashamed of her size 18 pants, and finally decided to do something about it. Making friends with Shiomi at work, she asked her for lessons on the use of chopsticks. She told her,
“Tryin’ta eat with them might slow me down some and I’ll lose some weight!”
She was dismayed at how quickly she’d become proficient.
~*~
Words: 100
~*~
For some really great takes on this weeks prompt, please look
It is said that you should write from what you know. Taking that to heart in today’s story there are some kernels of what I know in this piece. The character’s voice is my attempt at recreating from memory the sound of my grandmother. She was a coal miner’s daughter from Virginia. Did it work?
Normally, Friday Fictioneers is a 100 word fiction writing based on a photo prompt. However, today our hostess, Rochelle at Addicted to Purple, has included a video with with her FF entry. I watched it and…
Suddenly I was deep in memory, four again, and living in California…
~*~*~*~
In my youth I had a little friend who lived two houses down from me. We had the best of times playing in the back yard. We spent hours digging under trees, burying treasures, making mud pies and just running and laughing every day. We were four and the world was wide and ready for exploration, discovery and learning.
However, at the sound of an airplane, my little Korean friend would scream and run in terror to dive beneath a table or chair. Inside or out it was always the same.
She was inconsolable.
I didn’t understand.
Suddenly, I do.
~*~
WORDS: 100
~*~
And now, Rochell’s shared video
Pink Floyd – Goodbye Blue Sky (London Blitz)
For more Friday Fictioneers takes on the prompt, please click HERE!
OOOH! an UPDATE
On thinking about today’s post I remembered something my mother said about her terror at the sound of an airplane overhead:
“This is ridiculous behavior. She isn’t old enough to have experienced the war over there!”
So I went to do some fact checking…
The Korean War began in June 25, 1950 and ended on July 1953. So, yes, my mother was correct in stating that she could not have experienced the planes and the bombings there. She and I were only four and born in 1953. This makes it about 1957 when we met.
However, here is a quote on the Korean War that I found on the History Channel’s website:
The Korean War was relatively short but exceptionally bloody. Nearly 5 million people died. More than half of these–about 10 percent of Korea’s prewar population–were civilians. (This rate of civilian casualties was higher than World War II’s and Vietnam’s.)
In consideration of this information, and the realization of the violence her elders endured, I find it quite plausible for my little friend to have reacted in this way.
The flames are all long gone but the pain lingers on… ~ Pink Floyd
~*~*~*~
Please visit and read more about The Korean War HERE on the History Channel’s Website.
It’s time once again for Friday Fictioneers which is brought to you each week by Rochelle at Addicted to Purple.
Life on the Farmlet 