photo courtesy of Connie Gayer 
Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers challenge this week is inspired by a man hard at work. Can you write a 100 word story prompted by this photo ? Here’s my take.
SHIBBOLETH
Gotta dig to stay alive.Soil clumps on my boots, weigh me down. My back hurts – too bad.
Hear my Dad’s voice : ‘Jacob you gotta dig to stay alive’. Pa heard Grandpa’s voice in his head : ‘Luke you wanna starve like in those Dustbowl Days ? People wasted away, keeled over and died. Dig’.
Me, I keep my eyes down, shut my mind. Rhythm of the spade soothes me, holds the restive spirits of Pa and Grandpa.
Just rest here on the ground for a minute, get my breath. Look up and take in the greenness of the beans over there.
Gonna stop digging now.
June 4, 2018 at 7:36 pm
Wonderful story… not easy to keep up such heavy work when it’s no longer needed…
June 5, 2018 at 4:35 pm
Thank you Bjorn – so glad you liked the story. I agree, his motivation was going down.
June 4, 2018 at 4:19 pm
I can only echo what Penny has said – lovely writing, saying so much with so few words. And a great voice too. Well done
June 4, 2018 at 4:47 pm
Thank you Lynne, appreciate your feedback. I found that the photo of the man, fixedly staring downwards as he dug, triggered the theme.
June 5, 2018 at 1:26 pm
My pleasure. A great story
June 4, 2018 at 9:20 am
Wow! Now that’s a story! You were very ambitious seeking to show how actions that were once essential for survival can persist through generations – and you succeed admirably. The title is great, and really adds to understanding the story. Well done!
June 4, 2018 at 11:49 am
Thank you very much Penny. I’m pleased you think that the story succeeds. I do enjoy the 100 word challenge of it. I do believe people can have fixed beliefs, which they carry around.
June 2, 2018 at 2:08 am
What has always worked before may not work now that the world is flipping.
June 3, 2018 at 10:21 am
Thanks Alice – I think you’re right.
June 2, 2018 at 12:06 am
Emotional tale…well done!
June 3, 2018 at 10:22 am
Thank you Donna, I’m glad you liked the story.
June 1, 2018 at 10:51 pm
Francine, I find a peaceful rhythm in your story, like a machine tugging along to stay alive. Beautifully done.
June 3, 2018 at 10:24 am
Thanks very much Alicia – so pleased you find a ‘peaceful rhythm’. I think the man does go into automatic mode somehow.
June 1, 2018 at 8:40 am
Delightfully different. Nice one Francine.
Click to read my FriFic tale
June 1, 2018 at 2:45 pm
Thanks you Keith, I appreciate your feedback.
June 1, 2018 at 7:14 am
A hard life, down through the generations. I’m glad he’s taking a break!
June 1, 2018 at 2:48 pm
Agree, was a hard life then. And the garden in the photo looks so lush doesn’t it ?
May 31, 2018 at 9:51 pm
Dear Francine,
There’s a lot of frenetic determination in this piece. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
June 1, 2018 at 2:50 pm
Thank you Rochelle. I felt he was a driven man.
May 31, 2018 at 7:06 pm
Sooner or later you gotta stop digging
June 1, 2018 at 2:51 pm
So true Neil, I like your philosophical comment.
May 31, 2018 at 7:00 pm
Loved this, Francine.
June 1, 2018 at 2:52 pm
Thank you Dale, I appreciate your feedback – glad you liked the story.