photo courtesy of Jean L Hayes
Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers’ challenge this week is inspired by an image of an almost empty landscape. Here’s my take.
Waltzing Matilda
“Had to quit England – crowded and grey.
Australia – big skies, empty roads.
We built a house. Loved the evenings, bar-b going, glass of rose. My Harley Davidson. Perfect.
Something happened, pee’d me off bigtime. On the Harley, bombing round the bends, cop flags me.
Says ” Hey doll, too fast, guess you can’t handle that bike of yours, not made for girls. No fella to take you for a ride ?”
A clever Dick, want to hit him. Speechless. Got a caution. He’s happy.
Throttle down, head the Harley for Coral Bay. feel sad.
May 15, 2019 at 2:06 am
You could go to the far ends of the earth and not escape: 1) the traffic cops and 2) sexist wankers.
May 15, 2019 at 11:24 am
Thanks for your comment. I do think some attitudes are very slow to change.
May 15, 2019 at 1:17 pm
You are welcome. Human nature is a twisty biscuit for sure.
May 12, 2019 at 7:29 pm
That’s when you really wish for a speeding ticket rather than a slap on the wrist and a sexist warning.
May 12, 2019 at 7:55 pm
Thanks Bjorn – very good point.
May 12, 2019 at 12:43 pm
Casual sexism can strike anywhere without warning.
Time to change the lyrics to
“Once a jolly biker, seated on her mean machine..”
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-02/sheilas-shakedown-women-find-lifechanging-biking-campout/10850946
May 12, 2019 at 8:00 pm
Thanks for your comment. Love your alternative lyrics…
May 11, 2019 at 10:01 pm
I love how you make the reader (this reader, anyway) think the story is being told from a man’s point of view, then flip us on our ear. Well done.
May 12, 2019 at 8:02 pm
Appreciate your feedback Lish, glad the story worked for you.
May 11, 2019 at 2:12 pm
Dear Francine.
Men. I know plenty of women who ride their own. Nicely done. Love the voice.
Shalom,
Rochelle
May 12, 2019 at 8:05 pm
Thanks so much Rochelle, appreciate your feedback.
May 11, 2019 at 11:29 am
True freedom is hard to find, there is always someone trying to put you down. Chin up.
May 12, 2019 at 8:06 pm
Thanks James – well said.
May 11, 2019 at 12:30 am
You told it so well. And it makes me so disgusted that a woman has to tolerate such demeaning behavior. Don’t call me DOLL. Ever.
May 12, 2019 at 8:10 pm
Right on Linda – glad you liked the story.
May 10, 2019 at 8:48 pm
Dang! Are there no cop-free, sexist-free zones to be found?
Loved the short staccato-like telling of the tale.
May 10, 2019 at 2:55 pm
You’ve said a great deal in this story about casual sexism and inappropriate favours accepted by policemen. Your story left me feeling angry as well as sad.
May 12, 2019 at 8:12 pm
Appreciate your comment Penny. I’m still shocked to find some entrenched sexist attitudes even now. How does change happen…?
May 10, 2019 at 11:30 am
You are never far from a speed camera no matter where you are in the world!
‘Retribution’, my short story.
May 10, 2019 at 12:22 pm
Thanks Keith- sure you’re right .
May 10, 2019 at 9:42 am
The eyes of the Law watch overspeeding.
https://ideasolsi65.blogspot.com/2019/05/barbed-fence.html
May 9, 2019 at 7:34 pm
Freedom, I guess, is more than just the openness of the road. Nicely done
May 10, 2019 at 12:29 pm
Thanks Neil. Yes, good question – what stops us from being free ?
May 9, 2019 at 7:17 pm
Landscapes change, attitudes stay the same.
May 10, 2019 at 12:40 pm
Thanks for your comment Iain. Yes, I agree with you. The dream of escape to a different place overlooks the hard-wired beliefs.
May 9, 2019 at 7:15 pm
All that open space and there’s still a police officer with a speed camera hiding behind a bush 🙁
May 10, 2019 at 12:46 pm
Thanks Ali- so true ! Maybe the roar of the motor bike brought the cop ?
May 9, 2019 at 6:03 pm
Much like 🙂
May 10, 2019 at 12:51 pm
Thanks – so glad you liked the story.
May 10, 2019 at 1:00 pm
Indeed. Big smiles
May 9, 2019 at 6:00 pm
nice
May 10, 2019 at 12:54 pm
Thanks Larry – pleased you liked the story.