Willie and Gene

Friday Fictioneers is a weekly challenge to write a complete story in 100 words or less based on a photo prompt. Thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting this challenge and Russell Gayer  for this week’s photo prompt.

Photo Credit: Russell Gayer

Give me land, lots of land, under starry skies above. Don’t fence me in….

Music blared through the open window of the ’65 Ford, accompanied by the scratchy voice of Wildcat Willie. The old crooner nearly made it big, once upon a time. The next Gene Autry, the called him. Then fate turned on Willie, ending his career faster than a minnow could swim a dipper.

Willie faded into the sunset, with the help of his 357.

But as the story goes, the old ’65 still glides along the Texas highway as Willie and Gene  sing without mercy.

 

Don’t Fence Me In was released in 1934 by Gene Autry. Lyrics by Robert Fletcher and music by Cole Porter. A reference to Wildcat Willie is made by Roy Rogers, who sang the song in the 1944 movie Hollywood Canteen. My Wildcat is purely fictional.

 

 

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CFF – Bicycles, Tricycles, Motorcycles, Wagons

It has been quite a while since I participated in one of Cee’s Photo Challenges but today is the day I get back into my photography groove.  This week’s challenge is bicycles, tricycles, motorcycles, and wagons.  I did a deep dive in my archives and didn’t come up with much, so maybe between now and the next challenge (Tuesday) I will see if I can add a few more. 

This one has been used before but in black and white. I much prefer the color. A bit fuzzy because it was taken behind glass. Not to mention the several glasses of tequila I had before taking it. 

Photo Credit: Susan Spaulding. Shot at Discover Mexico Park, Cozumel

My excursion to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally a few years ago provided me with more photographs of motorcycles than I will ever need. I couldn’t decide on a singe cycle, so I used a group photo.

Photo Credit: Susan Spaulding. Shot at Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Sturgis, SD.

I’m not sure I would like traveling far in one of these wagons 

Photo Credit: Susan Spaulding. Shot at Silver Dollar City, Branson MO

These old-school bicycles caught my eye. The bright yellow didn’t hurt.

Photo Credit: Susan Spaulding

More…

Photo Credit: Susan Spaulding

 

 

Art at its Best

Sunday Photo Fiction is a weekly challenge, hosted by yours truly, to write a 200-word story based on a photo prompt. This week’s interesting photo is courtesy of Fandango. I am sure there will be many unusual stories generated this week, so wander HERE read a few. Or better yet, write your own story and add to the collection. 

Photo courtesy of Fandango

 

Now for this week’s story…

“This will kill your career!” Andre screeched like a cat with its tail caught in the door as he stared in disbelief at the monstrosity in front of him. His own career was also at stake. Why had placed all his hope in one artist, Paul Best.

Paul rolled his eyes and smirked.

“Some agent you are! I should fire you. This is going to be bigger than any art exhibit you have ever seen.”

“Where did you get the idea.” Maybe Andre just needed to understand Paul’s motivation.

“It was along the curb in a low-class neighborhood. I think they call it trash, but I call it inspiration. Two broken chairs, and a tree limb. Fantastic!”

“You picked it up?” Andre was horrified.

“Of course not! My driver did.” Paul beheld his newest creation. “I call this ‘Summer Evening.’ Reminiscent of those Southern hicks that sit under a tree drinking iced tea at twilight. Do you think I should add some Earl Grey tea bags to the limbs?

“Make it Lipton,” sighed Andre.

Perhaps Paul was right. When it came to creating art, he had the Midas touch. After all, he wasn’t called ‘The Best’ for nothing.

 

 

 

 

 

Another Man’s Trash

Sunday Photo Fiction is a weekly challenge, hosted by yours truly, to write a 200-word story based on a photo prompt. This week’s photo is courtesy of C.E. Ayr. I am sure there will be many interesting stories this week, so why not wander over there and read for few. Or better yet, write your own story and add to the collection.  You can find this week’s challenge  HERE

Photo Credit: C.E. Ayr

Now for this week’s story, inspired by my grandparents. 

Grady had one goal in life: to make his wife Emma happy.

It had not been easy. After the crash of ’29, times were tough, but Grady’s cotton farm provided a place to sleep and food to eat. But when the ‘black rollers’ brought billowing clouds of dust across the Texas panhandle, his farm eroded into nothing. Taking only what would fit in the back of the 1928 black Ford pickup, Grady and Emma headed for California, unsure what the future would bring.

Grady landed a job in Los Angeles as a trash man. Picking up garbage paid less than white men’s wages, but Grady was happy for the job. His partner was an older black man named Leroy.

“You won’t believe what these white folks throw away.” Leroy said. “Keep what you want and sell it.”

Leroy’s words rung true. Despite the Depression, the trash cans of wealthier families were full of useful items. At their last stop, Grady noticed an Oriental teapot sitting on top of the kitchen trash.

Emma would be thrilled. All her teapots had been left behind in Texas. This would be the start of a new collection.

 

When my grandparents moved from Texas to California in the early 1930s, my grandfather spend some time as a trash collector in an affluent neighborhood. Many of the things that my grandmother gave me came from his days as a trash collector. They had been poor cotton farmers before moving to California and the idea of throwing away perfectly good items perplexed her. Below is a photo of the teapot featured in the story.

photo credit: Susan Spaulding

 

 

 

 

 

Little Pink Houses

Good Sunday Morning.  I missed last week’s Sunday Photo Fiction challenge due to other priorities but glad to be back this week.  This week’s photo is one of my own, taken near the  Myriad Botanical Gardens in downtown Oklahoma city.

Photo Credit: Susan Spaulding

For those who don’t know, Sunday Photo Fiction is a weekly challenge, hosted by yours truly, to write a 200-word story based on a photo prompt. I am sure there will be many interesting stories this week, so why not wander over there and read for few. Or better yet, write your own story and add to the collection.  You can find this week’s challenge HERE

Now for this week’s story.

At the end of the cul-de-sac sat a tiny pink house, sandwiched between houses three-times its size. Millennials Joe and Beth Campbell owned the quaint cottage, boasting to their neighbors they were no longer slaves to their positions.

Until they won the lottery.

No sooner had the for-sale sign been staked when the couple heard a knock at the door. A strange little man with a long white beard and pointed nose looked up at them.

“The name’s Rump,” he said, “I can pay your asking price.”

The Campbells each wondered what their neighbors would think.

“I will pay more,” he offered.

The heck with the neighbors. The Campbells took the offer.

Before they could sign the papers, they hear another knock. A bent-over old woman clothed in a long black dress stood on their steps. Rump introduced his wife, Hilda.

Joe and Beth disliked their neighbors but selling the house to characters out of Grimm’s Fairy Tales seemed wrong.

“We changed our minds,” they said, slamming the door.

Rump glared at his wife. “Hag, I told you, stay in the car! Now what are we going to do? Houses like this don’t come on the market every day.”

 

 

 

Wishes

Friday Fictioneers is a weekly challenge to write a complete story in 100 words or less based on a photo prompt. Thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting this challenge and Ronda Del Boccio for this week’s prompt.

PHOTO PROMPT © Ronda Del Boccio

Amy had one wish…solitude.

Her hectic life kept her busy morning to night.

Always doing something for everyone else, never herself.

She often dreamed of running away, someplace quiet, and peaceful.

Taos sounded nice.

The speeding car came out of nowhere.

Everyone said Amy was lucky to be alive.

Quietly they whispered, she might not be so lucky after all.

What kind of life was it to exist on a breathing tube, paralyzed from the neck down?

Through the small space between the planters on her window sill, Amy silently watched the world go by.

Wishing for anything but solitude.

Just Sports II

Sunday Photo Fiction is a weekly challenge to write a 200-word story based on a photo prompt. Thanks to C.E. Ayr for this weeks challenge. To see what other stories were inspired by this great photo, just go here. 

This week is a continuation of my last story, Just Sports. I couldn’t leave Frank and Diane hanging in marital disarray and I hope you agree, things are getting interesting. 

Photo Credit: C.E. Ayr

Diane was adamant.

“I want four hours, every Saturday morning. No questions asked.”

“What do you mean, no questions asked. What do you plan to do?”

“No questions. Not where I go, not whom I’m with. Those are my conditions.”

The couple sat at separate ends of the therapist’s couch. The World Cup had torn their marriage apart. Diane wanted a divorce, but Frank begged they try counseling first. His sports obsession was out of control and he was willing to do anything to keep his wife.

On Saturday morning, Diane left the house without a word. She drove to the park where she saw Barry’s car. It was early, and they were quite alone.

“Frankie is OK with this?” Barry asked. Frank was his best friend and he wanted to make sure he had his blessings first.”

“It’s complicated. The less he knows, the better.”

“I like you Diane, but I’m not sure you are worth losing a friend over.”

“You are such a silly boy. Can we go now?”

“Whenever you are ready.” Barry pointed to the bicycles. “You are officially in training for the  Hotter ‘N’ Hell Hundred.”

 

COB Photo Challenge – June 17, 2018

Cee’s Oddball Challenge is for those photographs that don’t really fit into a common category. There is no theme to this challenge; what is odd ball is up to the participant.

Many of the photos I take on vacation are used as reminders rather than photographic gems I share with others. Last week I traveled to the Vail Valley where the photo below were taken. I hope you like the odd ball’s that I have chosen to share this week.

We stopped a the Welcome Center in Leadville, Colorado and my inner genealogist was immediately attracted to the list of books below.

Living in Oklahoma, the need to flag a fire hydrant so it could be found in a snow drift is very odd indeed.

I was walking through Vail Village, past the river, when I noticed this worker having his lunch. I thought what a great view for spending your  lunch hour.

This was taken at an event in Vail. There is a world of difference in how trash and recyclables are handled between Colorado and my home state of Oklahoma.

I can’t remember the last time I used one of these for a hotel room.

Cee’s Odd Ball Photos – May 13, 2018

Cee’s Oddball Challenge is for those photographs that don’t really fit into a common category. There is no theme to this challenge; what is odd ball is up to the participant. I hope you like the photos I selected this week. 

I took my first photo at Historic St. Mary’s City, Maryland, a living museum. My husband and I visited St. Mary’s several years ago because his family entered the United States at the point in the late 1600s.

This one came from Medicine Park, Oklahoma, a small resort town constructed out of cobblestones that are native to the area.

This is called Thunder Fountain, located at the Myriad Gardens in Oklahoma City

Lastly, this is a photo of the Blue Angels as they were practicing for one of their air shows

 

 

Motherhood (Sunday Photo Fiction)

Photo Credit: C.E. Ayr

Happy Mother’s Day to all who care for children. When I chose this photo as today’s prompt, it was not with Mother’s Day in mind; however, I believe it is perfect for the occasion.

Sunday Photo Fiction is a weekly challenge to write a 200-word story based on a photo prompt. Thanks to C.E. Ayr for providing this week’s challenging photo.

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Nate tenderly watched Anna as she dozed in the chair by the open window. A slight breeze rippled the curtains, granting relief from the heat of the Kenyan sun. Sensing she was being watched, Anna opened her eyes and smiled in love at the man looking down on her.

“I didn’t want to wake you, but there is something I want you to see. Grab your camera.”

They drove several miles to a large watering hole. There, a herd of elephants gathered to cool themselves from the heat. Nate pointed toward a female they called Kakena, meaning happy one.

“Over there.”

Anna eyes followed Nate’s direction. Seconds later, she noticed a young calf, hidden between Kakena’s massive legs.

“She must have delivered during the night,” said Nate. “Looks like we have a healthy girl!”

“Isn’t it a little early to know if it is a boy or girl?” teased Anna.

“Just a feeling,”he said. “What should we call her?”

Anna took her husband’s hand and placed it on her pregnant belly. Soon Anna would give birth to their own child. She smiled in love for the man beside her.

“Are you asking about the elephant, or your daughter?”

 

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This was just a little too serendipitous to not share. A hand-made bookmark from my talented daughter for Mother’s day:

 

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