Here’s Friday Fictioneers, the greatest free show in town! Rochelle Wisoff-Fields runs this band of merry writers, where participants are asked to write a 100-word story, with a beginning, middle and end, using a photo prompt. It’s a wonderful challenge with lots of interesting outcomes. Check out other participants here. One of these days, I plan to get up extra early to be one of the first contributors… this West Coast delay is always a bummer!
I always welcome feedback: positive or constructive. Leave something in the comments, and make my day. Check out Tales From the Motherland on Facebook, and hit like. I will smile for hours.
(99 Words)
Alma pulled the heavy cart through the dark streets, heading home. She carefully lined up the wooden wheels with ramps the Spaniards had built, while destroying the Inca nation, and bringing religion to her “soulless” ancestors.
Throughout Cusco the stone roads still served the locals, as well as the touristas, stopping on their way to Machu Picchu. These roads were old friends; Alma knew each rut– where the stones had been rubbed smooth or hollowed out.
She pulled the hand-woven goods, day into night.
“Buenos noche, Señora.”
She passed Señor Condori, exchanging weary smiles.
“Hasta mañana, Señor;” until tomorrow.
TALES FROM THE MOTHERLAND 
I was thinking, oh, that sounds like fun! I could write every Friday! Then I read your post and thought, holy crap, I could not muster that beauty every Friday. Uh-uh. (Lovely.)
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You can write as many Fridays as you like. No rules. 🙂 Come and play with the rest of us.
janet
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You are far too kind! Methinks you would do just beautifully! I’ve only been doing it for about three months now and I can barely wait for Wednesdays, when the prompt comes out. Check it out and give it a try! Thanks so much for taking the time to read and leave such a lovely post. Much appreciated!
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What a lovely little slice of life!
janet
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Thanks Janet. I think those steps are actually in Israel, but when I saw them I thought of Cusco instantly! Then I thought of all the local women and men I saw there, who worked so very hard, surrounded by such history. Love this weekly gig! 🙂 Thanks for taking the time.
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I like the South American motif here. Keep writing more of this. I want to hear more!!! Fine story.
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Thanks so much, and welcome to TFTM! I thought of Cusco as soon as I saw the photo. So many of these weekly stories seem like stories I’d like to continue. Thanks so much for your time, and encouragement. Much appreciated.
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You dare me? Well, I dare. Lovely little word picture of a life far removed from ours and I think I want to adopt Alma. Very nicely done.
Okay, I dared.
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Perry, Indeed, Alma deserves to be adopted, but would never accept it.
We traveled to Cusco last summer, and trekked through the Andes to Machu Picchu. Entirely different world. I saw the picture and knew just where to go. 😉
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A very effective vignette. Well done.
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Thanks Sandra! Much appreciated.
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I really liked this one, Dawn. I too, saw people pulling carts up those ramps. You got a sense of time in your story – the history of the road and the people who have used it!
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Thanks Cathy. I always appreciate your thoughtful feedback. Amazing place, and incredible people!
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Nicely portrayed thoughts of an ancestor of one of the greatest nations of its time. But how easily everyone mixes in the Spanish language.
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I loved visiting Peru, and exploring the Inca Empire. Truly amazing people… I love the Spanish language, and tried not to play too much with it. My own family have Spaniard, Mexican and Maya ancestors… and here I am with red hair and freckles! Thanks for taking the time, Lindaura; much appreciated!
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Thanks for bringing Cusco back into my head from memories burried deep. Great piece.
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My pleasure. Such a vibrant, amazing city. Thanks so much for your kind feedback, and for stopping by TFTM.
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Great story! Seems the thought of pulling a cart through the alleyway is a common one!
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Thanks so much Mahjira. I haven’t had a minute to read many others yet… the ones I’ve read haven’t had to do with carts, but I’m excited to read more! I appreciate you taking the time to read my post, and leave a comment.
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It’s amazing how many people still have a routine like this in the world today. And people complain about 9-5? Nicely told.
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Thanks, Mike. For many people, it’s survival… yes, we have it pretty good, by comparison. Thanks so much for reading my post, and taking the time to comment. Much appreciated!
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These Friday Fictioneers posts amaze me by how much story you can fit into a hundred words. Or, in this case ninety nine. Loved it.
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Nice to see you over here, Adam. These FF stories are totally addictive! So much fun, and I think the challenge helps with other writing. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
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I can only imagine. I talked to Renee a couple of weeks ago, and I’m eventually going to get in on this. Fiction is my gig, and I agree, it’s a good ‘muscle builder’.
Anytime, always enjoy your creative touch!
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So, you can do more than imagine… Just do it! Join; it’s so much fun.
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You will see me here. Promise!
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You’ve captured the sense of history and time in these few words, Dawn. Beautifully done.
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Thank you so much Karen. When I saw the stones, I immediately thought of Cusco, Peru and the amazingly hard working women I saw there. Thanks for the kind feedback; much appreciated!
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wonderful vignette.. felt like i was there 🙂
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Thanks KZ; I really appreciate your feedback. Cusco is an amazing place!
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I could almost see Alma in her (once)bright clothes- hidden now under the dust and grime of daily struggle for survival and yet her determination and spirit shines through-her hope for maybe a better tomorrow not yet extinguished!A wonderful piece with interesting bits of history,loved it:-)
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Thank you so much! What a descriptive, kind comment. Sounds like you could continue the story for me! 😉
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Hee! 😀 That will take me another life time-am still a novice!
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Hardly! Love your posts. 🙂
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Thanks a ton!Am touched that you think so:-)
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So, which of these ruts is the Emperor’s New Groove? (Sorry, darling, I couldn’t resist).
This was a lovely little tale.
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Trs clever; I’d forgotten all about that one! Thanks for your feedback; much appreciated.
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Hard work and a hard history — your story is a powerful combination. Alma deserves a vacation. I’m glad she has friends in her hard life, such as the kind gentleman, Señor Condori.
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Thanks for taking them time to read Zooky. I’ve had a crazy week and I’m still way behind on FF this week! I really appreciate your time and effort. 🙂
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Thanks for the view into a world I knew nothing about.
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Thank YOU, for reading, Dawn. Cusco, Peru is a very special place! There are many Almas… and great beauty and culture all around. We have guests and I’m way behind on FF, but look forward to catching up this weekend! Thanks for taking the time; it’s much appreciated!
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Dawn, I enjoyed the history and imagery in your story. Powerful and insightful. It’s interesting to think about history in terms of a road and what happened there. Great story.
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Thanks Amy. I loved Peru, and the place and people are so vivid in my mind. Each week brings a new train of thought. OUt of town guests… still haven’t gotten to FF! Thanks for making it over.
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Yeah, it does feel a little quieter this week, doesn’t it? It’s great they all got together. How fun for them!
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Would have been fun… just didn’t know about it. I’ve had a crazy busy week and then weekend! Didn’t read hardly any yet… but plan to. 😉
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These roads look so familiar, like the passageways outside my apartment here in the Old World. It is only natural to wonder about the many footsteps over hundreds of years that have worn them smooth. As I add my own footsteps down these stone passages, I wonder who will follow in my footsteps and what their stories will tell. Thanks for reminding us of the ancient roads you, too, have traveled. – Mike
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I’m not sure, but I think this photo was actually taken in the Old City of Jerusalem… not sure. But, they reminded me so much of the alleyways in Cusco. Beautiful point, Mike! All that history… including our own steps.
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Querida Dawn,
¡Muy bien, hermana! Yes, Kent took the photo in Jerusalem. So? No importa. Your story is lovely. You put me back into another place, another time. Well done.
shalom,
Rochelle
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I almost went with the Old City, as there are similar stories there as well… but the second I saw this, I thought of Cusco. Hope your weekend was muy fantastico! d
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