Another week of wild and wonderful stories from the Friday Fictioneers brigade! Rochelle Wisoff-Fields leads the fun, and this week provides the photo prompt. The challenge: write a 100-word story: with a beginning, middle and end, using the photo provided. Check out Rochelle’s blog, Addicted to Purple to read the other stories, or join in the fun. It’s where all the kool kids are playing.
I always welcome honest, kind or constructive feedback. Please leave a comment!
©Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
All That Glitters… (100 words, exactly)
Marlene stacked the heavy boxes one on top of the other at the back of the store. The afternoon rush left the supplies of bobble head Johnny Depps, sparkly palm trees and playing cards nearly empty. Her feet hurt from running up the aisles to grab merchandise; her head hurt from answering inane questions.
“Do you see many celebrities?” “Got any maps of stars’ houses?” “Is it so exciting living in Hollywood?”
It was endless– the silly things people said while picking out chotchkies.
When I’m a star, I’ll never look back, she thought, as she restocked snow globes.
* * *
Make me smile; and HELP ME REACH MY GOAL: I’d love to see the Tales From the Motherland Facebook page reach 500 likes in 2014. Have you stopped by to spread some fairy dust? Follow me on Twitter, it’s where I’m forced to be brief. Most importantly, if you like a post I’ve written, hit Like and leave a comment. I love to hear what readers think. Honest, positive or constructive feedback is always welcome. Click Follow; you’ll get each new post delivered by email, with no spam. If you see ads on this page, please let me know. They shouldn’t be there. © 2014 Please note, that all content and images on this site are copyrighted to Dawn Quyle Landau and Tales From the Motherland, unless specifically noted otherwise. If you want to share my work, please give proper credit.
TALES FROM THE MOTHERLAND 
Pingback: Friday Fictioneers: All That Glitters… | ugiridharaprasad
Dawn, I would guess Hollywood is full of dreamers. I read one time that there are so many great looking men and women in that area because they’re the descendants of those who came looking for stardom. Good story and well written as usual. 🙂 — Susan
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Thanks Susan! I’ve been a couple of times and admittedly, there are an awful lot of good looking people there– albeit very “fixed!” Thanks for taking the time. 🙂
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I love what you did with the prompt from this week, Dawn. Great story!
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Thanks Cathy. EVERY week it’s a challenge. Some weeks easier than others. I so appreciate that you come back each time. Thanks!
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Great! The indomitable human spirit. As usual, Dawn, a winner!
A Golden Snow Globe. 🙂
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Thanks! Next… an Oscar! 😉
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See? Now THAT’S setting a goal!
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Dawn, you did a nice job of capturing the superficiality of life in and around Hollywood. I lived within a few miles of the Movie Capital of the World for awhile, and I visited many of the famous spots – Mulholland Drive, Laurel Canyon, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, the Walk of Fame and many famous restaurants. All I can say is the trite comment, ‘All that glitters is not gold.’ The freeways are clogged (with lots of really nice cars), the air is foul most of the time, and the number of homeless in many areas is mind boggling. Plus,it is very expensive to live there. One can only hope that dreams of fame are not completely dashed by the soulless City of the Angels. – Mike
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I couldn’t agree with you more, Mike. Ditto, ditto, ditto! Whenever I go there, I find myself equal parts amused and disgusted. I wanted to capture bits of both. Thanks for weighing in!
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You nailed it perfectly with “equal parts amused and disgusted.”
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Thanks Russell. I’m glad I did both for you. 😉
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we need to dream even we know that dreams may not come true
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So very true! Thanks for stopping by to read and comment; your time is much appreciated. 🙂
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I almost wrote about jeep little trinkety things one buys in a place like Hollywood. Glad I didn’t, you did an excellent job.
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Thanks so much, Alicia. No doubt you’d put your own unique spin on that story… that’s what makes FF so wonderful: there’s always another story! 🙂
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You did a good job of showing the dream(s) and the flip side of those dreams, Dawn. Bobble heads…heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp!
janet
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Janet, thanks! I had fun with this one… I had to wiggle with the word count this time– edit, re-edit, edit again! Glad you liked it.
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Yeah, that word limit can make for some long editing times.
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Sometimes it’s harder than others, for sure. 😉
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Dear Dawn,
I can see how one would become jaded working in a place like that. If you’ve seen one cheesy souvenir shop in Hollywood, you’ve seen ’em all. My favorite place the last time we went to Hollywood was a little hole in the wall bookshop. 😉
I loved your use of chotskies. I grew up hearing the words chotchkehs and khazarai to mean trinkets and junk. You made me smile.
Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle. I had a few ideas with this photo, but opted to go with the fun one– a bit cliché, perhaps. It’s true, if you’ve seen one…! We’ve used the word for so long, but there are so many spellings! I changed mine, when I realized I’d left out the ch. Alas… Glad you liked it, Rochelle! Shalom, Dawn
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Dear Dawn,
And all the while, her agents will be trying to find her deals for a bobble head doll with her likeness…
Idol worship. Humans are programmed for it, but only a few can be the idols. Great story that nailed the lunacy of the mob.
Aloha,
Doug
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Thanks Doug. I really appreciate your kind, and intelligent feedback. I couldn’t agree more– lunacy. Have a wonderful weekend! Aloha and Mahalo.
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Great take, Dawn. I imagine people buy the stupidest, cheapest things in Hollywood just because they’re in Hollywood. Like Disneyland. It’s place for dreamers that’s for sure, and some are so talented, and others get lucky.
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Absolutely! Dreamers and very few find that luck. Thanks for the feedback, Amy; it’s always appreciated.
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It’s good to dream! And I learned a new word (chotchkies).
A bobble head Johnny Depp could be kinda creepy, but I’ll take one anyway – because this is Hollywood 🙂
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Dreams are what we depend on, until we can make them realities! Thanks for taking the time, Draliman… 🙂
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It does seem that Hollywood is chock full of broken dreams, doesn’t it? I like the setting you chose–so much less cliche than the wannabe actors working as wait staff in a restaurant. This gets the action down and dirty with the general public. Nicely handled.
All my best,
Marie Gail
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Thanks so much Marie Gail! I wasn’t willing to wait tables again… nor, let my character do it. Been there, done that! 😉
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Chotchkies…hmm I learned a new word.
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Everybody needs a dream, maybe hers will work out one day
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“When you wish upon a star…” Perhaps, Subroto. Thanks!
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I can feel Marlene’s pain. Well done. I really like the title. After finishing my fairy costume for a body image event on campus next week, there is glitter all over my floors!
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I’d love to see some photos of THAT, Honie! I have another post up now, about Disney and body image: https://talesfromthemotherland.me/2014/11/14/disney-lets-get-real/
I think it could have covered a lot more, but then it would’ve been SO long! This month, I’d love to put more out there on the topic. Thanks for taking the time for my FF post; I’m glad you liked it. 🙂
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Connie and I did a Christmas card one year where I posed action figures to represent us in a little jeep doing a “Redneck Roadhunter” episode. Unfortunately, it never caught on. Perhaps I should have went the bobblehead route 🙂
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Bobble heads always win over action figures, Russell! Duh. I do love that you would do a Christmas card like that, though!
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Here’s hoping she makes it, because I’m not sure she’s cut out for retail long-term. Good characterisation.
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Thanks Sarah Ann. I think it’s probably hard to give up on any dream. Thanks for taking the time to read an comment.
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Everybody needs a dream. I wonder in Hollywood how many times a day people think, “When I’m famous…”
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David! How nice to see you here– it’s been a long while! Thanks for taking the time. I think there are so many aspects to life in and around Hollywood, but no doubt, “when I’m famous” must be way at the top of many lists!
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I feel really bad about not reading as many FF stories as I’d like and as I keep telling myself, I’ll try to get better. My wife and I say that a lot: “When I’m rich and famous…” Not that either of us really believes it, but it’s a fun game. 🙂
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I totally get it… no worries. I really do understand, it was just nice to see your name when I logged on. Thanks for making the time; it’s always fun to see bloggers I like, here. 😉
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No problem. I love to read your stories. 🙂
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The feeling is mutual, David.
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I hope she’s right about when she’s a star, but I suspect she’s just as starry-eyed and misguided as all those shoppers. Great little touch of irony there.
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Thanks, Margaret. There are certainly some very misguided folks out there! But then, how bleak it would be without dreams. I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment.
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Great spirit.. at least she seems to make some money while dreaming
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Sometimes that’s the best you can do. Thanks for taking the time, Björn.
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