Up late; saw this prompt, and had the intro (below) written… pow! Those stories that come to you in minutes. This one was tickling my brain all day, and Roger Bultot’s bright picture of a diner was the final nudge. No doubt, I’ll find the typos later, after I’ve slept.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Festivus, Happy Kwanza or whatever you may or may not celebrate this time of year. I want to stop and say that the Friday Fictioneers is something I look forward to every week. While this year was the first in the 3 I’ve been doing this, that I missed some, I think of it every Wednesday. I look forward to reading the stories and I SO appreciate all of you who read mine. Wishing each of you a happy holiday season and another year of great stories!
If you’d like to participate in Friday Fictioneers, stop by Addicted to Purple with Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, our fearless and multi-talented leader. Her new book As One Must, One Can has just been released; mazel tov! And congratulations as well to Louise Jensen’s whose first novel The Sister, made Amazon’s top 10, and her second novel, The Gift, has just been released. I’m always with inspiring company, with Friday Fictioneers!
I want to also plug something, as most of you are bloggers. I am hosting the 3rd annual #BloggersUnite for #50HappyThings on my blog, Tales From the Motherland. You may have seen Rochelle’s list, or Louise’s. All are welcome; the instructions are on my post. Last year 74 bloggers joined, and the gratitude grew exponentially. I’d love to see y’all contribute; it lasts until January 3rd.
I apologize for the lengthy intro, but good things beget more good things! As always I welcome honest, constructive feedback.
© Roger Bultot
No Star To Follow
As she stirred the gray water, she glanced at her hungry children. The buses would be ready soon, they were told over and over. It was cold; they were hungry, and still they waited.
She fanned the small flame, hoping the hot broth would warm; knowing it would not nourish.
Two days without shells or guns was a blessing. She said a quiet prayer and called them to eat.
Soon they would gather their things and leave the only home they’d ever known. Hoping for peace, she knew it would be hard. There is never room at the inn.
(99 words)
I realize I started with happy tidings and ended here… but the news is too hard to ignore, as so many celebrate another displaced child, whose mother had nowhere to go. The images, tweets, and stories are a stark reminder that we really should count our own blessings.
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Help Me Reach My Goals! KAPOW! The Tales From the Motherland Facebook page recently hit the 2015 goal of 800 likes (which I set after hitting the 700 mark)! I’m going big for the next year and aiming for 1,000!! Have you stopped by to spread some fairy dust? Follow me on Twitter, LeBron James does (yes, for real)! Most importantly, if you like a post I’ve written, hit Like and leave a comment. Honest, constructive feedback is always appreciated.
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TALES FROM THE MOTHERLAND 
Dear Dawn,
That news has been so hard to watch. You captured a snippet of it well. Grey water that won’t nourish. Well said. Happy Merry HanaChristmukkah.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle. I guess I’d been reading too much news, when the prompt came through! I had been imagining these scenes for days! All the happiest to you and yours! xo
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Since I have been on vacation, I have been spared all the bad news I usually am paid to watch. Displaced people, especially children, still very important and relevant today. I remember being at the one hospital in Israel where refugees are treated. What a joy to know that there is always hope somewhere.
Super story to kick us off with, Dawn! Have a terrific Hanukkah!
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Thank goodness there is somewhere for them to go, but it’s hard to see that the world is closing their arms to so many. No doubt we’ll soon have a wall, to keep all but the wealthy, white tourists out. (man, cynicism all around… sorry!). It’s so hard to understand…
Where were you on vacation? Welcome home and thanks for stopping by my cheery corner! (she said wryly) 😉
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I stayed home because my car needed repairs and my linoleum needed to be replaced. Anyway, I’m determined to enjoy myself. Hope you have a terrific Hanukkah and remember …
“You know it’s all about the neis, ’bout the neis, no oil …”
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Bravo! Now I’ve got that stuck in my head! :-p Happy holidays darlin’!
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Hahahahaha! 😀 Well, there are worse things, I guess.
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Not right now. :-p
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Unflinching and unsentimental. I liked this
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Thanks, Neil. The least we can do is bear witness. Thanks for taking the time and happy holidays!
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What a terrifying time for these people! Thank you for telling their story 🙂
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Terrifying and traumatic, indeed. Thanks Jessie, and all the merriest to you and yours!
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Excellent writing Dawn, powerful and touching and, sadly, a reminder of the very real human tragedy behind the headlines. Well done.
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Thanks so much Lain; I appreciate your kind words. Happy holidays!
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Good writing, Dawn. It breaks my heart to see people, especially children, suffering. At least they’re finally bussing the people out of the living hell that’s Aleppo. Now we have the killings in Turkey and Germany. This was a timely story. Happy Holidays to you and yours. 🙂 — Suzanne
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The worlds is upside down, Suzanne, that’s for sure. Bussing them out is surely a relief, but to where… many of them only struggle to survive, somewhere else. Heartbreaking, for sure! Thanks for your feedback and the merriest of holidays to you and your family! xo
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Great story. We seem to be on the verge of a new dystopia. Humans always endure, though. You capture that in this piece.
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One can only hope! Clearly not all of them endure, and therein lies the bigger tragedy. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment; it’s much appreciated! Happy holidays!
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A very powerful story, Dawn. We watch this on the news and it seems so distant from our own individual realities that it’s hard to really grasp what those people are feeling. You made it very real without being mushy. Well done.
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Thank you so much Russell. That is the only comment I needed… though each one is so thoughtful!
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A great story for a less than great episode in our history. Well done, Dawn.
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Indeed. The song Little Drummer Boy has been running thru’ my head all week. 😦 Such hopelessness there… Thanks Sandra, for this and each comment thru’ the year. I really do love this world of wonderful & supportive writers! All the best to you and yours these holidays. xo
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We have much to be grateful for indeed. So pleased about the gratitude blog party again this year.
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Thanks Louise! Yes, it’s a wonderful reminder of all the blessings we have! I’m so grateful for my FF group, and the supportive writing they share each week. All the best to you and your family! xo
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Wonderful, powerful, timely. Nicely done!
Merry Christmas to you. See you in the new year.
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Thanks so much Caerlynn. All the best to you and yours these holidays!
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Ouch. I “love” that last line. The more I hear about what’s happening in the world, the more I appreciate warm food, hot water, and clean sheets. Really, it doesn’t take much to make us human. Well done. Travel safely.
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Thanks Lish! It is indeed simple things that make us human, or make us feel inhuman. Happy holidays!
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Same to you, my dear.
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Okay! I wrote a Friday Fictioners post. Let’s see if I succeeded in posting it appropriately. A lot to learn! >
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I’ll look for it!
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I appreciate how you can bring so much to a 100 word piece!
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Thanks; I’ve had lots of practice! Can’t wait to see what you do, Heidi!!
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A poignant response to the prompt, Dawn and well done for raising awareness of homelessness at this time of year. My heart has been with people battling health issues, very ill family and trying to be there in some way. I drove around dropping cards off yesterday and caught up with a few people that way. Christmas is a very hard time of year to have serious issues or to have lost someone..or your home.
I struggled to get my head around the prompt at first. I live in Australia where diners aren’t common and I have sense of diner culture at all except from American movies. However, I was pleased with it in ht end.
xx Rowena
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Thanks for your thoughtful feedback, Rowena. While I am definitely concerned about homelessness, I wanted to shine a light on the refugee situation, and Aleppo in particular… not that there aren’t enough lights shining on that topic! 😦 I hope your family and those close to you find some peace and good health in the coming new year.
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I’ve missed watching the news much lately. My kids get hold of the TV or I’m busy writing and the day disappears.
I wish you and yours seasons greetings and all the best for the New Year too.
xx Rowena
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To you and yours as well, Rowena. Here’s hoping that things are more peaceful for everyone, in 2017…
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Definitely. Here’s to a much for peaceful 2017!
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There is no such thing as a non-destructive war, but this one has been so brutal.
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Indeed! Truer words… A sad, and horrific thing to see happen.
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“Grey water that won’t nourish” sums up the whole problem in a sentence, it’s brilliant, albeit written about one of the horrific situations prevalent in the world today
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Thanks Michael… yes, a bit of a dark story this week, but no horses were killed!
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Every time refugees are on the news I ache for those mothers. This story brings one woman’s struggle vividly to life.
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Thanks Liz; I’m glad you understood my message. I agree, the situation is wrenching and so hard to watch! We all feel helpless. I donate to help them, but it seems like too little… too late.
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So well done, Dawn. And yes, a well-thought connection to the spirit of Christmas and the horrors of Aleppo…
I saw a meme on FB today stating that in 20 years a movie called “Aleppo” will win 7 oscars and everyone will say “Something like that should never be allowed to happen again”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOO30jWjG46/
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I’ve seen that meme too… on Instagram. I got into a bit of a “tiff” with someone, when they said “it would be different if they were jews,” and I responded: it did; it’s called the holocaust. 6 million Jews were killed; we all said this should never happen again, and there have been several Oscar nominated movies… they went on to attack me re: Jews and Palestinians. So sad, because we/the world, has in fact stood by and watched this happen. Our dollars have helped fun radical Islam, and now we want out… it’s ugly and horrible, and paralyzing! Sorry… rant there, Dale, but this stirs me up so feverishly.
Thanks for taking the time, and for sharing something deeper… xox
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I so hear you, Dawn. They are comparing this to a holocaust and really… it does feel like it, doesn’t it?
And we are letting it happen, aren’t we?
Hugs to you and yours xoxo
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Thanks Dale. It does feel like it, but when comparing to The Holocaust (which is so often done), we must always remember the scale. The Holocaust saw 6 million Jews killed, but another 5+ million non-Jews (Gypsy, Gays, Poles…) were also targeted and killed. Those numbers (12 million) are still shocking, and why things are compared to Hitler and the Holocaust… nothing has really compared, since. Thankfully. That, however, does not change the impact of what we are all seeing… and seeing it, on the news, online, all over, is that much more jarring. Sorry… such a hard and complex topic! Next week I’ll write about elves. 😉
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Oh, trust me, I was not comparing it to THE Holocaust but was saying it was like one (I guess for lack of another term). The numbers in total cannot compare, to be sure but it is jarring for sure.
Sunshine and roses, eh?
Hope your holidays are joy-filled! 💜💙
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Thanks Dale… I got your meaning. A lot of other people make the comparison… it always surprises me. All the best to you and yours for a Happy Holiday season and wonderful New year! xo
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So glad. I didn’t want to offend!!
Thank you! May 2017 bring you much love and happiness!
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Oh Dale, I know your heart; it is big and so generous. No worries, my friend. xo
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😙😙
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The news keep me awake at night, there seems to be no end to how bad it can be… It has to turn some day… it must.
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It keeps me awake too, Björn… I fear things will get worse, before they get better… here in the US, for sure. Eek! I try to avoid politics, but this post has stirred a lot of pots!
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Tears for every person displaced by violence today and every day. There are no winners in war, only losers.
I’m counting my blessings,
Tracey
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Yes, we must all count our blessings, Tracey! We have so much to be grateful for, even in some of the hardest times. Thanks for stopping by to read my story; it’s much appreciated. Happy holidays!
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Very great way of combining the contemporary with the classic and showing that the world is still the same!
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Thanks; I appreciate that feedback. It was my hope that it would come across with that.
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It truly does!
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And then still forgot! Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year to you and yours!
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Merry Christmas and happy New year!
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And to you as well! SO funny, I meant to add that on my response… and then saw your 2nd comment. 😉
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🙂
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Your story truly conveys what it must be like. I stay up at night thinking of what they are enduring. I am so blessed not to have to face such a nightmare on a daily basis.
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SO wonderful when you stop by, Darla; thank you! I feel like I haven’t slept well in weeks; these things naw at me and leave me feeling chronically anxious. It is beyond horrific… I don’t want to be the person who turns off the news, and doesn’t watch- I think we must watch! But, it’s hard to let go. Thanks for stopping by, and all the best in this coming New Year. xo
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That was a beautifully crafted topical take. Merry Christmas.
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Thanks so much! I appreciate your kind feedback today, and all year; all the best in 2017!
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So sad, Dawn. I feel so much anguish over what’s happening in Syria. I hope they can find peace in their lives. Great job with your story! Wishing you a wonderful holiday!! xox
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she must keep hoping for better things to come even though everything looks grim. once she loses hope, all will be lost.
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That is so true, Plaridel, even though it’s hard to hold onto hope sometimes. Happy holidays and thanks for the feedback.
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A stark reminder indeed.
Thank you.
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Thank YOU, and happy holidays, Dawn.
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A stark but moving tale about the unsaid hardship and horrors that the common people face in this time of conflict.
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For sure! Thanks for your feedback, Subroto.
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Well told! Enjoyed!
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Thanks so much, Roger!
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As I search to find other bloggers out there, I came across yours and feel so inspired. 2017 will be a good year – leaving 2016 behind…every day is a new day….have a great one!
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I’m so glad you landed on Tales From the Motherland, and thank you for your time and thoughtful comment. Check out the #BloggersUnite for #50HappyThings, on my blog and join us; we’d love to have your list added to the blog hop! All the best in 2017!
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