The next photo is the PHOTO PROMPT. Does it speak to you? What does it say? Tell me in a hundred words or less.
PHOTO PROMPT © David Stewart
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Word Count: 100
PRICE OF A DREAM
At thirteen Myung Hee was three years older than the rest of my students. Despite my many scoldings, they laughed at her and called her babo.
One day I found her weeping in the schoolyard.
“What’s wrong, little one?”
“My baby brother and I escaped Kim Jong-il’s prison camp but two days later I buried him in the desert with only the stars to see. I thought South Korea would be the center of my dreams, but they lie with my brother in darkness.”
Myung Hee’s words resonated deep within me and, in that moment, the teacher became the student.
.
.
.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Yes this is a great picture.. and your take, especially the teacher becoming student was perfect in cases like this. With all the refuges from Syria coming I see that we can use images like this for similar writings… I will be travelling this weekend and I will not link up.. I prefer to be able to comment on all the stories.. But I actually wrote a poem yesterday where this picture would have worked perfectly.. 🙂
https://brudberg.wordpress.com/2015/09/15/winds-of-change/
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Dear Björn,
I recently watched a documentary about North Korea and was both fascinated and appalled by what I saw. I couldn’t get the images out of my head. So when I looked at David’s photo with Korean writing on the sides of the buildings I knew where I had to go. While Myung Hee and her story are a work of fiction, she and it are based on several stories I listened to on You Tube.
Your poem is wonderful and would fit the prompt. Safe travels, my friend.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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As you might know, I do run the dVerse site with 2 prompts every week.. there are some people that frequent both sites 🙂 I hope London will be nice to me.
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Very topical take on the prompt. It’s the same the whole world over it seems – the elusive land of dreams turns out to have nightmares of its own. Nicely written, Rochelle, as always.
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Dear Sandra,
I think if I chose to write these types of stories end to end they would fill a thousand pages or more. As it is, Myung Hee’s story is a conglomeration of at least four stories I listened to on You Tube.
Thank you for your kind words both here and on your blog. The capitaine has an amazing crew. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You always seem to be able to create topical stories based on some kind of reality. It is a sad reflection of our world that dreams often turn to dust.
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Dear Jenny,
When a story strikes me…;) Thank you for your encouraging and kind words.
The world is in a sad state of affairs, isn’t it?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s a shame it took a real life story similar to this to invoke compassion in the British media, and a reminder that the troubles will be far from over when refugees are settled.
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Dear MissKZebra,
People don’t seem to care until it’s in their face. I’m sure I’m as guilty as the next.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That is a touching story though it is a work of fiction but the world is full of truth like this one.
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Dear Ira,
It is happening all over. The stories this is based on are as recent as last year.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Haunting and heart wrenching, especially those children who are starving.
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Dear Joy,
I find stories from North Korea to be the most chilling on earth. I realize it’s not the only place where atrocities are happening, though.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle, a poignant story that is sadly true for more places than North Korea at the moment. Reading or seeing something on North Korea it captures your fascination. For me it was reading the Orphan Master’s Son. Although fiction it has fostered an interest in North Korea since.
Cheers Irene
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Dear Irene,
North Korea is only one place where it happens. I think what I find haunting about North Korea is the way children are raised to be little robots devoted to the dear leader. There’s no individuality, no freedom to think, to dream. Children are forced by the age of 9 to view public executions. If a person is convicted of a crime, his or her entire family goes to prison camp. (I think I’ve watched too many videos and read too many stories for 100 word flash 😉 ) When I first saw this video I thought the children were adorable and talented, now the smiling faces make my blood run cold.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you for the link Rochelle. We are so lucky we live in a world where we do have freedoms. I can understand your blood running cold. Mine does also. Those kids would have been separated from their families at a very early age and done nothing but play guitar and learn propaganda. And they are probably the lucky ones.
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I’m learning more from your blog about this than I ever knew. Thank you. It DOES make one’s blood run cold. Scary!
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We fight cold wars in other peoples’ lands and are inured to the consequences.
Good piece Rochelle.
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Dear Mick,
I can’t improve on what you wrote. I’ll simply say “amen and thank you.”
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Another tale of truth and fiction wound into a great short story. The documentary on North Korea was disturbing. But then again, it doesn’t take much for your creative brain to envision stories. Love it.
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Dear Rochelle,
There are worse endings than those seen only by the stars. This was a beautiful story in many ways. You’re beginning to swim effortlessly and the walls are coming down. Well done.
Aloha,
Doug
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Dear Doug,
Physical death is sometimes the least painful. One stroke at a time, all poles buried beneath the pool. Quia caritas omnia sustinet.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Nightmare country, nightmare story. We must guard against ever becoming like North Korea and one or two other States.
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Dear Patrick,
Nightmare is an understatement.
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A very touching, sad story, Rochelle! I was moved by the the way you worked in simple details about school life, and encapsulated the horrific ordeal the child had gone through in a few sentences. Something about the last line, though, makes me feel it could be less direct — what do you think? Alas, I have no suggestions!
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Dear Vijaya,
I appreciate your comments and crit. Personally I feel that the last line needs to be direct. Nonetheless I value your opinion and your honesty.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you. So sorry for suggesting something to a seasoned writer like you — suggestions are tricky, and writers have their own reasons (as I know well).
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Dear Vijaya,
Never feel you have to apologize for voicing an opinion. And certainly feel free to make suggestions. As for my being a seasoned writer? Lightly perhaps. There’s always room for growth and I’m of the mind that if someone is too old to learn it’s time to close the coffin lid.
Thanks again from your Fairy Blog-Mother,
Rochelle
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A friend of mine has recently returned from North Korea. She only saw what they wanted her to see, but she sensed a sinister undercurrent everywhere she went. I will make sure she reads your words.
Rosey Pinkerton’s blog
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Dear Rosey,
I’ve watched numerous documentaries and firsthand accounts of defectors. I can’t imagine what it’s like to actually be there.
Thank you for stopping by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
Your touching and sad story makes we worry more than I was already, that the handful of refugees my country is willing to provide a home for, are treated with kindness and compassion by the British citizens. There is a great NIMBI attitude going on in our society now. I was heartened to hear this man talking on the radio who said he had two spare rooms in his house and he was in the process of clearing out the junk from them, so he could welcome two refugees into his home.
Your stories are always so thought-provoking and deep.
All best wishes
Sarah
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Dear Sarah,
I, too, have to ask myself if I’d be willing to take refugees into my home. It’s easy to write but not so easy to act.
Thank you for your lovely comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It is the tragedy of our reality that this is realistic fiction and not horror from the past. Touching, deep, perfect as always.
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Dear GAH,
And it’s true on so many fronts.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Humanity never fails to fascinate me – with its extreme cruelty on one side and extreme compassion on the other side. Great story Rochelle.
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Dear Ansumani,
I’m with you there.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Excellent and thought-provoking.
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Thank you, J hardy. 😀
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Sad, you touched a vulnerable spot in me today. Children, why, the children?
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Dear Tracey,
The children. The tenderest, most vulnerable and brain-washable victims.
Thank you for commenting, sorry but not sorry for striking a nerve. Lots of tears went into this writing.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thought provoking indeed. Another fascinating story you have woven here.
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Thank you, Fracncesca. 😀
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In the name of the wee man!
Why do you put us through this every week?
You have an innate ability to turn unthinkable catastrophes into personal tragedy.
You write with a potency that rips into our hearts, takes us to places we don’t want to go.
Exquisite.
But ouch.
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Dear C.E.
Such a reaction is a high compliment.
Thank you for the exquisite ouch.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Pauline,
Peril runs amok around the globe. Cruelty and heartlessness go hand in hand waltzing an evil dance that only Satan applauds.
RC
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Dear RC,
All I can say to the comment is “amen.”
Shalom (would that it would happen globally)
Pauline
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Poignant, topical and beautifully written.
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Thank you so much, Karen. 😀
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Not only your stories your reply to comments are also very informative. How less we know about other countries. Loved the last line. Very well written story,
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Dear Indira,
I’ll admit to knowing very little about other countries. It’s nice to know that we’re never too old to learn.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Good story once again, Rochelle. I’ve seen news of that type also. It’s disgusting. Also, I’m having trouble connecting with WordPress so I haven’t been able to put my story on my blog yet. It started giving trouble yesterday and continues this morning. I’ll keep trying. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
There’s too much news of this type, isn’t there?
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
Dear, dear, Rochelle. We cannot unsee it, can we?
Honie
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Dear Stephonie,
Nope, we can’t unsee or unhear?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’ve read about this and watched quite a few documentaries about it too. The differences between the two countries are truly shocking. It’s hard to believe some of the things happening in North Korea are actually happening in the modern world. It isn’t a nightmarish movie plot. It’s really happening. The struggles and sacrifices people NK’s people make to escape it are awe inspiring. Thanks for writing about this. It’s an important topic going on in the world right now. People need to know about it.
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Dear Eric,
Your comments echo my sentiments and reason for writing this particular story.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very profound and moving.
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Many thanks, Joy. 😀
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the teacher learning from the student? not a bad idea in this case.
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Dear Plaridel,
I think it’s up to each of us to be both teacher and student. We never stop learning.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A good reminder as I sit here safe and comfortable.
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Dear Dawn,
Thank you from my own safe and comfortable place.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Similar lessons to be learned today with the immigrants seeking a safe haven in Europe. Appropriate and a good reminder of what we have and others have lost or never had. Thanks for the reminder. Your stories always hit such a deep cord!
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Dear Yolanda Renee,
Thank you for such a lovely comment. The writer needs a reminder herself most of the time.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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People are often far removed from the realities of most of the terrible things that happen in the world being, as they are, so involved in their own day to day “dramas” .. we need more than just statistics to bring the reality into our hearts. A great story – I like how the teacher becomes the student – very sensitive and profound. Bastet
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Dear Georgia,
I think we all need to be willing to be the student. And it is easy to be too wrapped up in our own daily drama to see what the other person is facing.
Thank you for your sensitive comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very powerful story and unfortunately so true to life.
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Dear Ali,
Too true…sadly.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The faces of North Koreans fill me with pity, as does your story.
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Dear Liz,
To evoke the right emotion from a reader is an author’s goal. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Myung Hee is head and shoulders above all the other students in more ways than one.
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Dear Deborah,
She is indeed and perhaps they will one day hear her story with willing ears.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So sad, and yet so beautiful. The memory will stay forever, sacrifice and loss together forever
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Dear Solo,
As the title goes, the dream came with a heavy price tag. Nonetheless, to stay was certain death.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such a sad situation over there in North Korea. I understand you watched a documentary. I’ve had been planning to watch one for a while. Now I want to watch it. Very well written story, Rochelle. You captured the sadness and despair.
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Dear Amy,
At this point I’ve watched several documentaries on You Tube. Really horrid stories and all of them true.
Thank you for the compliments re my writing of the story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh Rochelle. I read your story and all other stories fled from my mind. It took me one day to recover. 🙂 Awesome, as always.
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Dear Jolly,
That’s a very high compliment. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Refugees are seeking haven all over the world and dying in the process. Those that stay in their counties risk starvation or dying. The rest of us fret about what to do, worry about opening our doors, or trying to figure out how to stabilize other people’s countries.
Oy, what a world.
Randy
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Dear Randy,
Oy indeed. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.
Shalom and Shana tova.
Rochelle
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Rochelle,
what a wonderful story you’ve drawn from this picture. It is true that North Korean refugees often have a hard time fitting into South Korean society. I haven’t had any in my classes, but I’ve had students that didn’t fit in like this and it kills me since I want to make it all better, but I can’t. What a great last line too.
-David
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Dear David,
I love the picture and as soon as I noted the Korean on the sides of the buildings my head just went there. We recently saw a couple of documentaries about North Korea. One was about an American Doctor who went there to do a surgical procedure to heal a certain type of blindness. He did over 2000 surgeries in a matter of days. Not one of those patients thanked him, instead they bowed before the Kim’s pictures and thanked the “dear leader.”
Then I watched several You Tube videos with defectors telling their stories. The most memorable for me is the story Park Yeon mi.
I was touched by the plight of the refugees who still have difficulty in South Korea because they’re so far behind academically.
There’s always that student who doesn’t fit in, isn’t there?
Thank you for letting me preach to the choir, for kind comments and for sharing the photo. (Funny, I’m only now noticing the paper tucked between the wall and fence.)
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It doesn’t help either that the language has been diverging since the country has been divided. North Korean has a lot of Russian loanwords and South Korean has thousands of English loanwords. Many North Koreans come to South Korea and are assaulted by so many unknown words.
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I think most people tend to ignore stories like this. Writers can’t, but readers often do. I know that is a gross generalization but I just want to thank you for not shying away from writing about people like this.
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Dear Emilio,
Some things are harder to ignore than others. Thank you for your encouraging words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It is a desperate situation, indeed, when the normally resilient spirit of a child is broken. Will we adults ever learn?
Very touching, very timely story.
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Dear Emilio,
Some things are harder to ignore than others. Thank you for your encouraging words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sharp eye and powerful story telling, Rochelle! I didn’t see the writing on the building, until I read your response to Björn! Nice. The story itself delivers such a punch! I find the entire notion of N. Korea and what it has become, so appalling and haunting. You’ve captured both so beautifully. Shabbat Shalom, friend!
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Dear Dawn,
Sharp eye? A few people wrote about the paper tucked between the wall and the gate. I didn’t even notice that. I just zeroed in on the Korean writing. 😉
N. Korea is a frightening place.
Thank you for your lovely comments.
Shana tova,
Rochelle
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Well, clearly I’m not sharp in any dept here! I missed all of that! But agreed, scary!
L’Shana Tova to you and yours as well! xox
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Your story shows so well how dreams sometimes come at a very steep price. Does that make them not worth having or coming to fruition? I think that’s requires an individual answer.
janet
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Dear Janet,
I agree. There are no pat answers.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Your story captures the raw emotions of the students. Sad.
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Thank you, Kalpana. That is high praise.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I feel for her. Starvation of the soul is every bit as bad as body starvation.
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what a beautiful thought. Sad, but beautiful 🙂
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Thank you for commenting, Alice. Both types of starvation are terrible.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It is so hard to see the good after so much bad,I hope Myung Hee finds the good in SK soon. Excellent piece
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Dear Samantha,
The NK defectors do have a rough time assimilating into SK society but it beats the alternative.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So sad, Rochelle. It reminds me of what is happening with refugees today.
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Dear Erin,
It is current events for both the Syrian refugees and the North Korean defectors.
Thank you for commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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you always find such thought provoking stories to go with the photo.
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Thank you, Sally. It’s nice of you to stop by and say so.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Once again, Rochelle, you grace us with a beautifully penned story about the tragic reality for too many children. I have found on our youth crisis line, I am so often the student when first nations youths have the courage to reach out. May I reblog your post, Rochelle, I do feel more people should see this. Shalom, Cheryl-Lynn
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Dear Cheryl-Lynn,
Thank you for your kind words on my story. By all means, feel free to reblog with my thanks for such a high compliment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Reblogged this on Traces of the Soul and commented:
Every Friday we get a chance to write a story under 100 words at Friday Fictionneers prompted by a photo that Rochelle gives us. However, she also graces us with story that usually floors me becuase of her gifted writing, yes, but all too often she has another message, has often done some research and creates an awareness for her readers of so many life events…past and present. This is a story that is current…yep, sadly part of our present that it is surely no gift to those children… check this post out and maybe have a visit at Rochelle’s prompts, who by the way also published an amazing novel (check my sidebar)”Please Say Kaddish For Me”.
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Unfortunately North Korea does not have oil, so it languishes waiting to get rescued. You’ve captured that feeling of emptiness and pain.
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Dear Subroto,
Put simply, North Korea is spooky.
Thank you for your comments and compliments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
What a very topical take on the prompt this week. The leader of North Korea frightens the life out of me, so unpredictable, never know what he will do next.
Nothing from me this week 😦 hopefully I will be able to join you all this week.
Best wishes
Dee
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Dear Dee,
I’m sorry we won’t enjoy your writing this week but I appreciate your taking the time to read and leave a nice comment on my story. Kim Jon-un is as horrid as his father and grandfather.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ok, that’s a bit hard on the heartstrings. Nicely done.
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Dear R. Todd,
A tug at the heartstrings was intentional 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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beautifully concluded
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Thank you, Arora. 😀
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I’m glad this teacher is willing to learn. I grieve that our world doesn’t seem to have learned a thing from history. We just keep allowing the cruel and selfish among us to do the same brutal things again and again. Powerful story, Rochelle.
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Dear Margaret,
There’s nothing new under the sun, is there?
Thank you re my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Many years ago I read that a visiting reporter was stunned by the silence in the countryside. Not even a bird; the leaves and grasses were gone as well. How desperate a country must be to have to resort to stripping their countryside of every living thing just to stay alive.
Your story this week makes us think. As a retired teacher it makes me remember the many times I learned from my own students. A poignant story.
Shalom,
Lynda
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Dear Lynda,
I believe the best teachers are the ones who are eager to learn as well. I’m sure you were a good one.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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