Today Pegman walks through a St. Louis neighborhood.
Feel free to stroll around the area using the Google street view and grab any picture you choose to include in your post.
To enjoy stories inspired by the What Pegman Saw prompt or to submit your own 150-word story, visit the inLinkz button:
For guidelines and rules for the What Pegman Saw weekly writing prompt, visit the home page.
Since I chose the destination this week, I had no choice but to write a story. Right? Of course, right!
Even at 150 words…50 over my normal flashes, I found myself wishing for more. 😉 Below is my choice of prompt. It brought back some wonderful childhood memories.
Genre: Mostly Memoir-Some Fiction
Word Count: 150
SCHUHLEDER
Compared to our ranch-style house in Kansas City, George Weinberg’s two-story in St. Louis seemed a veritable palace. I looked forward to sojourns with our cousins in the early 1960’s.
Although George’s wife Carla, a German refugee, was generous and an impeccable housekeeper, her cooking left something to be desired—taste. We didn’t dare complain. Carla had survived unbelievable hardship and she meant well, but how can a person ruin hamburgers?
The summer I turned fifteen, Mom had dental surgery. Granting her request to be left alone, Dad took me to our favorite getaway for an overnight.
It was dark when he woke me. “There’s a great diner around the corner.”
Alas, Carla stood at the foot of the stairs, platter in hand. “Guten morgen!”
“Pancakes?” Dad’s stomach let out an audible whimper. “You shouldn’t have.”
“Nonsense. I should let my guests leave hungry?”
What’s the German word for ‘cowhide?’
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
It takes a real talent to ruin hamburgers AND pancakes. Loved the voice in this sweet story. Dad’s stomach’s protest is priceless 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Karen,
In this case fact is more profound than fiction. 😉 My father made his living cooking so it was particularly difficult for him. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved the ‘audible whimper’. Cowhide pancakes sound wonderful! Well done, Rochelle.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Sandra,
You wouldn’t believe what Carla could do to even iced tea. I don’t think it’s supposed to be yellow. 😉 I do remember those pancakes like it happened yesterday.
Thank you for your sweet comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Yum, yum. Shoe leather pancakes. Wait a minute……I’ll pass. I think all of us could tell a similar story. Good job.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Jan,
There are some who will never get the finer art of cooking, aren’t there? Thank you
Love,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Hmmmm….Carolyn suddenly came to mind. 😉
LikeLike
Great story. I was thinking about the dental surgeon… Miles Davis’s father, maybe? Thanks for the excellent prompt idea this week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear J Hardy,
Don’t remember the oral surgeon’s name in Mom’s case. 😉 When I suggested St. Louis, I really didn’t have a particular story in mind. I love it when they just come like that.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the location this week, Rochelle. A lovely family tale here, I can just see them all politely eating with forced smiles and compliments to the cook!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Iain,
Funny, when I chose St. Louis, I had something else in mind. But when I saw the old neighborhoods my muse took me back to George and Carla’s house. Glad you enjoyed the story without being subjected to the menu. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
My grandma died before I was born so when we visited the old neighborhood, my Grandpa or one of my aunts did the cooking. The only food I remember was Grandpa’s oxtail soup. I really liked it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear James,
I was never sure why Carla’s cooking was so bad. As much as we loved to visit them, mealtimes were something to be dreaded. Lucky for you your grandpa could cook. 😉 Thank you for coming by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Snorting laughter – cowhide! Love it! About like my Gr. Grandmother’s fry bread. you could use it to kill small game. LOL! 🙂 ❤ still laughing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Jelli,
Happy to make you snort. 😉 ❤ I always wondered how Carla's husband and kids could stand it. But they never seemed to mind. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
That was more than a chuckle that escaped my mouth! Poor Carla. I guess it would be difficult to try and let a person know their cooking sucks. We had a neighbour like that. She could barely boil water. Being invited for dinner (thankfully, a rare occurence), we always hoped Mr. D. would cook and not Mrs. D….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Dale,
I’m glad my story got laughs from you. (Did you snort your coffee? 😮 )
I will never forget how we tried to leave early to escape being the victims of culinary homicide. Bless her heart, Carla was a sweet a woman as ever lived. But…
Thank you for sharing your story. I’m not sure why there are some who just never quite get it. I have a sister in law who has the same “knack”.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Almost! Luckily my mouth was not full!
Yes, there are those who just can’t…hmmm some of them we find between the pages of a book…😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yeah! How could I forget Oxana…who just happened to have had a lot of influence from Carla. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
😁
LikeLike
Rochelle! This is a hoot. I love it, truly. Mozel tov. (May I say that?)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Lish,
If you’re congratulating me on the story Mazel tov is perfectly appropriate. 😉 In the case of Carla’s prowess in the kitchen it’s “oy yoy.” Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
The story! not the cooking! 🙂
LikeLike
😃❤💜😆
LikeLike
Hey there Rochelle! I found your blog today, and I’m nominating you for That’s So Jacob’s March Blog Madness! It’s simple: find five interesting blogs today, copy and paste this comment, and give them a follow! Have a great day and if you’re so inclined, kindly come visit me over at http://www.thatssojacob.wordpress.com. Have fun spreading the blog love this month!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Jacob,
Thank you for the nod, but I’ll have to pass.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Pass what?
LikeLike
I will pass on March Blog Madness.
LikeLike
Ha ha…Schuhleder. Good one! 😁
LikeLike
Dear Margarisa,
Not something I’d want to eat. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Haha – loved this little snippet from your childhood. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you enjoyed, Dahlia. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Funny story, Rochelle. She was possibly one of the few German immigrants to be a bad cook. I had a German immigrant aunt who was a great cook. She taught both her daughters to be great cooks. Germans opened restaurants in Ohio and the food was delicious. My mother was part German, learned from a cookbook, and was still a good cook. Great writing as always. 😀 — Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Suzanne,
I’m not sure why that ability skipped Carla. She was a sweet lady, but her cooking…not so much. 😉 Thank you for coming by. Don’t forget the bicarbonate.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person