This week Pegman takes us to Pena, Portugal.
Feel free to stroll around the area using the Google street view and grab any picture you choose to include in your post. Note that there is both streetview and photospheres at this location.
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.
Thanks to J Hardy Carroll and K Rawson for hosting this unique challenge and for giving me an extra 50 words to play with each week.
This week I brought back one that I posted three years ago in Friday Fictioneers and added 50 words to it. I enjoyed the rewrite, I hope you enjoy the reread. 😉
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 150
THE JUMPING FLEA
“Better to harvest the sugarcane fields in Hawaii than starve in Madeira,” João Fernandes told his reluctant wife. “You’ll see, we will have a better life there.”
“Portugal is home. Português is the only language we speak.”
“We’ll build a new home and learn a new language.”
During the monotonous, sometimes perilous, four months at sea she spent most of her time retching over the side of the ship. He, on the other hand, entertained his fellow immigrants on the braguinha.
____
Enamored with the new music form and João’s lively style, the Hawaiians treated him and his little guitar like royalty. Even Queen Lili’uokalani requested private evening concerts.
One lonely night, homesick for her mountains, Senhora Fernandes waited up for him.
At long last, he burst through the door. “Behold the queen’s favorite musician!”
She seized his ukulele and smashed it to pieces over his head. “Behold your instrument!”
***
For your listening pleasure. It’s kind of long but, if you have an extra 6 minutes to spare. This is no tiptoe through the tulips.
Someone’s in the dog house.
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You betcha! 😉 Thanks for coming by, James.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ah, musicians. The Portuguese are a hot-blooded type. When I see Joao I think of Joao Gilberto and the fantastic Brazilian flamenco he played. Baden Powell is another of those Portuguese-speaking guitarists I really dig. Nice story this week! Glad to see you back.
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Dear Josh,
Honestly, I didn’t think I’d make it and Pegman didn’t appear in my inbox this week. Very strange. Always fun to bring an oldie but a goodie out of mothballs. At the same time I’m still plodding through Friday Fictioneers. At any rate, I’m glad you enjoyed the story. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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😉
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And she’d finally had enough! Very good story, Rochelle.
So it often goes: the man gets out, learns the language, makes friends; the wife sits home, few people she can talk to, often lacks transportation, the culture remains unfamiliar — and to top it off, once the children learn the new language they laugh at all her mistakes. 😦
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Dear Christine,
Your take is probably pretty close to the truth. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochele
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That is so bang on, it is scary. I look at my sister’s Greek in-laws and that is exactly what happened… but she did end up in the Montreal, “Greek Ghetto” with her kind. She then refused to learn either English or French so all pity for her was lost…
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Great to see you, Rochelle!
You’ve packed so much into this story, I feel for her. That was a satisfying smack at the end!
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Dear Karen,
I suspect the private concerts for the queen came to a halt as well. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It seems he went a step too far. Good writing as always, Rochelle. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
He did indeed. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sounds like this move is only working for the one of them 😦 Nice one!
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Dear Ali,
History might tell a different story about her, but where’s the fun in that. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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All very well entertaining the Queen, but what about his poor wife! Musicians, eh? Nicely done Rochelle
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Dear Lynn,
Well, you know how those musicians can be. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yes, indeed 🙂
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He deserved it.😀so well written, Rochelle . Loved your story .
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Dear Moon,
I agree. He had it coming. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great story. If his wife only knew….lol. Also the video of Bohemian Rhapsody on the Uke is phenomenal. Thanks for sharing.
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Dear Jan,
If his wife only knew what? Those musicians, I’m tellin’ ya. 😉 Glad you enjoyed the music. Pretty amazing. Thanks, m’love.
Rochelle
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After a move to a new city, the wife has a harder time adjusting to the new locale than the husband. He has friends at work – she has the children who learn a new language easily (their minds are like a sponge). He didn’t need the ukulele – now he can entertain his wife! Cute story! Nan
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Dear Nan,
Thanks for reading and sharing. The wives often get the short end of the move, don’t they? Re my story, thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I echo Christine. This happens so very often, sadly.
I’m glad she put an end to his private sessions….
Well done, as per usual!
(Sorry for my tardiness in reading this lovely piece. Haven’t turned on my computer in three – yes THREE days!)
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