This week Pegman is back in Europe, visiting the Czech Republic for the first time. You’re invited to stroll the city of Karlovy Vary and choose your own view. Take your inspiration and write no more 150 words. Once your poem, story, or essay is polished, share it with others at the link up below:
I’m a little late to the party this week, but after being MIA for the past two weeks, I’m happy to have made it. 😉 Many thanks to Karen and Josh for their dedication to their growing challenge. I’m pleased to announce that I’m rounding the bend of the final heat for A STONE FOR THE JOURNEY. Hopefully it will debut this Spring.
Here’s the photo I chose from the Pegman Buffet. My story doesn’t exactly take place here but a few kilometers away in Prague.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 150
THE FROZEN SEA WITHIN US
Shadow monsters chased Franz. Twisted trees and thorny brambles caught his clothes. He snapped open his eyes. Demons vanished like steam over Mother’s cooking pot.
The wind blustered and howled outside, sounding like shouts of tyrants and wails of children. Franz’s tongue cleaved to the bottom of his mouth.
He cried out. “May I have a drink of water?”
“Go back to sleep, you little insect,” his father hollered.
“Please, Father, I am so thirsty.”
“Thirsty are you?” Heavy footsteps thundered down the hallway. Franz opened his eyes. Father loomed over the bed like the ominous forest creatures of his nightmare. Instead of comforting words the child longed for, Father carried him to the balcony. “Never disturb my sleep again.” The door locked behind him.
Frigid wind whipped through the boy’s thin nightgown. For the rest of his all-too-brief life, Franz Kafka despaired of ever winning his father’s love.
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Dear Rochelle,
Or should I call you “Queen-of-Bringing-History-to-Life”? And this story made me Google him because, sigh, I’ve never read him. And now I want to! See what you did there?
Lotsa love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
Aw, I can’t stop smiling. I’m only beginning to read Kafka. His picture makes me want to put my arms around him and tell him it’s going to be okay. Doesn’t seem like it ever was for him.
😦 Happy to whet your appetite. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think I’ll join you in getting to know him… and yes, he does look like a very sad man in most of his pictures…
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Unfortunately Kafka’s relationshiip with his parents was quite unhappy. I’ve never read a biography of him, but I’ve read the brief summaries of his life in “Amerika” and his short stories. You might be able to use more references to him because he was Jewish, although an atheist. He seems to be the type who can supply quite a bottomless pit of inspiration for all kinds of stories.
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Dear Larry,
It seems to me that his Jewishness was less important to this story than his unfortunate (lack of) relationship with his father.
I’m actually just getting into him for an upcoming group study. Sad to note that his family did perish in the Holocaust.
Thank you for reading and leaving such a comprehensive comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’ve often read that lack of a father figure is a common factor among all the mass murderers we’ve been seeing lately, and throughout history. Kafka lucked out in the sense that at least he seemed to have been a good person.
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How terribly, terribly sad!
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Indeed, Christine. 😦 Thank you for reading and commenting. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks for the link on him. It explains a lot about his unfortunate life, and your post. How sad. You always educate us with your historical, and accurate, portrayals. Nice job.
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Dear Jan,
Glad the link helped. I think the father also cheated himself. Thanks for coming by, m’luv.
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You’ve really chosen your words carefully for this story, haven’t you? I particularly loved the father addressing young Franz as “you little insect”. And the wind outside sounding like ‘the shouts of tyrants, and the wails of children’. Great stuff!
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Dear Penny,
This is the kind of comment a writer covets. Thank you 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I echo Penny’s sentiment–not a single wasted word. Every phrase does double duty in this magnificently crafted little story.
So happy to see you this week! Congrats on turning the bend on your latest work.
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Dear Karen,
I’ll echo what I said to Penny. This the kind of comment every writer covets. So happy when a reader ‘gets’ it. Thank you.
Soon I’ll be sending out the MS with pictures to beta readers. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I feel knocked over by what the video and your story say about Kafka’s life. I have read his books and their insight and imagery are part of my mental landscape. Didn’t know before about his atrocious treatment from the hands of his abusive father. Amazing that he wrote what he did.
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Dear Francine,
I’m only at the beginning of getting to know his works. Thank you for such a magnificent compliment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ouch! I had such loving parents, I can’t imagine a reaction like this from either one of them! You have hurt my heart with this one, Rochelle ~ in a good way. You are the master of history-through-story. Happy Sunday!
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Dear Lish,
Ah, such sweet comments. You certainly have contributed to my happy Sunday. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dad sure needed an attitude adjustment.
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Dad needed a swift kick in a strategic place. Thanks for coming by, James.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a grim upbringing.
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Very grim, Ali, 😦 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such a vivid story and wonderful, grimly fairy tale-like descriptions. You make us feel for that poor little boy, alone in the chill against the monsters. I too liked the ‘insect’ reference – you clever thing! – and it worked beautifully for the tone of the story and for what we know about Kafka, of course. I’m off to read more about him now. Thanks for a wonderful read, Rochelle
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Dear Lynn,
The fact that you got the deliberate use of ‘insect’ makes me smile…in a sad way. Coming from such a mistress of description, I prize this comment highly. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My total pleasure. It was completely gripping – grim and tragic for the young Franz. Lovely writing
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I love this Rochelle. You really capture the cold well. A nice choice of words. I can see how one might wake up as an insect after reading this, though 😉
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Dear Josh,
I enjoyed your choice of words as well. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Difficult to like this one. You capture the uncomfortableness of waking from a nightmare into a loveless life so well. Great insect line 🙂
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Dear Sarah Ann,
Glad you caught the insect line. 😉 Thank you for your kind comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
I’ve missed your flash fiction storytelling. This piece is very grim, without any apparent ray of hope, and yet, it is compelling, as compelling as Kafka’s stories. The use of ‘insect’ is so clever. We have his father to thank for all those wonderful stories, which is ironic indeed.
Shalom
Kelvin
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Dear Kelvin,
I must confess that, up until last night, I’d not read any of Kafka’s stories. So far I’ve read Metamorphosis and The Country Doctor. (Yes, the insect line was deliberate 😉 ) The relationship, or lack thereof, tears at my heart. Thank you for your kind words re my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A hundred words did what a thousand couldnt – for years I have tried to pick up Kafka but couldnt empathize but now I cannot wait to read him. Thank you Rochelle for being that special teacher and showing the way 🙂
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Dear Dahlia,
I’ve only recently become interested in Kafka. I’m pleased to have whetted your appetite as well. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Loved Jack Palance! Thanks for the memories. @sheilamgood at Cow Pasture Chronicles
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Dear Sheila,
I’m glad you liked my Jack Palance story. I enjoyed writing it. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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How sad. It is horrible how some people treat their kids like things.
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I agree, Connie. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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