

The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.
I confess, this is a rerun from four years ago. Some might remember, some won’t. At any rate, I’ve been out town for a week and am taking the liberty of not racking my brain to come up with a new story. 😉 It is a new prompt though.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
ROAD KINGS
Arthur mopped his forehead with his sleeve while holding his bicycle’s handlebar with his opposite hand. He tried to keep up with his buddy who had been blessed with longer legs.
“Wait up, Bill!”
The other boy grinned over his shoulder. “Pedal faster, slowpoke. The fish ain’t gonna wait all day, ya know.”
Once they reached the river, the boys laid their poles beside their bicycles and raced to the bank.
Relishing the cool water, Arthur sighed. “Pedaling’s hard work. Someone oughta build a bike with a motor.”
“Who knows, Mr. Davidson?” Bill Harley splashed and sputtered. “Maybe someone will.”


A worthy repeat, Rochelle. Strictly speaking, the first steam-powered motor cycles were built in the mid-nineteenth century and the first internal combustion engine powered motor bike was built in 1894, almost 10 years before the Harley Davidson was launched. But that’s just historical nit picking
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Dear Neil,
I don’t mind historical nitpicking. Could be a story for another time and prompt. 😉 I did look up the background. One thing to say in defense of the Harley: I don’t see anyone riding a Perreaux. At any rate, thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Cool story.
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Many thanks, Sadje.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s my pleasure Rochelle 🙏
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I missed the story first “go-round.” The things you learn . . . as they say! Fun, historical, and informative!
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This is a fine piece of dialogue, which I enjoyed reading
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I’m glad you enjoyed, Michael, and took the time to say so.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Lorraine,
I’ve been doing this for so long there’s a whole different set of participants than there were even four years ago. Some come and go and others have stayed or were here before FF was given to me. Thank you for your generous comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You are most welcome,
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Dear Rochelle,
Once you’ve fished me out of your trash as I’m responding on my phone… I remember this one! It’s a good ‘un to go with this photo!
Shalom and Lotsa motorized love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
Right you are. I had to fish you out of the trash. 😉 I wouldn’t leave you there for very long. Glad you enjoyed the ride the second time around.
Shalom and lotsa moving hugs,
Rochelle
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I knew it! I commented and it disappeared, confirming my first statement. 😉
And I did!
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Missed this the first time. Despite Neil’s history lesson, I enjoyed the story. Of course few of those other early motorcycle companies are still around, nor half as iconic (Indian Motorcycles is not the original company from 1901…)
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Dear Trent,
As I said to Neil (after searching the net myself), I don’t see anyone riding a Perreaux these days. 😉 My husband is a huge Harley enthusiast. Feh on the rice burners. I’m glad you enjoyed this story. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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And they made history!
Great to see their photographs. Usually, we know about the products more than their inventors 🙂
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Thank you, Anita.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Obviously, for those that know me, I love this story. Yes there were “powered’ bikes before Harley Davidson but not on their scale. To start in a small garage until now is an iconic accomplishment. That picture of me with Willie G. & his wife will remain a great memory. Good one M’Luv.
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Dear Jan,
Your picture just fits with this story. 😉 There were other powered bikes but I’ve never seen anyone riding a Perreaux, have you?
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Even non-bikers such as me love the unmistakable look and sound of a Harley! Interesting and informative as ever Rochelle.
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Dear Keith,
We used to have a neighbor, an elderly woman, who said she just loved it when my husband road his bike. She loved the “potato-potato-potato” sound it made. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My father used to ride a motorised bike round his parish – I think it was known colloquially as a ‘Stink-wheel’, and aptly so.
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Interesting, Liz.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hah, I remember the story. It’s just as much fun for this prompt as it was for the first one.
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Dear Gabi,
I’m glad you enjoyed my story the second time around. My muse has been incommunicado as of late. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A lovely little story the amazing Harley Davidson, well done!
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Thank you, Mason. Glad you enjoyed. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
I’m glad you reposted this story. It’s my first time reading it and it’s a treat. Thanks for the fun history lesson.
Shalom,
Adele
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Dear Adele,
That’s the beauty of having done this challenge for so long. There’s a new audience every couple of years. 😉 Thank you for your generous comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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First time hearing the story, Rochelle. Such a delightful telling of a momentous meeting of the minds in Harley-Davidson history. I love the other photos you included along with your story, especially the motorcycle gang one 😉
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Dear Lisa,
My husband is such a Harley enthusiast, I had to include him in the photos. Thank you for your kind and encouraging comments. I don’t want to bore the group with reruns but my muse has been avoiding me lately.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, you are very welcome and boring is one thing I would never connect with you. Sometimes muses take a vaca, but for creatives, they always come back.
{{HUGS}}
Shalom,
Lisa
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Mr Jan Fields like it
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Dear Ted,
I love seeing you here in Purpleville. You’re in our thoughts. And Mr. Fields is my biker hunny. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Perfect backstory, Rochelle, I’m glad you’re having fun and gave us another chance to read this one!
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Dear Jen,
I’m so pleased you enjoyed this one the second time around. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Fun little history tidbit! I like the story you know I am definitely not a motorcycle fan.
Shalom,
Ronda
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Dear Ronda,
I’m less of a motorcycle fan than I used to be. Feeling my mortality, perhaps. 😉 Thank you for your kind comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Another entertaining and educational story. Well done.
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Thank you so much, Athling.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This just makes me happy :). Terry had a Norton 700 when we met, and we spent lots of wonderful hours enjoying his bike. But in his heart, he dreamed of having a Harley. Never got one, but he was a BIG fan!
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Dear Linda,
Jan had a Honda years ago but always longed for a Harley. When he finally got it we went just about everywhere in all types of weather. For me the novelty has worn off. But as long as he’s happy. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Terry sold his Norton long ago, but I think he still has that itch. We sure had some fun rides, back in the day 🙂
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So enjoyed this, and oddly I don’t remember reading it the first time around. As the other half of a biker, (albeit a ‘classic’ biker – ie AJ Matchless and Sunbeam) this made me smile. Loved the pics.
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Dear Sandra,
It’s been a few years and I’m sure you’ve slept since then. 😉 At any rate, I’m glad you enjoyed. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I don’t really remember as far back as 4 years 🙂 but great story! I was checking out Mr Harley earlier and read how he started out.
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Dear Ali,
I’m glad my story had you checking the history. I’m actually counting on people not remembering the story from four years ago. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
And just like that, a legend is born! By the way, have you seen the movie “Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man”? It’s iconic, enough so where Bob Dylan claims it as his favorite film. Missed y’all. Good to be back.
Shalom,
Dora
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Dear Dora,
Nope. I’ve never seen the movie…or even heard of it. Might have to look it up. I’ve missed you, too. Welcome back.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You tell the story so well, Rochelle! A day at the river as the background to an iconic motorcycle. Lovely.
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Dear Penny,
Thank you for such a wonderful comment. 😀 You made me smile.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely and very lively, too! 🙂 Glad for the repeat! Hope you are having a lovely time and all that jazz. Left mine, with a little bit of a different kind of defiance in it … 😉 Na’ama
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Na’ama Y’karah,
It was one of my favorites…and, of course, one of Jan’s as well. The beauty of having done FF for nine years, is that I have a backlog to draw from when my muse is giving me the silent treatment. Glad you enjoyed it. I’m still processing being back in KC. You know how it is having family spread all over the place. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yep, I know a lot about having family spread all over the place … 😉 Had house guests from said family, from thousands of miles away, just the other week. 🙂 Happy re-entry to you!
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How cool was that!! I never knew the story behind the bike. 😀
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Dear Lyn,
I love sharing bits of history when I find them. Glad you enjoyed and took the time to say so. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Querida Rochelle,
Good ideas can develop into useful items.
I have a Harley shop about 5 minutes from me. Lots of bikes and bikers
all the time. They do great charitable work in our town. I love looking at them
on the road. I had a friend give me a ride on his hog once. I nearly had a heart attack … and I was only 30.
Have a safe and restful weekend …
Abrazos y carino,
Isadora 😎
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Querida Isadora,
I find the older I get the less I want to ride. I used to love riding on the back with my husband, but these days not so much.
We used to be involved with the Harley Owners Group. When I told my husband I wasn’t particularly comfortable with those folks he dropped out as well.
At any rate, thank you for chiming in with your thoughts.
Shalom y abrazos,
Rochelle
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A lovely story of inspiration and the need for something better, you know to get to the river for fishing. There is a “Tom Sawye”r feel to your story and I enjoyed that.
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Thank you for such lovely comments, James.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wow — such iconic names, Harley and Davidson. I’m in awe of people who can imagine things that didn’t exist before. Lovely story Rochelle.
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Dear Francine,
There have been so many amazing people in history. If not for them we might still be carving pictures on cave walls. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Every story you write is a history lesson. I love it!
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Thank you, whoever you are. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Another great historical adventure. I wonder what they’d think of the bikes of today? And what will they be like in the future I wonder.
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Dear Laurie,
Bikes have certainly come a long way, haven’t they? Perhaps in the future they will fly. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I must have missed this prompt four years back. Fascinating story. Mr William S. Harley and Mr Arthur Davidson eh? Could have been a Davidson-Harley had they sorted it alphabetically 🙂
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Dear Subroto,
Four years ago I used a different photo prompt. New prompt, old story. My muse needs a wake-up call. I guess they liked the lilt of Harley-Davidson. Can’t imagine it any other way now.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Anotjer cool historical fictional bite, Rochelle!
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Many thanks, Neel.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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“A Harley” said he, his cheeks puffed he drew rough fingers through thin stringy hair and grinned. “Ninteen fourteen, well wash my socks.” That was the start of a historic search. Google was running hot, he joined forums and Facebook and tweeted for help searched Instagram for pictures and took his smartphone to the bathroom. An hour later I ask you what the hell does he do for an hour? When he came down he still wore a grin in fact it was bigger by far, that the day he bought an old rusted car. That’s him, who hates technology.
(I popped mine here I hope it is alright, like the husband I got carried away)
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