Monday, November 28 makes 51 years of the sometimes rocky road called marriage. Happy Anniversary to my husband Jan Wayne Fields.
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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.
PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook
If this photo prompt and story look familiar to you, thank you for being a Friday Fictioneer for at least seven years. It’s a rerun from 2015. This Thursday, November 24th is the holiday we in the States call Thanksgiving. Being thankful for what we have is a good thing. Celebrating with family and friends is also a good thing. I’m looking forward to spending time with family and eating the traditional bird along with trimmings.
It is also Native American Heritage Month. Let’s not forget at what cost our freedom came.
Genre: Somewhat Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
KESHAGESH
“The Pilgrims stepped off the Mayflower onto Plymouth Rock,” Matthew read aloud. “Friendly Indians helped them plant corn and—”
“They should’ve been called Pillagers.” Rita fumed, snatched his paper and ripped it apart. “We’re indigenous and this is not India.”
“Mom, that’s my homework.”
She handed him another sheet of paper. “Write this, Matthew Thundercloud, not what you think your teacher wants to hear.
“They robbed graves, stole our land, enslaved us, murdered our children, forced their Christian religion upon us and gave us smallpox.”
“What if she gives me an ‘F’?”
Just smile and say, ‘Happy Turkey Day.’”
The following should explain my title:
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
A beautiful painting, and a story to make one think. What more can one want. Coffee time
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Thank you for such a lovely comment/compliment, Michael.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Just as good as – what? SEVEN years ago? Have I been around that long? Whoa… You put a perfect exclamation point on your story with Buffy.
Shalom and lotsa thankful love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
Yup. Seven years. I wrote this one right after I retired and you had recently joined us. And how glad am I for that? It’s hard to go wrong with Buffy. Thank you.
Shalom and lotsa grateful hugs,
Rochelle
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Sweet all the way ’round!
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I believe it’s called civilisation. Well done, Rochelle
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Thank you, Neil.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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How do you overcome the generations of past misdeeds? I like the stance of defiance, just like the Native American Heritage.
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Dear James,
Trying to make up for the misdeeds of the past is a little like bandaging a corpse, isn’t it? Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautiful painting, both that and the anniversary one that captures you so beautifully. And a cracker of a story that puts things into perspective, for the little while that people’s attention can be captured these days.
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Dear Sandra,
I’ve thought about putting some of these flash fictions in a book and entitling it “Short Attention Span Stories.” 😉
I digress. Thank you for your comments and compliments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Happy Anniversary! I have heard that song/seen that video. One of the weird things about the American Mythology is that they chose Thanksgiving as our Foundation Myth because Jamestown, which was here before Plymouth, was settled 100% for greed, as were most of the early colonies. Religious refuges appeared to people in the 19th century as more “noble”. And the local people did help them at first, though they were just being nice, they weren’t inviting them to steal their land! Anyway, I hope Matthew Thundercloud got an A 🙂
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Dear Trent,
I always manage to stir up a hornet’s nest with these stories. 😉 Lots of evil and violence on both sides of the fence, isn’t there? Thank you for your kind comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m sorry you get the brunt of it, but it is good to shake things up on occasion – we all have to accept the bad along with the good. If you don’t acknowledge the past, you can’t move forward.
Anyway, I hope you had a good Thanksgiving!
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I get the feeling Mom doesn’t give an “F” what your teacher thinks, Matthew. I enjoyed the story, Rochelle, and the song too. I’m stealing it, I hope you don’t mind!
Happy Turkey Day to you.
Jen
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Dear Jen,
Steal away, the song was never mind to begin with. 😉 Nope Mom doesn’t give an “F”. He he. Well put. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I feel two ways about this one. It is true that the Europeans who stepped off the Mayflower and other ships created a lot of misery for both themselves and the Native Americans. What I am uncomfortable with is the inherent idea that the natives were noble, sweet and wonderful to each other, as well as to the new settlers. It’s a myth. The mayhem and bloodshed the natives committed upon each other in their struggles for land (nomadic tribes constantly needed new lands for sustenance) is incredibly violent. Not to excuse the reality of the arrogance of the white settlers, although it is true by several accounts that the violence between native and whites did not erupt immediately. The natives had no way to know what the new settlers intended, and theyl were helpful at first.
In truth, it was/is complicated. I doubt any of us (who weren’t there!) can truly understand what actually happened. All we can see is the results.
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Dear Linda,
It’s true that there are two sides to that story. And the indigenous weren’t exactly kind to one another. However, it’s like slavery, while it’s true that African sold their own people, it doesn’t negate the savage treatment at the hands of white slave ownder.
All of us have gone astray…
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yes, agreed. I have often told my history students that history is simply the record of man’s inhumanity to man.
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History is not always black & white. Is it? I remember this story. Just as fresh today as then. Good job.
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Dear Jan,
Nope. History most certainly isn’t black and white. But we do well not to forget it. Thanks, M’luv.
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happy anniversary congratulations ~
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Thank you, Larry.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Then truth should always be told.
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Dear Sadje,
There are so many facets to the truth. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yes everyone has their version of truth.
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I have the feeling that the first thing on those voyagers minds was ‘thank you for not leaving us to starve’.
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Dear Clare,
That about sums it up. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Seven years? OMG! Great singer, great song, and I like your painting too. Happy Anniversary.
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Dear Liz,
Time flies whether we’re having fun or not. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The name Thanksgiving does seem misplaced.
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Dear Iain,
Thanksgiving should be every day…without the Tuirkey and food coma. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely painting Rochelle, and happy forthcoming anniversary.
The cliff looks familiar. is it on the Dorset coast?
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Dear Di,
My source, ie, Sandra says it is the Dorset coast. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle. Hope you had a lovely anniversary. I was wondering if it was West Bay near Bridport.
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Between your artwork, your story, and the music, you make a powerful statement. Greedy guts is a perfect term for it.
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Dear Lisa,
Thank you so much for a sweet and affirming comment. This type of story has a tendency to stir things up a bit.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, you are very welcome.
Shalom,
Lisa
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Happy anniversary! 51 years with someone is an accomplishment. I haven’t even spent that much time with myself.
I’ve always thought it was so bizarre that Native Americans have been called Indians because Columbus thought he was in India. Even Native American seems wrong. They were here before it was America. Unfortunately, humans feel a need to label people so we can put everyone in nice little boxes.
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Dear Nobbin,
We do label everything and everyone. Thank you for your affirming comments and Anniversary wishes. Truth is stranger than fiction.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanksgiving and an anniversary, so much to enjoy! Mom’s message certainly needed to be heard, not just then but this month too.
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Dear Keith,
History needs to be remembered. Thank you so much for swinging by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I tried to look up the word KESHAGESH. No luck. I tried several ways…
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It’s explained in the Buffy Sainte-Marie video. Keshagesh means “greedy guts.”
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Happy Anniversary and Thanksgiving, Rochelle.
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Thank you, Celestine
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Great story and a beautiful painting Happy anniversary ❤
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Thank you so much, Angela.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Many happy returns of the day to both of you with many more to come! A hard hitting story that packed a punch. Particularly liked the title.
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Thank you, Dahlia. ❤
Shalom,
Rochelle
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They helped them plant corn and survive indeed. In return, they put them on a reservation to keep them off lands they wanted for themselves.
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Dear Plaridel,
It does seem a crummy way to say thank you, doesn’t it? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Happy Anniversary! Congratulations. Lovely story.
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Thank you, Neel.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautifully done!
And happy anniversary !
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Thank you on both counts, Laurie.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That is great, Rochelle.
Wonderful story with so many lessons.
Peace,
Bill
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Thanks so much, Bill. I hope you’re feeling better.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle.
Marginally one day at a time.
Peace,
Bill
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I thought I had commented, but I see when checking this week’s photo, I forgot. So I’m sending you a belated happy thanksgiving!
Yours is a powerful story and Buffy was a favourite of mine since my teens! Also, I want to say thank you, Rochelle, for accepting my stories. I’m loving being part of this community of such talented, creative writers. Sometimes a photo prompt is easy and other times it stretches me. Either way, it’s great exercise! And thanks to Mason Bushell for leading me to your site and prompts! 🙂
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Dear Fleur,
I’m thankful that you’ve joined and have taken such an active part, both in writing and interaction. That’s what attracted me to this challenge–I didn’t create it–and has kept me these past 10 years. It’s like having pen pals on steroids.
I’ve been a longtime Buffy fan as well and that has only increased. She’s an amazing woman. Thank you re my story. BTW Tell Mason he’s missed.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you. I like that; penpals on steroids! I always look forward to the ‘Wednesday treat’, to see what the photo is and write, read and comment on as many stories as I can.
Mason is such a talented storyteller, I’ll pass your comments on 🙂
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