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 © Rowena Curtin
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH
Ken McElroy was pure-D meanness.
Hundreds of stories circulated in Skidmore, Missouri. All true. He packed a shotgun. You didn’t say no to him, or he’d burn down your house or kill your dog.
Marshall Dunbar was so scared of McElroy he quit and got a job at a cable company.
One summer night, Daddy told Mama, “That town bully needs killin’.”
On a July afternoon in 1981, some folks crowded around McElroy’s truck outside a tavern. Two gunshots. Blam! Goodbye, Bully.
For forty years, the FBI has tried to solve his murder but so far, ain’t nobody seen nothin’.
- When I say “historical fiction”, I’m talking about the narrator. The rest is chillingly true. For more info CLICK HERE.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Well that’s one way to sort out a bully. When a small town combines its forces. Can’t argue with the last line. Nicely done!
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Dear Fleur,
I don’t know how else they could’ve solved the problem. He always managed to escape justice. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yiu are welcome. Bullies often do slip through. Sounds to me like justice was served well in this story.
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Oh wow! Reminds me of Murder on the orient express!
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Dear Sadje,
Truth is stranger and sometimes eerier than fiction. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Perhaps the story was based on such a story
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That was the end of the bully.
All’s well that ends well.
No one killed him!
Rather, no one saw anyone kill him!
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That’s from me 🙂
Regards, Anita
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Dear Anita,
No one was about to confess or admit to seeing that murder. 😉 Thank you for declaring yourself.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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One year, Stephie Howitt’s high school reunion was held at the restaurant in Skidmore a few years after he was killed. She kinda joked about it. I think the organizer lived there.
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Dear Anonymous Theo 😉
This event went under my radar. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment.
Shalom,
Rocky
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Well told, Rochelle
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Thank you, Neil.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I won’t be shedding a tear for him. Nor, it appears, will anybody else. Hopefully the FBI consider it a cold case now. Merry Christmas Rochelle x
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Dear Sandra,
I’ve shed no tears either. Thank you for the read and the comment.
Christmas Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wow! I didn’t read the true story because the fictional one was enough! I’m torn between the efficiency of small town justice and the danger of small town ‘justice’ that took a life to solve a problem. Interesting tale Rochelle!
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Dear Clare,
You raise valid questions. Truly the only fictitious part of my story is the narrator. The rest is true. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I am not really a big believer in vigilantism, but sometimes it seems needed. This looks like one of those cases. Nope, in that crowd of people there isn’t one that saw or knows anything…
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Dear Trent,
Chances are the actual killers in this case didnt know who they were. It seems more than two shots rang out that day. In this case it does seem to be the only way to stop his reign of terror. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
While it ain’t necessarily right to take the law into one’s own hands, maybe there are times when the necessary must be done. I’m guessing the law wasn’t able to fix this case… Nicely told, my friend.
Shalom and lotsa safe love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
There doesn’t seem to have been any other solution, does there? The law wasn’t doing them any favors. Thank you.
Shalom and lotsa peaceful hugs,
Rochelle
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There seems to be times where drastic measures are needed.
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Sounds like justice was served before the FBI got involved. Effectively, the guy shot himself.
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Dear Jen,
I like your way of thinking. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Must have been the invisible man who served justice that day. This bully was a rapist, child molester and a long list of other crimes that finally got his dose of Karma. True story and the FBI should leave this as unsolved.
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Dear Anonymous Jan,
I’m pretty sure this is a case that isn’t going to be solved. 😉 Thank you for the tip, m’luv.
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I don’t know if it’s true, but supposedly there used to be a murder defense in the state of Texas. “Judge, he needed killin’.”
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Sounds fair to me, James. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The saddest part of this story is that the town didn’t act sooner. Took them a long time to reach their boiling point.
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Dear Linda,
All too true. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Well done. I doubt there will ever be a solution and maybe that is for the best.
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Dear Connie,
I agree. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Nothing to do with a mad dog but put it down. Just trying to wrap my head around why nobody was locking this monster up! He must have had some dirt on a bigwig or something.
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Dear Lisa,
It is mind boggling that such a creature got away with all that he did. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, you’re welcome and amen.
Shalom,
Lisa
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I suppose he got what was coming to him, but I’m not sure it’s the best solution!
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Dear Iain,
Given the circumstances, I don’t know that there was any other solution. 😦
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sometimes this seems to be the only solution, Rochelle. Nicely done. Thanks for the link.
Shalom.
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Dear Indira,
Horrible solution, but what else could they have done? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Horrible, indeed. But one who doesn’t repents….
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And if the FBI did find whodunnit they ‘d never find a jury to convict them.
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Dear Anonymous,
I suspect you’re right. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I guess they were scared to even arrest him for fear of what might happen. If they managed to convict him, he’d probably have got a death sentence anyway.
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Dear Keith,
Somehow he always managed to escape justice. Apparently he had a lawyer who knew how to beat the system. 😦
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yesterday I was trying to explain to my granddaughter what a bully is and how she should react if ever confronted by one. This certainly is one very effective way; it did not come up in our conversation.
Great story, Rochelle.
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Dear Nancy,
It’s probably not a very good idea to share this solution with your granddaughter. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, I definitely agree!
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This is a horrible tale, expertly told as always. Shame on the people to put up with his violence (not murder!) for so long and then committing murder, shame on the police and shame on the parents of the young women. Shame on the whole town, really. I don’t shed a tear for him, but neither do I sympathize with these people. This wasn’t self-defense.
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Dear Gabi,
It might not have been the best way to solve the bully problem. From some reports the town is a shadow of its former self. A lot of shame for sure. Thank you re my telling. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Vigilante justice isn’t usually a good idea, but there are exceptions, especially with anybody who kills dogs. I really enjoyed the different, darker tone of this story and the hint of accent in your recording. Well done.
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Dear Nobbin,
It is hard to feel remorse for him. I agree about the dog. Apparently he did that more than once. Thank you re my accent. I do know that it’s Missour-ee and not Missour-ah. 😉 Thank you. It was a story that needed tellin’.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love it!
Thanks Rochelle,
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Thank you, whoever you are.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A reminder (if we needed another one) of what a dangerous and cruel breed we are. This is powerfully told. Gabi has said exactly what I was thinking – how tragic that an obviously guilty and evil person wasn’t able to be brought to justice by the system. How shameful for everybody concerned that the townspeople felt compelled to do what they did.
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Dear Margaret,
Not that I condone the actions of the townspeople but, the system was failing them miserably. Shame and guilt all around. Thank you.
Christmas shalom,
Rochelle
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Happy holidays and a Merry time to all during this festive season.
You may consider a visit to Literally Stories https://literallystories2014.com an interest read. The site is featuring a rerun of their favourite seasonal stories, for the one on each day over the holiday. You may enjoy the variety. Well, it is the time to be jolly.
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From James
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Dear James,
Thank you for revealing your identity. 😉 I will check out the link. I see whose story is first on the list. 😉
Christmas Shalom,
Rochelle
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Merry Christmas Rochelle! I haven’t been involved in the blogging world much this year. Maybe I need to make a better commitment for 2024?
Hope you’re well. Love frogs on a truck.
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Thank you, Trish. Hope to see you more in the coming year.
Shalom and happy holidays,
Rochelle
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Ain’t nobody talking. Sounds like he had it coming. Would make for a fascinating movie.
Happy Holidays, Rochelle!
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Dear Laurie,
It actually was made into a movie. Here’s a clip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNoPn86xq3M
Shalom and Happy New Year,
Rochelle
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Oh thank you!
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