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 © Roger Bultot
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
TREDEGAR 1911
Tears streamed from my papa’s eyes, soaking his beard. “For this we fled Russia—to be slaughtered in Wales?”
I trembled. Last night I’d hidden under my bed, covering my ears to blot out angry shouts and the crash of shattering glass.
“Thank the Almighty we are alive,” said Mama.
“Ha! If God lived on the earth, the goyim would break His windows, too.”
At that moment a Christian youth entered our tailor shop, head bowed, and handed Papa a banknote. “Father sends his apologies.” The boy took a broom from the floor. “Perhaps we can help rebuild.”
For more on the history CLICK HERE
******
Thank you, Dale for such a lovely review on LAST DANCE WITH ANNIE! 😀
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Hi Rochelle,
You went to Wales and you even have daffodils for Wales! My surname (Lewis) definitely originates in Wales. The Welsh are a fiercely patriotic (Welsh not British) proud, hard working, politically-minded and aware people. Much of the politics comes from non-conformist Christian religion and gave rise to elements of the Labour Party (now our new government) and the founding of the National Health Service in the wider UK. I pretty much think my social conscience is Welsh via my father, though neither of us ever lived in Wales. Fascinating to read the history behind your story and glad to hear relations were restored. I love the way you travel the world each week and open hearts and minds via story telling!
Miranda
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Dear Miranda,
Thank you for sharing this with me. I love traveling the world…if only from my desk. If we only realized how alike we are, rather than zeroing in on our differences. I’m so glad you enjoyed and related to my story. Daffodils are my favorite flower. The photo was sent by a friend who’s reading my book and shares my love of the same flower. Thank you again.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You can feel the tension here.
Ace.
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Thank you, Mr. B…Ace. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m not sure I agree that the Tredegar riots were unique in recent British history. In 1936, up ro 5,000 fascist Blackshirts attempted to march through the jewish East End of London. They were opposed by up to 100,000 anti-fascists. The police attacked the protestors, leading to the Battle of Cable Street
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Dear Neil,
Thank you for sharing that bit of history.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks for the bit of history unknown to me, and probably most people. You are so great at finding and creating stories from all over the world that educates us and pics our interests of a life we mostly aren’t aware of. Keep up the wonderful stories.
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Dear Jan,
if only we’d had the internet when we were in school. 😉 Beats card catalogues and plowing through encyclopedias. Thank you, m’luv.
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I’m so glad you ended this one with hope, Rochelle, because it punches the gut to think what some people endured (and continue to endure) just to live. Humans can do such wonderful, beautiful things, but they can also be absolutely horrible to each other. You have shown both sides here.
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Dear Jen,
So true. We humans come into the world with such potential for good, or sadly, for evil. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I didn’t know that about my own country. Very interesting. I always learn something new when I come here. Thank you.
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Dear Sandra,
Oh the nuggets one can find when surfing the net. 😉 At least there were folks in Tredegar who didn’t agree with the antisemitism. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hiya, Rochelle! I’m back among the living..lol! Bear, here! Great story! I love the art on the book picture, too. Awesome! Not feeling up to my usual writing antics, but at least I’m writing.
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Thank you, Bear. I’m happy to see you back.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A glimmer of hope. I did like the line, “Ha! If God lived on the earth, the goyim would break His windows, too.” Unfortunately, it seems all too true.
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Dear James,
I wish I could say the line was original. 😉 It does seem to be true, though. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Interesting read.
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Thank you, Dawn.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
As per, you bring to life a piece of unknown (to most of us) history with flair and respect. So happy this ended on a happy note.
Shalom and lotsa unbroken love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
Sometimes we have to see the bright side, don’t we? Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom and lotsa hopeful hugs,
Rochelle
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That we do. More than sometimes 😊
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I had no idea about this, perhaps they chose to ignore it during lessons about our country’s history at school.
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Dear Keith,
I’m not sure any of that part of history is taught in schools anymore. I’m amazed at how much can be fount online. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I do not think it is possible for humans to escape human nature, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Such is our fate. There will never be a way to reconcile heinous acts. We plod through muddy histories, tread water in the present, and struggle to find hope for the future. Life is a blessing but damn it is also a curse to be human at times 😦
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Dear Lisa,
Well said. Thank you for reading and leaving such a great comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, you’re very welcome.
Shalom,
Lisa
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Sorrow, fear, tension, and hope…this little story packs a big punch. I wasn’t aware of this piece of history. Thank you for opening my eyes!
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Dear Angela,
Always happy to share nuggets of history when I find them. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you for sharing that story!
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My pleasure, Rosemary. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Another piece of not so well known history of antisemitism. It boggles the miind for how long and violent that hatred has existed and is still there. I’m glad in your story some decent people remain.
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Dear Gabi,
It is good to remember how many good people there are in the world, isn’t it? Many unsung heroes we know nothing about. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you for sharing this uplifting story. A reminder that there are good people if often that is quieter.
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Dear Anne,
It’s sad that the good people don’t get as much fanfare as they should, isn’t it? Thank you for coming by. Good to see you. ❤
Shalom,
Rochelle
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hope springs eternal. to paraphrase jane austen, we hope the longest when all hope is gone.
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Dear Plaridel,
Sometimes hope is all we have. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My father used to claim Welsh ancestors, though I doubt his claim was based on anything more concrete than a tenuous early spelling of his surname! Lizy
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Dear Liz,
There’s always Ancestry.com 😉 Thank you for coming by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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No big surprise that I was also unaware of this. It’s almost as though these attacks happened so often it’s impossible to account for all of them …. and that thought is so incredibly sorrowful.
Thank you for another lesson, Rochelle.
Shalom
🕊️
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Dear Nancy,
Pogroms and antisemitic riots are nothing new. More than we can ever know about I fear. Just when I think there’s nothing more to find, I find something I didn’t know. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The kindness of strangers.
Sometimes it’s easy to lose hope but every now and then a nice surprise. You always find a way to personalise a story, Rochelle. A true talent.
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Dear Laurie,
What a lovely thing to say. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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