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 © Dale Rogerson
Genre: Memoir
Word Count: 100
ALL RIDES 9¢
On the corner of 84th and Wornall is a grocery where once stood a 5-acre park called Kiddie Land—a grand place for Mom to drop us off while she shopped, unfettered by squabbling children.
“I want to drive the old-time cars,” I said.
“Ferris wheel first,” said my older brother Jeff. “Then we’ll ride your stupid cars.”
“They’re not stupid.”
“Are too.”
Terrified of heights, I screamed throughout the entire ride. “I’m telling Mommy you’re mean.”
Afterward I slipped into the antique car seat with a smug smile as Jeff handed me a quarter to keep my mouth shut.
It seems that just about every American city in the late 1950’s to early 60’s had an amusement park called Kiddie Land. This particular one was in Kansas City. One of my fonder childhood memories. 😀
CLICK to learn more about this one.
The Wisoff kiddies. © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Down memory lane. Childhood reminiscences are always precious
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Yes, they are, Geeta. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yep, fairgrounds were always great fun when we were children. Funny, they still are at my grand old age.
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Dear James,
I still like fairgrounds although I’m not quite as adventurous as I once was. And I still don’t like heights. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely story Rochelle! 💜
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Dear Carol Anne,
Thank you so much.
In the haste of this week and family upheaval I forgot to post the description of the picture. It is an amusement park with a Ferris Wheel to the left and a tent with a big yellow canopy on the right.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I just posted my story thanks for describing the image!
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Wonderful memory!
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Thank you, Violet. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such a lovely memory! And that watercolour of you and your brother is so precious 💖
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Dear Joy,
Thank you for the lovely comments on both my story and my painting. I gave that to him a couple of years ago on his birthday. He ws very pleased. I had a print made for myself.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wonderful memories, Rochelle. The old-time cars were the best.
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Dear Will,
I did love those funny old cars. Of course they were on a track so it wasn’t like I could stray. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m back, I think, although very carefully. I’m recovering from a serious case of bronchitis, along with my usual creaky old back issues. It’s been a tough few months.
There was an amusement park called Jantzen Park in Portland, Oregon. We moved to Oregon when I was 10, and lived there for five years. At age 14, I had my first real boyfriend. We used to go out to Jantzen Park in the summer with my sister and her date. It was wonderful, great memories of my first roller coaster ride along with many other fun rides. Your post stirred up some good memories 🙂
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Dear Linda,
I’m glad to hear that you’re on the mend. Glad, also, to stir happy memories.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I have wonderful memories of Kiddie Land and Fairyland Park. We didn’t know how lucky we had it!
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Haha. A cunning move
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Dear Neil,
I did know how to work it. Thank you. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You managed to keep your mouth shut for quite a time! Delightful, Rochelle!
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Dear Keith,
That wasn’t the only payoff. 😉 thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This resonates so deeply with me, Rochelle. In the 50s and 60s Bronx, NY, when I was a child …. even before Freedomland was constructed on land which is now Co-Op City …. we had the Post Arrow …. a mini amusement park/eatery on the corner of Boston Post Road and Eastchester Road where I lived, a mere 5 minutes away. It was a thrill to walk up there whenever we felt like it, but especially when my dad was craving hot pastrami on rye. What a treat! 🎡
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Dear Nancy,
I’m always happy to stir those memories. 😉 did I mention that my father grew up in Brooklyn? Bensonhurst. So that makes me half NY Jew. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, if you get HBO, there’s a wonderful documentary about Mel Brooks airing now. He talks about growing up in Brooklyn where everyone was Jewish. He didn’t know there were non-Jews living elsewhere. It’s a great show, very funny with Carl Reiner, Sid Caesar, et al.
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Nothing like a carnival to keep the kids busy while you shop! There’s a special bond between brother and sister for experiencing that joint independence too – even if you did squabble occasionally!
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Dear Jen,
Jeff and I fought all the time as kids. However, as adults we’re quite close. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi Rochelle, I always enjoy learning more about your history and this was a fun story and I loved that smug smile 🙂
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Dear Yvette,
I was such a brat who knew how to get her way. 😉 Happy to take you along for the ride. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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😉
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We all had a Kiddie Land I think. The one next to us in Wichita was where I went to check out the girls when I was 12 or 13. lol. Fun times.
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Dear Jan,
So characteristic of you, m’luv. I wonder how many of those girls were checking you out? 😀
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Probably not many. I was a skinny little runt. lol
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A cute post every which-way, Rochelle. Around here we have traveling carnivals that would set up in department store parking lots. Some of the happiest times was when they came to town. In my teens, a place called, “Deer Park” on the far reach of the burbs, decided to install 3 rides: scrambler, spider, and ferris wheel. Since then the deer and nursery rhyme lane are long gone and it’s a giant amusement and water park. Thanks for bringing those memories back to me ❤
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Dear Lisa,
I’m always happy to lead excursions down Memory Lane. 😉 I’m glad it was a happy trip for you. Here in KC Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun have replaced the old amusement parks.
Thank you for your feedback each week. It means a lot.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, it was. You are very welcome, and thank you for being our fearless leader ❤
Shalom,
Lisa
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😘
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Dear Meriem Menant W(T)F,
Poor Jeff. Saddled with a whiny baby sister who resorted to blackmail every chance she got. I bet you gave the carnies a hard time too. Pulling every stunt in the book to get a free ride.
I can hear them now, “Here comes Shelley the Shyster.”
All we had was a Miserable-Go-Round
Harvey Wingnut
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Dear Harvey Wingnut,
What can I say? I was groomed to be a JAP and worked hard at my role. It’s a gift. Ya had to know how to work the system. Right? Of course right! How else could I pay for my invisible box? Well duh!
Go back to youir Miserable-Go-Round and keep going in circles.
No apologies.
Shalom,
Meriem Menant W(T)F
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Dear Rochelle,
What a sweet memory! I can picture it now…
Shalom and lotsa love from low on the ground,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
I’m still afraid of heights. 😉 Happy to share the memory. 😀
My late sister in law gave me one of my favorite T-Shirts that says, “I’m not Short. I’m built low to the ground for speed and accuracy.” That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
Glad you enjoyed and took the time to say so. It means a lot.
Shalom and lotsa fun-size hugs,
Rochelle
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Hahaha! Love it.
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Great memories, m’lady, and then we became teenagers and rode the Waltzers where their spinning forced your companion against you and that was never a bad thing!
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Dear C.E.
Thanks for the comments and the giggles.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great story, Rochelle. We never had one that was permanently in town but would always go to the one that would come to town every summer, which mostly consisted of rides that went around in a circle very fast and made you dizzy. 🙂
Have a good week,
David
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Dear David,
One way or another we all seem to remember the dizzying rides, don’t we? Thank you for reading and commenting. Hope your week has gone well.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love the sketch of the kids. The story brings back memories of amusement parks.
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Dear Amanda,
I’m glad you enjoyed my story and painting. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh wow, I’m loving this. It could be almost me, back in the day!!
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Dear Chris,
I see how similar our stories were. 😉 Glad you came slong for the ride. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a lovely childhood memory. And little Rochelle knew how to get what she wanted.
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Dear Gabi,
I must admit that little Rochelle was a little manipulative. Daddy’s girl knew exactly how to get her way. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a lovely memory. We had a kiddie land next to a outdoor movie theater that is now a supermarket. It closed down years ago but I, like you, still have fond memories.
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Dear Michele,
They are good memories, aren’t they? Thank you for sharing yours.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Jantzen Beach (named for the swimware family). Big pool and carnival rides. Portland Oregon. Now housing. Another piece of my youth long gone.
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Dear Doug,
I know what you mean about the places of your youth. Few remain of mine. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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i remember those days. then i grew up. 😦
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Dear Plaridel,
It happens to all of us, doesn’t it? Well…most of us. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh! This is SO fun! There’s nothing like good old sibling rivalry. No wonder Mom wanted to “just drop them off”.
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Dear Lish,
Jeff never forgave me for “dethroning” him. He’s six years older than I. Mom probably should’ve dropped us off on our heads. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a sweet story. I remember a time or two getting my way when threatening one or the other of my older brothers that I would tell! 🙂 Thank you for the walk down memory lane, Rochelle!
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Dear Brenda,
That’s what little sisters are for, right? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I remember there being one in a neighboring neighborhood, but we never went. Can you imagine dropping children off at such a place. Well, of course you can, you just wrote about it, but you know what I mean.
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Dear Dwn,
The late 50’s were different times. Poor Jeff is six years older than I and often got saddled with babysitting. But no, I’d never just drop young kids off these days. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Heck, the 80’s were different times. lol
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Oh, those were the days
Only 9 to get in, bargain haha
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Dear Laurie,
A bargain indeed. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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6 rides for 50 cents! Oh, the good times.
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They were good times. 😀 Thank you, Patrick.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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