Friday Fictioneers – The Past

~ neilmacdon
jean-l-hays
PHOTO PROMPT © Jean L. Hays

The trading post was closed. Looked as if it had been since the owner walked off set. The past wasn’t for sale today, Donna thought happily, but the kids whined.

“Well, what can we do if the museum’s shut?” asked Brian, her eldest. “Maybe, go watch a gunfight?”

Donna peered through the fly-smeared windscreen, as if she might glimpse the answer. Seeing the future is easy – all you need is hope. To understand the past is much harder – that takes honesty.

“Why, we’ll get our kicks down Route 66 of course,” she said, the old song playing only for her.

 

Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here.

71 thoughts on “Friday Fictioneers – The Past”

  1. Your insight for the succinct is brilliant.
    Maybe we should all set ourselves a weekly target of 100 words would help us edit.
    Loved the Route 66 reference we can all relate to that. Thanks Neil x

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  2. Dear Neil,

    I can remember being the mom with whining kids. Loved the line the past wasn’t for sale today. You packed a lot into your hundred words. Now I’ve got the song banging around in my groggy head. 😉

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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  5. Oh, I feel for Donna. Car journeys with kids…..ugh! And I, too, loved the line about the past not being for sale. I always think it’s a shame that pretty much everything about it is for sale, apart from the lessons it has to teach us – and those are given away free, if only we cared enough to look.

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  12. Working out the past takes honesty? Maybe that’s why many of us prefer to forget it. Great take on the prompt Neil. Let’s hope she can find a way to amuse those kids, or all hell will break loose 🙂

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  17. This prompt fit you like a glove, Neil! I knew it would. You captured essence. You sure you aren’t an American???? Maybe it’s the hat and the Hemingway attitude in your writing.

    Five out of five APCO Gas signs for you ,my friend. 😀

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  25. I AM humming that song. I was humming it when I wrote my story; now, it’s back again.
    I remember those road trips. Kids whining – hungry, food, bathroom – when are we getting there and all that. But, it looks like Donna is strong woman. Like everyone said before me, Neil – “The past wasn’t for sale today” – is perfect.
    Have a nice weekend.
    Isadora The past wasn’t for sale today

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  28. Hi Neil – just joined Friday Fictioneers so looking forward to getting to know folk. I really liked your last line.. ‘the old song playing only for her’ great finsih that actually opens up a whole new sense of story.

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  32. Good snippet of life and travel with kids. I got a giggle out of the truth of your fiction. Also a poignant note about understanding the past. There’s some irony about your story and the events of this week in the US, too…
    Happy trails!

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