The challenge from Carrot Ranch this week is to write a story about a carried wife, in 99 words, no more, no less. (Something to do with the Finnish history up there in Charli’s Copper Country.)
I relied on New England history to meet this challenge. All along the Massachusetts coast, Cape, and islands, place names reveal the historical importance of alewives, or river herring. The first 99 is the voice of Squanto, returned from an earlier prompt.
I also relied on Marge for a response and for a third brought back Fannie Hooe from a past Ranch challenge.
Carrying On
***
Missed Fit
“What do you mean, that bruise on your cheek is from Ernest?”
“Relax, Ilene, he was just messing around, said we should train for our wedding night. He tried to carry me into the bedroom but didn’t turn enough. Banged my ankle on the other side of the doorway.”
“Jeezus, Marge.”
“Oh, it gets worse. He dropped me when his back gave out. He couldn’t move.”
“Shit. What’d you do?”
“What do you think? I got myself up then I picked Ernest up and carried him into the bedroom. And there he lies, helpless.”
“That’s a helluva preview Marge.”
***
Fair Game
“Okay, Great Aunt Fannie, here we are at Heikinpäivä. Is your interest in the Wife Carrying contest because you were carried off?”
“Horse pucks! That’s what they say. I wasn’t ever carried off. Have always stood my ground. I’ve been known to get carried away a time or two, but that’s another story.”
“What do you think of this wife carrying contest?”
“Once a year, what the hell? I see it as a symbolic gesture of reciprocation.”
“What do you mean, Aunt Fannie?”
“Women-folk carry their men all year long. Without making a sporting event about all they bear.”
***
Those are all excellent takes. I had to look up alewives. That’s a clever twist in wife-carrying. The other two made me laugh.
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Thanks. Yeah, this was one of those prompts, but I found a way after all.
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Ha! A great trilogy. I love Marge – typical. I think she and Aunt Fannie/Frannie would get on like a house on fire. 🙂
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(I edited, it’s just Fannie, remember that one? Fannie Hooe?) Alewives was my first idea but the other two had to have out first while that one found its voice, which was also a repeat. Had alewives on my mind since a recent trip to Boston, and along comes this prompt. Phew.
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I do remember Fannie.
I’m pleased you let them out. They were good to read. 🙂
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I particularly liked that first story. Except, excuse my ignorance, but what are fishwives?
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Alewives are river herring. They’re making a comeback as obsolete dams are taken down. That story is kind of related to a couple earlier ones that also have to do with southeastern Massachusetts history. Squanto, who’s narrating, was the English speaking Native American who was such an asset to the newly arrived Pilgrims back in 1620 who would rename Patuxet Plymouth. Alewives may be so called as an allusion to tavern keepers’ wives, or that may be a wives’ tale, but that’s what these bony fish of the shad family are called.
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Ah-ha. Everything now is clear. Thank you 🙂
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I added an alewife link in the intro. (click alewife) Had to edit best I could, wordpress is giving all my machines fits, this was horrific to post, but it looks better now than it did.
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What’s happening with WP. I think they try to update and improve, yet instead they make it worse.
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All very good Miss D. A great start to the new year.
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Thank you Robbie. This was a tough prompt but with some reliable characters and a stock of history there’s always a go around.
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I love all of these! 🙂 The first one is so poetic, but the others are hilarious. 🙂 Wonderful takes on a difficult prompt!
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It was a head shaker of a prompt, but then these familiar characters stepped up. (And I have no problem bending the rules and substituting fish; that helped !) Thanks for reading.
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They’re great 😉
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This was lovely. The second one was funny and in the third one, Aunt Fannie ends it on a philosophical note.
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Hi! Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed these. Fannie Hooe tried to come back last week with a hutch but didn’t quite make it, but there was no stopping her this week.
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That’s a trilogy as deep as New England roots. The voice of Squanto has a lot to teach, I bet.
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