Friday Fictioneers * Rochelle Wisoff-Fields * Photo by Ted Strutz *
“Pretty Up” * 100 words * Angela Shaffer * 25 Mar 2016
Pretty Up
Imogene is known for dawdling. Most parts of the world would label her as “mentally deficient,” among other harsh titles. Not here, not down in the holler. We’ve a way of taking care of our own, especially when those outsiders come a calling. They like to think they’ve got us all figured out – like we’re simple – but they can’t kin the lengths we go to for loyalty. Imogene heard they were a coming for her, and she high tailed it into the woods. I reckon these flowers she planted was her way of prettying up this holler, a final farewell.
curiouser contemplations 
Excellent story! Glad they take care of each other
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Thanks for the comment Laurie!
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What a sweet take on it 🙂
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Thank you lfeomaO! I’m inclined to believe sweet Imogene might have done something to encourage her capture.
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How thoughtful of her.
Great story.
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Thanks for the comment, Alice!
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I really liked this… by the way, I think you wanted ken instead of kin (as kin means family and ken means knowing)…
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Yes, you’re right! Thank you for the correction. My hillbilly characters use the word a good bit, so I will make sure to properly spell it the next time.
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Such a strong voice – well done.
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How kind. Thank you.
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Great story. I do hope they see her again though.
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Clever touch, nice dialog.
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The voice in this is spot-on! Well done.
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They’re like family, taking care of each other. Great story with a great voice.
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Yes, good voice. I could almost see where they lived, too. Nice work.
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Thank you!
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Dear Angela,
The voice gives us location of the story and sets the tone. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you, Rochelle!
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Now that word holler has me in a pickle, is Imogene a fairy? a coal miners daughter ? Or just a lass. For me so many words in English are so challenging, what I see them as meaning often is not at all correct . Where you have used the word kin/ken I might have used kill !
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Thanks for the comment, Mike! Yes, Imogene is a coal miner’s daughter, more than likely, one affected by incest. A “holler” is dialect for “hollow” or small valley in the mountains. It should be “ken” as pointed out above, as in “reckon” or understand.
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I agree that the voice is well done. It was just enough and not overdone. I hope she’ll come back when she thinks it’s safe. She fits in where she is and should be left alone. Well done MW. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thank you, Suzanne! I let her seek sanctuary in the mountains because – you’re right, she belongs there – I couldn’t let “them” take her to a mental institution or prison or “structured living society.” The mountain-culture has a way of acceptance that conformity cannot smother; a type of determination for survival. Imogene could live thirty years in the woods on scarcity, but I don’t think she’d make it inside institution. She’d survive, but her spirit would be broken.
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My sweet grandson is like Imogene, and these mountains where we live are his refuge too. He will be here, protected.
I loved your story!
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