Picture courtesy of Erin Leary
This picture is of one of my favorite spots in the world. I was just there yesterday, marveling at the spring activity – birds, babies, bounty. I have been absent from the group for the past month; thank you to Rochelle for drawing me gently back in with this memory of beauty.
UPDATE: Congratulations to Rochelle and all the Friday Fictioneers for the mention by WordPress as one of the best writing communities for bloggers! We are at 110 entries this week as a result. If you missed the article, it is here.
Word count: 100
Off the Rails
Standing at the fence line, Jake looked down its length as far as the eye could see. All his land; all his problem. When the creek dries up this summer, his fields will wither. Without the harvest, he will lose it all.
As a young man, he’d stood along the railroad tracks and thought about escaping into the unknown. Jump on board – leave it all behind, the chattering wheels seemed to say. He chose to stay and try. Controlling the weather was something he would never master.
Ever elusive, freedom. Always beyond the vanishing point, a shadow in the mist.
© Erin Leary
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erinlearywrites 
Great picture, Erin. It evoked so much — I probably could have written a dozen stories.
Thank you, dear HHB.
Welcome back, Erin. Thank you for the awesome prompt this week. Love the story. I also love that this is a fave place for you. It is truly dreamy.
Thank you for the welcome and for reading.
A good description of how many farmers must feel.
There comes that point in life when you reexamine the roads not taken. For him, they now look like they might have been better options.
Excellent story. It would be hard to leave behind land that was likely passed down through many generations. Like this man, many would stay and tough it out, trying to make it work.
I hope he stays. I hope he makes it!
If he does learn to control the weather, let me know! (We’re on holiday next week and it’s supposed to rain all week, this past week, however, has been glorious – the law of sod!). Lovely story, lovely picture 🙂
Thank you for reading and for enjoying this week’s picture!
Fine image, it was one of the reasons to make my first attempt at Friday Fictioneers. thanks for capturing it.
Welcome, Maru! It is a great place to be. It does help hone your writing skills as you struggle to make the word count each week.
Dear Erin,
I very much enjoyed the beautiful photo and the inspiration it sparked to do a story on an uncontented cow. I’m living on the land that my great-grandfather homesteaded over a century ago. My ancestors were able to make a living (barely) off the farm, but those days are long gone–fading into the mist. Loved your story.
Thank you, Russell – loved your cow story. Left me laughing, as usual!
A great story for those thinking about change. Nice job, Erin and such a beautiful photo. Where is it, anyway? I have ranted about it all week.
Thank you for reading!! It was taken along the banks of the Sammamish slough here is Washington. I walk along that path many times a week while walking my dog. It is a lovely spot.
Awesome. I always like to see what people write about their own prompts, too.
Always a pleasure, Erin.
Great story. We ‘re never free from ourselves, are we ?
Great photo, too!
Thanks and thanks, Jan!
Beautiful story, loved that last line. And thank you for providing this week’s prompt.
Thank you vey much. The words came easily this week.
your character sounds like a winner despite the hardships in his life. great story and very beautiful photograph. i love the pastel misty colors in the horizon. thank you.
Thank you for reading!
If he loses the land he’ll have his freedom handed to him whether he wants it or not.
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose, right? ( look at me quoting Janis Joplin!) great to see you here!
Glad to have you back,Erin, and playing along. This is a breathtaking picture by the way, and you’ve written and great story to match–the ruminations of a farmer who might have been something else had he ever taken that train to the next town. One wonders at the ties to the land that seem to run in the blood line.
All my best,
Marie Gail
Thank you for reading, Marie Gail! The fence line reminded me of rails and then it was all lined up in 100 words.
Dear Erin, I love the picture – thank you so much for sharing it with FFF! Welcome back, and now there are more of us! I love the picture – could be just about any place but is beautiful, soothing scenery! Lucky you to be able to go there! Thanks, Nan 🙂
Thank you, Nan. I love that photo, too. So happy to see it used. Great to get back at it this week.
Dear Erin
I feel that he will stay and endure, whatever the weather throws at him.
It is good to see you back here, I always enjoy your writing.
Thank you for sharing your photo with us, it looks a quiet peaceful spot and yet has provoked so many different moods this week.
Dee
Thank you, Dee. It was good to find the time (make the time?) to get back at it this week! Great to see so many new faces on the Link up page, too!!
A thoughtful piece. He seems the sort of person who will have his strength and principles no matter what life (and the weather) throw at him.
Thank you for reading, Patrick!
So much that a farmer can’t do against draught… But sadness to loose it all and the doubt about his past choices.. I’m sure he will find his path again though. Thank you for a beautiful picture.
Thank you for reading, Bjorn. I am heading your way next month – a whirlwind trip through Norway, Sweden and Finland. 🙂
WIll you pass through Stockholm???
Yes – will be in Stockholm overnight!
A very nice job of letting us see that “what if ….” or “maybe I still could …” thought lurking in the back of his mind still yet — but letting us see his courage and commitment in the face of it.
Thank you, Sandra. – I appreciate you reading!
Oh that last line – freedom elusive in the mist – so plaintive. After he’s stayed and tried so hard, his soul is almost broken. Damn the blasted weather. You portray his potential loss so strongly.
Thank you, Sarah! It sort of wrote itself this week. I love it when that happens.
Since mine is mostly a photo blog I have been getting comments on your beautiful picture. It’s truly inspiring and I am glad it brought you back into the fold.
I’m so glad it’s appreciated. It was taken with a low res Blackberry camera on Thanksgiving morning last year. It had to be just the right light or moment. Both pictures I took that morning turned out well.
Dear Erin,
Thank you for being so generous with your favorite spot. As you see it has inspired many good ones this week.
Despite the hardships the farmer anticipates, I think he’s tied to this piece of land for better or worse. It’s his and he owns his responsibility. Well done. Welcome back.
shalom,
Rochelle
I stood near that same tree yesterday and it looks vastly different in this season. Leaves on the tree block most of what is best in that view, which only proves that it is in the absence of some things that best is revealed, much like our imposed word count. Thank you for doing what you do. It is appreciated.
Erin, the photo is beautiful and so is your story. Land ties are among the most difficult to break, I think. Welcome back.
janet
Thank you, Janet. I agree, the ties are strong.
Terrific picture, and a thoughtful story to go with it. Well done Erin.
Thank you, Sandra. All our DIY projects are wrapping up so more time to write, I hope!
Dear Erin,
Thanks for the picture this week. From it came a story that was very nice. Climate is what you want and weather is what you get. Good job.
Aloha,
Doug
Agreed, Doug. We can’t ignore the obvious, yet we do…
Erin, Welcome back and thanks for the beautiful photo. That was a lovely story. I hope the farmer makes it through. It’s such a heartbreak when people lose land that’s been in their family for several generations. Well done. 🙂 —Susan
I’m with you – I hope he makes it work.
First, thanks for this week’s picture. Second – wonderful story about responsibility, things out of one’s control and longing. How many of us long for the things we gave up for “the good of the cause?”
Thank you for reading, Alicia!
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