Photo Credit @ Jean L. Hays
Any Given Sunday
Her mama’s dire warnings were easily abandoned in the dust as she cranked the old Mustang’s engine to life and rattled down the washboard. A sermon crackled forth from the hometown station, “a strong hand against the decline of American decency and Christian sensibilities”; an echo of her daddy’s sentiments to never spare the rod.
A duffel bag filled with dreams and not much else, rested on the torn tuck and roll. She flipped the dial to Elvis, she would not kneel today.
The last tethers dissolved in the rear view mirror.
They say, “You can never really go home again.” She hoped it was true.
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For more stories of the open road follow the signs to Friday Fictioneers on Route 66.
Lovely!
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Thanks Neil.
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This is perfectly describes the way you find freedom on the road…
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I’m packing for a three day road trip down the Mexican Baja next week so traveling is on my mind. Now there’s an adventure!
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Great tale of hitting the road to freedom, well done.
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Thanks Iain. I wanted to capture that sense of freedom a kid feels when she leaves home. I’m glad it works.
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You create the atmosphere superbly, Doc.
Cool story.
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Thanks for stopping by and I’m glad you liked my Sunday story.
Tracey
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So, was this Thelma or Louise? 😉
Definitely, Route 66 has its own legends and inspirational stories to tell. Fun stuff, Tracey!
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Hard to say, everybody is always running away from something. Thank you. I love your comments.
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Oh! I feel someone escaping the strong hand of religion. Dad? The community? Glad she found Elvis along the way.
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After writing this, I realized that every kid who leaves home probably thinks home life was worse than it really was. I think age mellows those rebellious memories. But yes, she is running away from a small bible heavy town.
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This was brilliant! I was there in the car with her! No kneeling indeed…
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I’m glad you were along for the ride. Thanks Dale.
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I felt for her. There was a strong sense of burgeoning freedom in this. Good one.
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I’m glad you felt it. Thanks Sandra.
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Dear Tracey,
You managed to sandwich a lot of backstory and emotion between the lines of wonderful descriptions. Wonderful.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m blushing. Thank you so much Rochelle.
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She is brave, going off like that isn’t easy. I hope she finds her dreams. Great story Tracey.
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I hope her big dreams come true. Thanks for stopping by.
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the road not traveled beckons. what an exhilarating time in one’s life.
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We are never too old for wanderlust. Thanks.
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It’s true. Home is never the same once you leave. It took my parents about 3 nanoseconds to remodel my room once I pulled out of the driveway. However, many of their lessons and sentiments stuck with me for life.
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We did the same thing to our oldest son and he still bitches about it and yet our youngest son’s soccer jerseys are still hanging in his closet. Ha ha
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Loved the phrase “she would not kneel today”. It says so much. Great story!
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She’s standing on her own two feet at least today. Thanks for stopping by, Tracey
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Nicely written. I love the line “A duffel bag filled with dreams and not much else,”.
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I took that duffel bag to college almost 30 years ago. 😌
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I could see what she was running from. Gret descriptors!
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She may come full circle, back to her roots but a kid needs to find her own path and faith in a form that makes sense to her. Thanks Dawn.
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Loved this story, made me smile.
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I’m glad. Thanks for commenting.
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This is great. Perfect depiction of someone breaking away and some great lines. I love the tethers dissolving and everything packed up in a duffel bag
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Thanks Mick
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You’re welcome
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Really like the voice and tone in this one – so much story but also room for the reader to fill the gaps too. Nice one!
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I’m glad you liked it and that’s the beauty of flash fiction. There’s always more to the story. Thanks for stopping by, Trace
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I like the sense of freedom and breaking ties throughout 🙂
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Thanks Ali. I wanted to build that sense of freedom. I’m glad it works.
Tracey
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So rich, Tracey! Such great writing. I was really moved by it.
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I’m just preparing you for when your kids get ready to leave the nest. The rebellion begins long before the departure so you’re ready for them to leave you in the dust. Ha ha
Thanks Amy
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