Perhaps because his mother was not of this land, he was always able to dream of other things, places, possibilities.
But when the opportunity came to leave, he hesitated. It would mean parting from Bertha. If only she would bid him go with an easy heart! But she couldn’t. She cried and begged.
And his going was soured.
Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here
Neil MacDonald Author 
Parting from loved ones is always tough.
Strong is the one who can make someone stay back, and do just what they please and have their own way!
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He left anyway
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The difference between those of us who are nomadic and those who need to remain rooted expertly depicted
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Thanks so much
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Dear Neil,
Too bad he couldn’t take Bertha.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s possible he was going to war
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Excellent piece, Neil. Pithy and poignant. You capture the bitterness well.
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Thanks so much, Joshua
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No ‘sweet sorrow’ about this parting, by the sound of it.
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None
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Hard to figure out who is being more selfish between the two of them. Perhaps Bertha will come to realise she may be better off without him.
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Perhaps, but I suspect not
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A poignant piece indeed. He’s made his choice, and if he changes his mind he could live to regret it
.Here’s mine!
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If he lives. In my mind, he’s going off to war
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Parting is such sweet sorrow? I’ve always found the sorrow in parting, but rarely the sweetness. It just hurts, mostly.
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The Portuguese have a word for the pleasure of feeling sad, and indeed a whole music to induce the feeling.
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Loved the tone in this story. Great take on the photo prompt, Neil.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thanks so much, Susan
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With no real connection left a chance to explore opened up and Bertha should have taken the chance, its better to regret some thing you have done, than to regret something you haven’t done
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It sounds like he has the urge for going and exploring all the worlds his mother opened up. Bertha must not have read up on the love manual that says if you love something set it free.
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I saw a young lad going to join the navy !
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That was very similar to what I had in mind
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When decisions involve more than one human (oneself) it is always messy. Excellent story reflecting it, Neil.
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Thanks so much, Jade
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You’re welcome, Neil.
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Poor Bertha. But, it sounds like he was bound to go.
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Yup, he was always going. Never in question
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Bertha needs to work on her powers of persuasion or buy a ticket.
His wanderlust was obviously more potent than his love for Bertha. If he stayed, they both would have been miserable.
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Yes, what he craved was to be released
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I always wished one of my parents had not been of this land and would have encouraged me to go out and discover… maybe not military, for me, but still. At least I’ve started in my 50’s!
It would have been more pleasant had Bertha been able to wish him well…
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Saying goodbye is an art that not everybody masters
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This is true.
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Ah sweet emotional manipulation…
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A rap battle of manipulations
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My guess is Bertha wasn’t up to the adventure… Hoping he went on with it at some point….
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He trekked stubborn through the rest of his life
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A shame Bertha couldn’t be happy for him.
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She didn’t want to lose him
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Well, Bertha never stood a chance…and I wonder how war experience might change him.
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No, you’re right. He was always going to go
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Bertha or adventure? A hard choice for any young man.
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Adventure, every time
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A sad one this week Neil. Well done.
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Thanks so much, Laurie
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It can be tough to let someone go, but that’s often the best thing for that person. And if we love them, shouldn’t we let them go?
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If we’re truly noble, yes absolutely
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Shakespeare said it best, I believe: “Parting is such sweet sorrow.” Great write.
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Thanks so much
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Nice one Neil, it’s hard for those of different persuasions to understand or empathise with each other
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Which is a pity, because they really loved each other
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Unfortunately, in these situations there’s no solution satisfactory to either party
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You capture the agony that rips people apart.
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Thanks, James
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‘Leaving is such sweet sorrow.’ Good one. 🙂
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Thanks, Susan
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he made his choice. he had to live with it and so did she.
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He never really had a choice.
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I’m with Bertha on this one. If his only reason for going is ‘adventure’, I’d make sure he knew how much his selfishness hurt me.
Good pithy story-telling, Neil. You really persuaded me to think about your characters and their dilemma.
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Thanks so much, Penny. I think his reasons for going may also include not fitting in
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A dilemma expressed so well. In my opinion, it’s better for his going to be soured than for his staying to fill him with bitterness.
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You are so right
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Wonderful emotions portrayed in these few words.
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Thanks so much, Dawn
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