Copyright: Marie Gail Stratford
We’re here again this week, gathered today in a virtual field to discuss our original stories for the week. This is the Friday Fictioneers group. Our hostess for this gathering is the gracious and talented author and artist, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. The challenge for us is to write a story with no more than 100 words. It’s supposed to have a beginning, middle, end, and follow the picture prompt for the week. This week’s prompt was supplied by Marie Gail Stratford. Thanks Marie Gail.
To read the other stories from group members, just click on the little blue frog in the blue box after clicking on the link. The link for the other stories is as follows:
https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2015/05/13/15-may-2015/
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Word Count: 100 Words
TOO MUCH BUT, STILL NOT ENOUGH by P.S. Joshi
Frank Buford had rich land on his large farm. He was also greedy.
Every year the county took up a collection for the poor. He’d give a couple dollars so he could say he gave. Everyone knew what was happening. His silos and barns were full, and his wife was busy canning every year. He sold the rest.
One year he had a bumper harvest. He called in some workmen and commissioned them to build a couple more silos and another barn.
“I’ll make extra money.” he bragged.
After harvest, he died.
Only his wife came to the small funeral.
Ah yes. He wasn’t storing up treasures in the right place, was he? You’ve pictured his selfishness and hypocrisy convincingly. The final image is very sad.
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Thanks, Marg. Stories of that type are as old, and older than, the Bible. That silo reminded of one of the stories of Jesus in the New Testament. I just updated it a bit. I’m glad you enjoyed it, and, yes, it is sad. — Suzanne
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Always better to share what you have.
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Thanks, Colline. You’re right. It’s always best to share. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I think he harvested what he deserved. Maybe he should have needed a visit from the ghost of Christmas passed…
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Thanks, Bjorn. Something in his past probably made him so greedy. It might have helped to bring him face to face with it. — Suzanne
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Very telling. I think his wife’s going to be pretty lonely from now on.
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Thanks, Ali. She probably didn’t make many, or any, frineds being married to him. At least no one showed up for the funeral. — Suzanne
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Richest man in the graveyard is a dubious aspiration.
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Thanks, Mick. You’re absolutely right. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Not much of a legacy. Seems he collected the wrong sort of riches.
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Thanks, Diana. You’re right. He did. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I wonder if the story wouldn’t maybe have a bit more punch if the funeral was “lavish” and empty? just a thought.
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Thanks, Craig, for the good advice. I was running out of words at that point or I could have elaborated more. 🙂 — Suzanne
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wow. The way story ends is exceptional beautiful. Such a nice moral. Share is the care. Nice one. 🙂
Enjoyed reading this. 🙂
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Thanks, Prakash. I’m so pleased you liked the story that much. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Who was it that said something like, “No one has ever said on his/her deathbed, ‘I wish I had spent more time working.'”? That last line was a stunner. Great work, oops, story! 😉
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That line sounds familiar to me also, Lorna. It seems I read it recently, but can’t remember where either. I’m really glad you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I really did!
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🙂
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Great rewrite of the old parable, Suzanne. I think of the huge graineries across the Midwest that now stand mostly empty because of changes in transportation and technology that have rendered them less necessary. Forethought is seldom a bad thing. Good work.
All my best,
Marie Gail
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Thanks, Marie Gail. Those old parables were good stories in the New Testament times, and they’re still good now. They have all the basics. I’m glad you enjoyed my update. Thanks for the great picture for this week. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Plan like you are going to live forever and live like there is no tomorrow. He may not have heard this advice. Nice story.
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Thanks, Ansumani. Either he didn’t hear it, or he heard it and didn’t heed it. I’m so pleased you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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i bet many would line up to marry the rich widow.
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You may have a valid point there, Plaridel. 😀
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Great story!
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Thanks, Joy. I’m so glad you liked it. 🙂 — Suzanne
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There’s a lesson there…
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Thanks, Dawn. Yep. There sure is. 😀 — Suzanne
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Great story, very well rendered. I’m not attending either.
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Thanks, Perry. I’m so glad you liked the story. I don’t blame you for not going. 🙂 —–Suzanne
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Perry is lying. Give us $5 a piece and we’ll both show. I always wanted to be a paid mourner.
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Thanks, Russell. You’re aslking the wrong person. His wife is the one who cares if someone comes the funeral. I couldn’t care less. I still say you guys should do a comedy act together. 😀 — Suzanne
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Lovely story with a moral. The ending reminded me of a story by Tolstoy – ‘How Much Land Does a Man Need?’ http://www.katinkahesselink.net/other/tolstoy.html
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Thanks, Subroto. I updated an old parable from the Bible. I’ll have to follow your link and read what Tolstoy wrote. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Good story with a great moral. 🙂
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Thanks, A Fairy Mind. I’m so glad you liked the story. I updated an ancient parable from the Bible. As you know, there’s always a strong moral teaching in those. Those teachings haven’t changed for about two thousand years or longer. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Well done. Greed often comes back to bite one in the behind.
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Thanks, Alicia. That’s right. Greed is nasty.. I’m glad you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I know a Frank Buford. He has yet to have a funeral, but I wonder who will attend? What goes around comes around.
You wrote an interesting take on the story of greed.
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Thanks, Phylor. I’m so glad you liked the story. It’s an old story I updated. Probably many of us know a greedy person. — Suzanne
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This lesson of greed never gets old. It’s one for the ages… Well done, Suzanne. As always…
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Thanks, Hugmamma. This is a story that’s as true today and it was two thousand years ago. I just updated it. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Your story scared the sh*t out of me so much that i just gave everything away!
(well, almost everything)
Not really. But I did send $5.00 to Perry and Gayer.
Well, not exactly $5.00 each – more like $2.50 a head. But their two heads together make one whole.
But I digress. You wrote a solidly true and insightful story.
Randy
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Thanks, Randy. Your digress was hilarious. I’m glad you liked my old story that was updated. That story could hold true for every generation. There’s always been greed. I bet you’re secretly a generous person. 🙂 — ;Suzanne
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He died rich but his wife will lead a lonely life. Hope the wife transforms for the remaining life and not follows his miserly footsteps. 🙂 Well written Suzann.
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Thanks, Norma, Yes, lets hope his wife learns from him and does better. I’m so glad you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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In the end, money means nothing. Your story is a great reminder of this. Life is about people, not things. Nicely done, Suzanne, and well written.
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Thank, Amy. You’re right. Money is definitely not everything. I’m so glad you liked the story. Thanks for the encouragement. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Great story. You can’t take it with you. Sadly, I know people like that.
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Thanks, Gah. I’m so pleased you liked the story. We come with nothing and leave with nothing. I’m guessing most of us know someone who’s hoping they won’t leave with nothing. 🙂 — Suzanne
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“How much land does a man need?”
A short but sweet object lesson, well done. 🙂
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Thanks, Archon. That’s a good way to put it, and I’m so glad you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Your story reminded me of something, and I put up that title/quote at the beginning of the comment. After I did, I researched, and found I’d read Tolstoy as a teen. Your short story is in good company. 🙂
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Man proposes God disposes. Good write,
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Thanks, Yarnspinnerr. You’re right. I’m so glad you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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If only his attitude had been better. He had a greedy one. I feel bad for his wife but…she did stay with him until the very end – so I only feel a little badly for her.
Ellespeth
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Thanks, Ellespeth. I guess she came out okay. She was the next-of-kin, so inherited the property,etc. I just hope no one swindles her out of it. I also hope he didn’t have everything martgaged. I knew that to happen to someone who inherited. They couldn’t even pay off the funeral for years after. — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
I enjoyed this thought provoking update on an old parable. BTW. Russell and Perry are on their own, they one get half a sheckel from me. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle. I’m so pleased you liked the story. I don’t blame you. I won’t give either of those guys money to be paid mourners either. 😀 — Suzanne
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