Photo Copyright: Shaktiki Sharma
Here we are for another week. Today we’re touring the inside of an old flour mill. Our hostess for this weekly gathering is the talented and gracious author and artist, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. We’re the Friday Fictioneers group. Our challenge this week and every week is to write an original story with no more than 100 words, not including the title. It’s supposed to have a beginning, middle, end, and follow the picture prompt for the week. This week’s prompt was provided by Shaktiki Sharma. Thanks, Shaktiki.
To read the other stories by the group members, just click on the link given below, then on the little blue frog in the blue box.
The link for this week’s stories is as follows:
https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2016/09/14/16-september-2016/
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Word Count: 100 Words
THE OLD FLOUR MILL by P.S. Joshi
Mrs. Forest and a couple parents watched as the second-grade class climbed off the school bus.
They were going to see the local Historic Society’s Stop No. 12 on the Biggerstown Historic Tour. It was the old flour mill on Higby Road.
Until it was included on the tour, it had been the home of elderly Mr. Henderson. His grandfather had operated that mill for years until he retired when the Pickwick IGA opened selling bagged flour. The farmers now sold their grain to a huge company with headquarters in Chicago. Mr. Henderson also lived there with his son.
Musings on Life & Experience 
Times change, don’t they? What was common becomes history. I enjoyed the story, Suzanne.
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Thanks, Diana. I’m happy you enjoyed my little look into history. Things sure do change. 😀 — Suzanne
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Time passes us all by – I already feel I’m out of touch with all the new technology that’s around us. Oh for simpler times! Nice tale.
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Thanks, Iain. I know what you mean. Time seems to keep speeding up. I’m happy you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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As livelihoods become theme parks, how long before our role as writers is automated?
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Thanks, Neil. Let’s look on the bright side and say that won’t happen for a while yet until machines can acquire an imagination. Until then, we’ll write about them. I’m happy you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Not for a while, but I did consider this in a blog post a while back (https://neilmacdonaldauthor.wordpress.com/2015/09/20/32-could-a-machine-write-my-books/). See if you can tell which of the two micto-fiction examples was written by a human
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I’m afraid I cheated and read which was which. They may improve the computer’s skills but I don’t think we have to worry for a while yet. Machine-written stories probably would be boring for people as fans of writers like engagement with the writer in some way. —- Suzanne
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Interesting commentary on how lives change with technology. It reminded me of a field trip exactly. Well put together, Suzanne!
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Thanks, Amy. I’m glad you liked the story, that it sounded authentic. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Nicely done. Time does tend to leave some generations behind. I feel miles behind the times and am not sure I’m interested in catching up/
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Thanks, Alicia. I know what you mean. I try to at least keep up with the computer. I don’t worry much about a lot else. I’m happy you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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And the corporations step in killing the small businesses. Technology quickly turns the traditional into a “historic landmark”. Nice piece!
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Thanks, Ali. That seems to be the way of the world, doesn’t it? I’m happy you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
Nostalgic commentary of changing times. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle. I’m happy you enjoyed the story, my little bit of history. 🙂 — Suzanne
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A very true story about changing times, sometimes for the better, sometimes precious knowledge and skills are lost. We need to find a way to enjoy the new and not forget what was good with the old ways. I like how you set the scene, draws me right in.
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Thanks, Gabriele. What a great comment. I’m happy you enjoyed my piece of history.and the way I developed the scene. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Short and sweet. Seemed like a running commentary in a documentary!
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Thanks, Sabina. I’m glad you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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We had one at home. Mother used it occasionally. Time sure changes. Sweet story.
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Thanks, Indira. I know some ladies here now have electric grinders for wheat flour. You’re right that time quickly changes things these days. I’m happy you enjoyed the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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🙂
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A sad view of what some call progress, Suzanne.
Neatly understated.
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Thanks, C.E. It is sad in some ways. I’m happy you enjoyed the way I wrote the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I still have one at home, occasionally used for coarse grinding. Well constructed.
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Thanks, Yarnspinnerr. I would have guessed some people here still like to grind their own grain. A previous neighbor of ours had an electric wheat grinder. I’m glad you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Lot of people, lot of whims and lot of unscrupulous traders with little check on them leads to such a situation.
🙂
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IGA. Wow! That’s been awhile for me, too. There was one in Ottawa, KS. where i went to college, owned by the Pence family. Amazing how time flies and how it changes. Nice diverting story, Suzanne.
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Thanks, Kent. I remember one IGA grocer who probably never forgot my two-year-old son. The little guy ran for the stack of can goods and tried to climb it. Luckily, I caught him in time before the poor man had a nervous breakdown. Time does fly. That little guy is now 40 years old. I’m happy you enjoyed the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Oh yeah. Sounds about right, ask any mother from that time or even now.
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Yup, that seems about right.
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Thanks, Dawn. The Chamber of Commerce often turns places into historical points of view for tourists. It’s considered good for business. I’m happy you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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An interesting story about changing times, and not always for the better. But I’m confused about the nonchalant reference to the son. Are you saying that caught in the middle of the change in culture and technology he had no way to make a living and therefor simply lived with his father? Very well-written but I’m confused about that point.
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Thanks, Perry. Elderly Mr. Henderson moved in with his son who lived and worked in Chicago, the same city where the huge company the farmers sold their grain to was located. Sorry if that was confusing. Elderly Mr. Henderson and his father had worked at different jobs which I didn’t mention. They just continued to live in the old mill house until it was sold to the city. I’m happy you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Progress indeed. In one sense of the word anyway. Nicely done Suzanne.
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Thanks, Sandra. I guess we’ve all seen it happen. One of the weirdest developments was the town of Salem, MA in the U.S. where they advertised it as the town where all those witches were put to death. There are signs with cartoon witches on them all over town. 🙂 — Suzanne
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It’s good that the old mill is being remembered by the kids on the history tour, but a little sad that someone’s life and family becomes just a curiosity. Nicely told.
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Thanks, Margaret. I know. In a way, though, the family will have a place in the history of the town. Maybe that’s a good thing. I’m pleased you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I’ve churned butter in a one gallon jug, but I’d much rather buy it at the store.
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Thanks, Russell. I know what you mean. My mom had a small bottle churn she let me try one time. It took forever to even get the beginnings of butter. I guess in the old days they let the Grandma in the family sit there and churn away for hours. I’m happy you liked the story. 😀 — Suzanne
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As I recall, it took about an hour of constant shaking before the butter started forming.
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I can almost see how the old mill will reopen soon to sell flour to the hipster sourdough bakers… change is always there.
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Thanks, Bjorn. You’re probably right. They call it retro these days. They used to say “What goes around comes around.” You can bet that “special” flour will be expensive too. I’m happy you enjoyed the story. 😀 — Suzanne
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I know the special flour is expensive
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Historic write on times gone by …. nicely written.
Isadora 😎
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Thanks, Isadora. I’m happy you enjoyed my historic story, the way it was written. 🙂 — Suzanne
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It’s hard to resist “progress”. The weird part is when your kids treat your early casual purchases as antiques.
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