A little later than usual, here is my effort for Friday Fictioneers this week. A big thank you to the lovely Renee Heath for the photograph this week and to Rochelle for all the time and effort she devotes to FF – we are all truly grateful. Bow, curtsey…
Genre: Memoir
Word Count: 100
Mistaken Identity
“Stop, stop. Stop!”
My son tightens his grip, his little nails dig into my hand.
“What’s the matter Sam, whatever’s wrong?”
I pick him up. His face is ashen. Two perfectly shaped teardrops hover in the corners of his brilliant blue eyes, threatening to spill over any moment.
I hold him tight.
“What is it? Tell me what’s wrong. Do you have a pain? Just tell me.”
Removing one arm from around my neck and a wet cheek from mine, he points at the fire hydrant and, in the smallest voice, whispers
“There’s a Dalek and I don’t like him.”
Click on the little blue froggy thing to read more stories
By way of explanation…
We don’t have fire hydrants in the UK like the ones in the photograph.
In the mid-eighties we made our first visit to America. My husband is a film buff and a Western fanatic; the thought that he could see Monument Valley and walk in the steps of John Wayne had a lot to do with planning our vacation. In the event we never got to Monument Valley, but did see some amazing and wonderful places on that first trip.
During the stopover in San Francisco, which was much cooler than the weather we had left behind in Los Angeles, our youngest son complained that his legs were cold. My husband and elder son went off to find a shop where we could get him some trousers instead of the shorts we had with us, and we trailed somewhere behind. I think we were approaching Union Square when the incident I have written about happened.
A new series of Dr Who had just been screened at home and while my eldest loved it, my younger son and I would hide behind the sofa when there was a scene with the Daleks. They could be pretty scary.
40again's Blog 
Your memoir touched on so many elements in the photo. Great job! I can see how a fire hydrant would remind one of a scary dalek.
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Thank you for reading, glad you could see the likeness:)
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Cute story (after you explained it! lol)
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Think it needed an explanation 🙂
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Dear Dee,
Better late than never. We seem to be more “Weekly Fictioneers” now but I’ve no intention of changing the name. I could see where a young child who’d never seen a fire hydrant might think it was a Dalek. Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
Don’t change a thing.
It was quite an emotional visit, scary Dalek
Take care
Dee
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LOL that’s such a good take on the picture! I feel sorry for the Dalek though, he looks like he’s been on a starvation diet. We had Daleks lurking under the bridge that covered a large storm water drain near our place when my kids were small 😉
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Those Daleks got everywhere!
Good to hear from you, hope everything is OK
Dee
🙂
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Great story You have to love a Dalek story. I read the other day that there is a group of guys who built life size Dalek models, for no other reason than they love Dalek.funny how kids see the world sometimes. Enjoyed your story.
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Glad you enjoyed the story.
We have a new Dr Who now (Peter Capaldi) and there were rumours that we will hear more from the Daleks…
Thank you for reading
Dee
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Great story and thank you for providing an explanation for the use of the word ‘Dalek’!
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Thanks Gabriella, thought my non UK friends might need to know about the Daleks.
Dee
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Ha. amazing… of course he was right… they are Daleks..
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Well, he thought he was..
Thanks Bjiorn
Dee
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Very nice dialogue – and it felt like a true story, which adds to it! And yes, who can be sure!
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Thank you Pirate, glad you liked this
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I can see why he’d be terrorized. A well told TRUE story.
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Thanks Russell 🙂
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