Eva clutched the papers tightly. She did not trust Jurgen with them. She could see he was already on the American Plains. Probably thinking himself a sheriff and chasing outlaws with his own posse. Or a man of business with a cigar and a big motor car. No more walking for Jurgen.
Eva was more practical. Such dreams of movie stars and radio shows would need to wait. A long journey lay ahead of them. Jurgen would dream his way to America, Eva must beg, bargain, sell to get tickets to go with the papers she had picked up from the magistrate in town. Her sons, already in New York and Chicago, guaranteed a place for their parents. Some were allowed to leave, if the the money and the paper work was right. Eva was smart. Everything would add up while Jurgen chased bad men across the West.
Microfiction {148} for Jane Dougherty’s Microfiction Challenge #17: A Satisfied Couple
Lorraine's frilly freudian slip 
October 13, 2016 at 7:00 am
Good story! I like your take on the woman holding that valuable paper, and how she is so practical, while her husband is a dreamer. I heard a story on NPR recently that covered a man trying to leave (awful, now I forget where), but it involved months of getting going through hoops to get various documents, including an examination by the police, which terrified him.
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October 15, 2016 at 12:26 am
Just found this in spam. I keep forgetting to check regularly now that real comments are showing up in spam. I don’t consider your comment spam! I thought her look was one of secret pleasure, that the paper held some special significance while her husband was such a dreamer.
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October 15, 2016 at 6:19 am
Thanks for fishing out the comment from spam. I don’t know why some comments just randomly go there. It is very strange. Yes, I definitely see your interpretation. Well done. :)
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October 10, 2016 at 5:15 am
A great take on the painting and a happy one – unlike my own twisted thoughts! Love the contrasting characters, her all practicalities, he all dreaming of the Wild West – great stuff. Just to let you know, I think there might be a tiny typo in the first para – ‘he was’ rather that ‘he has’? A really strong story
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October 15, 2016 at 9:25 am
Another comment reply eaten! You were correct about the typo — fixed. Funny but dreaming about the wild west came to mind before I was sure where the story was going. She definitely isn’t a dreamer!
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October 16, 2016 at 3:31 am
I just loved the contrats between the two and you wrote it very well. He probably needs her to have her feet on the ground or he’d get nothing done :)
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October 16, 2016 at 9:36 am
I suspect he must drive her crazy at times when she is trying to be practical in her approach.
Opposites attract? :]:
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October 16, 2016 at 11:18 am
I’ve seen it often, one practical – often a leader – the other less so, happy to be led. The combination often leads to relatively long lasting relationships
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October 17, 2016 at 1:18 am
Does work for some folks quiet well.
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October 17, 2016 at 7:06 am
Indeed it does, though my other half and I are both the dithering leader-shy type. It means neither gets trampled on, but we probably don’t get as much done either :)
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October 10, 2016 at 3:22 am
I like how you interpreted the painting. It doesn’t matter where they were going, the painting doesn’t have ‘church’ written all over it, and while smug is my interpretation of the woman’s expression, it’s a personal view. It could just as easily be what you describe so well, a barely contained excitement, that she has to keep under control because she’s the brains. Jurgen certainly looks as though his thoughts are not on the practicalities. Good story!
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October 15, 2016 at 9:28 am
Jane, my apologies — it seems that my comments are not showing up here when I reply at notifications!
Jurgen is not the most practical of men. Wonder how the two balanced their differences in general.
Thanks for another good challenge and a fascinating painting.
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October 15, 2016 at 10:18 am
Akimset is wreaking havoc at the moment. I’ll look and see if you’re in spam. Sometimes just retrieving a comment from spam will break the vicious cycle :)
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October 16, 2016 at 9:43 am
Akimset is like those movies where computers take over. Perhaps Akimset’s first name is Hal. :]:
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October 16, 2016 at 9:51 am
If it is, I suggest we bail out now!
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October 16, 2016 at 9:54 am
I hope no one in your household is named Dave, lol. :]:
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October 16, 2016 at 10:01 am
Nope. One worry less :)
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