PHOTO PROMPT © Kent Bonham
“This is what you call a rental car?”
I expected that outburst. I did not expect her to spend her entire time at the Western Wall kvetching about the segregated prayer areas. The tunnels were ‘claustrophobic’, the Huvra too pricey, and the private tour at Tower of David ‘a disgrace for the money.’
The next day at Yad Vashem, she scolded the docent for disagreeing. “Such a maven you are. So young to know so much about the Holocaust.”
“Ma, she is an expert. This is what she does for a living.”
She pointed up. “The experts aren’t here.”
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99 words
Tossing my hat in the ring once more for Friday Fictioneers. Thanks dear Rochelle, for hosting this gig and thanks to Kent Bonham for the photo. To read more fiction inspired by the prompt or to submit your own, click here.
k. Rawson 
Excellent voice. I am always amazed at how easily you achieve poignancy and humor at the same time.
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Very kind of you. Thanks J. Hardy.
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She sounds like a right old grumbler, though she had a point at the end.
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I agree, I liked the cross between the humorous moaning old tourist, and then the switch to the poignancy at the end.
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Thanks Iain!
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Step back…wow! That was great. Love how it evolved.
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Aw, thanks Jelli & thanks for reading!
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I was so awestruck that I had to step back and take a breath before I could even think of words to say. It was THAT good!
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Great story.
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Beautiful!
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I’m not quite sure I agree with the other comments. The last line implies that those who suffered in the holocaust were the real experts – fair enough; they were. But she makes no claim to be a survivor, so her remark is made merely to win an argument. She herself has no greater authority of knowledge than the girl she is criticising. The remark about holocaust victims is cheap and manipulative. That makes her rather a nasty piece of work, I fear. Well written, Karen. There are definitely some people like that around!
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Thanks for your kind words and keen analysis. I wondered about many of those things too. I was giving her the benefit of the doubt–thinking that she was at least close to someone who was in the Holocaust. But I don’t know. Thanks for reading!
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Not someone I’d want to travel with. Well told!
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Thanks for reading Laurie!
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I like that you had me reaching for my dictionary. Such well-placed words. I also like the psychic distance of the intimate narrator.
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Dear Karen,
No surprise. This story resonated with me. I’m surprised at myself that I didn’t go there, too. I have physically been to Yad V’shem and I suspect that the kvetch in the story is either a survivor herself or closely related to one. The voice is pitch perfect. Tov M’ohd, Very good.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Aw, you made my day!
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She has a point, indeed 🙂
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Ma is right – the experts were slaughtered because of a nation of easily manipulated weak-minded people willing to follow a Mad Man. What a tragic time in the history of the world! I have always wondered how they could of done that. Great story! Nan
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Thanks Nan & thanks for reading.
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She sounds like a proper dragon with though a certain logic it would be hard to disagree with
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She does! Thanks for reading 🙂
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Your characters are totally believable – my other half loves to grumble too!
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thanks so much!
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The voice is excellent.
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thanks so much!
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True sadly. Even though she knows a lot, it’s not the same as the experience. A good thing and a bad thing to lose those, but also time they finally had rest, no nightmares!
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Indeed. Thanks so much for reading and commenting Mandibelle!
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