NOSTALGIA

‘Closed’.

The sign hung on the entrance to Rock ‘n’ Rogers 50’s Diner.

‘What will you do now?’ asked Rock.

Rogers shrugged, ‘Head further south, try again.’

‘Still think it’ll work, huh?’

‘Sure do. People love nostalgia.’

‘Sure, for certain things, maybe they don’t want to be reminded about everything.’

‘It was a simpler time, folks like that, ‘specially these days.’

‘Goin’ to stick to the strict rules?’

‘Sure. No blacks, homosexuals or commies. And no cussin’.’

‘Well, I’ll be seeing you, I guess.’

‘You ain’t comin’?’

‘I think it’s time I moved on. Maybe the rest of the world should too.’


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Copyright J Hardy Carroll

Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).

To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.


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78 responses to “NOSTALGIA”

  1. And we’re living through one of those times where the world moves on

    Liked by 3 people

    1. I do hope so. I fear the current crisis might be used as an excuse to retreat into some of our worst traits from the past.

      Liked by 3 people

      1. I feel the reverse. That this crisis will expose the weaknesses in our society and after we’ve pulled together and got through it there will be no tolerance of what has happened in the past (a bit like the reforms that followed both world wars)

        Liked by 2 people

      2. I prefer your idea.

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Powerful statement!

    Liked by 2 people

  3. Moving on – is a way of life.
    Though some would like nostalgia for company.
    I’d love our world to move on far away from coronavirus…

    Liked by 2 people

    1. It will one day I’m sure, but the uncertainty is when.

      Like

  4. Dear Iain,

    A little too much 50’s nostalgia there. I think I’ll pass on that diner. Well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Not to my taste either – apparently the food tastes quite bitter as well.

      Like

  5. Let’s move on and not blame anyone, life throws curved balls, it is how we handle them that is important

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Do you think we are handling it well?

      Like

  6. I have a feeling the world is returning to this non-sense, only the players might be altered.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I agree, and I think the current crisis will only worsen the situation.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Been heading this way for a while, but I agree, it’s going be full throttle (especially when/if the world economy chokes).

        Liked by 1 person

  7. I agree. Nostalgia is one of the great tools of fascists. Things were so much better then, they say. Next come the blame and hatred. Another thing people forget about the fifties is that everywhere you went was full of cigarette smoke.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Yep, nostalgia always seems to be rose-tinted.

      Like

  8. That’s the moral lesson of nostalgia – evidence that we advance. Nice one.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. If only everyone could advance together. Thank you.

      Like

  9. Another powerful statement made in a creative way! Well done!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you so much 🙂

      Like

  10. Hmmm… this guy has to learn a lot of things. Good one !

    Liked by 2 people

    1. He may be beyond change. Thank you.

      Liked by 1 person

  11. (mike drop)
    Well said!

    Liked by 2 people

  12. I think the bigoted Mr Rogers is doomed to failure.
    Let’s hope so.
    Cleverly done, Iain

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thanks CE, it should have no chance of success, but then worse things have happened.

      Like

  13. I don’t see that working where I live!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Annoyingly, it may still work in some places…

      Like

  14. Some nostalgia is better left in the past. Good one, Iain!

    Liked by 2 people

  15. Not all things nostalgic are good. Definitelly time to move on.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Most have, some haven’t.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Don’t I know it.

        Liked by 1 person

  16. Oy … and the sad thing is, there are places in this here US where a diner with such hate-based restrictions will be embraced as ‘great again’ … oy vey.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. My thoughts exactly, some things that should have died out 60 years ago are somehow still thriving in places.

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Nicely written. I enjoyed the voices. I particularly liked, “And no cussin’ ” which exposes the hypocrisy so effectively.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you Penny, much appreciated.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. Examined under a critical cultural lens the good ol’ days weren’t so good. I’m glad one half of the team decided to step forward into the now.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. If we could just persuade the other half…

      Liked by 1 person

  19. I would never go to a restaurant that doesn’t allow cussing.

    It’s kind of funny how we forget the negatives when we get nostalgic.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Everything is very rose-tinted in hindsight.

      Liked by 1 person

  20. Edgy and gutsy. Well done.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you Doug, much appreciated.

      Like

  21. A little too 50s, I think. Nice one!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Sometimes, you can go too far with the good ole days!

      Liked by 1 person

  22. Sounds like he’s in an unpoppable bubble. He won’t get far, I suspect

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I hope you’re right!

      Liked by 1 person

  23. I would like to see some of the simpler things from the past, but not hate. There is a time to move on from all of that, I believe we have hit that point. So let’s move on to a better future.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Hopefully this crisis will put an end to some of the hate.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I couldn’t agree more.

        Liked by 1 person

  24. To think, they once called them the good ‘ole days.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. There were some good things, but a lot of it – not so much.

      Liked by 1 person

  25. Definitely time to move on from those attitudes.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Some have, a few haven’t.

      Like

  26. some folks think about the past with nostalgia. i guess it’s because time has smoothened its rough edges.

    Liked by 2 people

  27. I think Roger as some learning to do. I don’t like him very much ~ you got your message across. Well done.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. He’s not very popular. Thanks Alicia.

      Like

  28. Indeed. There is a lot about the past that is unpalatable. Well done in highlighting that.
    Not all memories are good!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thanks Laurie. Hope you are doing well.

      Like

  29. I’m thinking Rogers needs to rethink his business strategy. I don’t think his plan is gonna make it.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I would like to think not.

      Liked by 1 person

  30. I wouldn’t mind the “no cussin’” rule.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. But not the rest hopefully! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Nope. That’s just dumb. I’d like to believe I could eat an good old-fashioned burger without wondering about all the folks around me 🙂

        Like

  31. Too easy to say the past was better. Good to remind ourselves. Love the dialogue.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. It’s never black and white. Thank you.

      Like

  32. We tend to romanticise the past, to bowdlerise it until it becomes snowy-white perfect. Rock is spot on here. (A bit like the glory days of the London blitz with no mention of looting and black marketeering. Please don’t mention Coronavirus scams and panic buying etc.)

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Exactly those things. If I hear once more that what we need is the Blitz spirit to get through this virus….

      Like

  33. Glenn A. Buttkus Avatar
    Glenn A. Buttkus

    As a child of the 50’s, I remember it as a decade of Detroit Barges, McCarthyism, racism and juvenile delinquents. I’m much fonder of the peace and love no-bra 60’s, but there was something called the war in Viet Nam that threw a shadow on things. MAGA hats are absurd, the past holds no treasures for us.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Best to look to the future, especially at times like this. Thanks for stopping by Glenn

      Like

  34. The good ol’ times weren’t that good after all.

    Liked by 2 people

  35. And I could absolutely see both these guys through their dialogue. Good job!

    Liked by 1 person

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