PHOTO PROMPT © J Hardy Carroll
I’m here. Thinking of them, there. It only took ten years and tens of thousands of dollars.
USA, land of the fee. We could have built the best house in our village for what it has cost. My children are growing up without their father.
I am safe from death squads. They could be killed at any time. Soon USA will say yes to my family – my 24/7 mantra.
Break time is over.
Another customer leaves with her 40 oz. and lottery tickets, hoping to get lucky. I smile and tell her, “Good luck, and have a nice day.”
Rochelle is the ever-encouraging host of Friday Fictioneeers.
Tao Talk 
I liked “land of the fee” but that may not have been intentional
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It is 100% intentional. Squeezed every which way.
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Good story.
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Thank you, Sadje.
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You’re most welcome!
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Everything comes with a price.
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True, but a high price, in my opinion, and the servitude with a smile is expected.
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Sad and true. Most people would love to stay at home…
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Well done. Land of the fee indeed. This cleverly gets at all the high costs of the tough decisions people make to immigrate and no not just monetary.
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Thank you, D, glad I got my points across.
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Expertly constructed. Land of the fee, indeed. That’s what happens when bureaucracy takes over.
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Thank you very much, Linda.
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Dear Lisa,
Well somebody has to win the Lottery, right? Well crafted story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you, Rochelle, yes.
Shalom, Lisa
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Now if he could just win the lottery….
Great take on the photo!
My take on this week’s challenge: https://dbmcnicol.com/friday-fictioneers-declaration/
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Thank you, DB.
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You’ve written a good description of the dilemma faced by the inhabitants of Central America. Stay with family, risking death, and with ever-decreasing opportunity, or make a perilous journey and find a job that you hope will lead on to something better – ‘winning the lottery’. I liked ‘land of the fee’…
Good luck to your main character – I hope he finds a better job soon, and that his children can join him.
I wish we humans could find a way of living together in which the power play of a few ‘strong’ men wasn’t the major determinant of our history.
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WELL-SAID, Penny. Exactly so.
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Wonderful cynicism here, love it.
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Thank you, Ceayr. As I wrote it I thought, this man is only human, but the things he’s been through have taken (ongoing) superhuman strength, yet society expects him to be friendly and keep that smile on his face while he serves in a menial job.
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great story. I liked the hopeful toe
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Thank you, J. It didn’t seem hopeful to me, but you never know…
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Land of the Fee indeed.
Well done!
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I’ve been calling the USA that for years :)
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With good reason.
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A good story well written, Jade. I’m happy they’re getting their citizenship but a job in a convenience or other small store can be hazardous also. In some neighborhoods, it’s downright dangerous. I hope everything goes well. —- Suzanne
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Suzanne, they aren’t getting their citizenship. The man continues to wait, working at the dangerous convenience store, selling lotto tickets and malt liquor — with a smile — hoping one day they will be “lucky” enough to be able to join their father/husband. Thank you very much for your comments and compassion, Suzanne.
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A new start with better times to come – hopefully.
My tale – The Flag
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Thanks, Keith.
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yes, it’s the land of the fee and thousands are wanting to come to pay it. :)
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Safety has its price – why can’t people be safe where they live – it is a terrible world indeed.
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Thank you for reading and for your comment, James.
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Good story. It’s so frustrating for migrants and refugees, who have to cling to thin silver linings.
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Thank you, yes it is.
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Freedom has its price at different levels.
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Oh, my, a sad reminder. For some reason I had trouble figuring out who the narrator was. At first I thought it was a young widow of an American soldier talking — “My children are growing up without their father.” — and the talk of money mystified me. And then death squads? It wasn’t until the last line that I understood, but once I caught on, it was very affecting.
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Thank you, Eugenia.
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There are so many parents who have made the tough decision to move away from their home country to make a living somewhere else, so that they can send money back home and eventually bring their families over to join them. I have met a few of these fathers, and have heard about mothers who take care of others’ kids while their children grow up under someone else’s care. When their home country is not only poor but unsafe, it makes the situation even more difficult to accept.
The narrator’s voice sounds authentic; he’s jaded but still has hope that his family will join him one day. I like the comparison between the customer hope for a lottery win and the narrator’s hope for an imminent reunion with his family. Next to the narrator, the customer seems spoiled and self-indulgent. Well done, Li.
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I believe my first comment didn’t post properly, so I’m submitting another one. :-)
So many parents make the tough decision to move away from their home country to make a living, so that they can send money home and eventually have their family join them. I have met a few of these fathers, and have heard of mothers who take care of others’ kids while their own children are under someone else’s care in the home country. When one’s home country is not only poor but also unsafe, the situation is even more difficult to accept.
The narrator’s voice sounds authentic; though he is jaded, he holds on to the hope that his family will join him one day. I like the juxtaposition of the customer’s hope for a lottery win and the narrator’s hope for a family reunion. Next to the narrator, the customer seems spoiled and self-indulgent. Well done, Li.
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Hope and cash… can’t have one without the other. Sad but well done
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Thank you, Laurie.
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For some reason, the comments I previously submitted have not been posted. Third time’s the charm, I hope. 😊
So many parents make the tough decision to move away from their home country to make a living, so that they can send money back home and have their family join them eventually. When the home country is not only poor but also unsafe, the situation is even harder to accept.
The narrator’s voice sounds authentic; he’s jaded yet holds on to hope. I like the juxtaposition of the customer’s hope for a lottery win and the narrator’s hope for a family reunion. Well done, Li!
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<3 You "got" it, thank you for your thoughtful comment and understanding. I will see if your other comments were shuttled to spam as Word Press randomly (as far as I can tell) does. Thanks again, Magarisa.
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p.s. yes, they were there and now they should be visible :)
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Thanks for checking, Li. I didn’t mean to “bombard” your comment section. 😉
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I’m glad you mentioned it and bombard all you like :)
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Haha, thanks. :-)
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The land of the fee… I think that if it wasn’t for the death squads money would make more sense back home…
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Sometimes we forget how lucky we are to be here, even in the worst of times, which is not to say we should ever be complacent.
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This reminds me of a story I read how men are derided for leaving their families although they would have died in their home country. At least alive, they can send money to support their families. Upsetting world, this. Your story is very good. I like “land of the fee.” Someone is getting rich, it’s just not the average person.
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100% in agreement with everything you said, Sascha.
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love this! very nice!
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Thank you, Carol.
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