PHOTO PROMPT © Renee Heath
Tshepo was silhouetted against the setting sun, beer bottle raised against the dying light. “To our success!”
“Cheers to that!” Brenda, Gift and Tshepo tipped their bottles together.
“Do you think the police will find out we stole it?” Gift whispered.
“Nah.” replied Tshepo, after some thought. “It’s not worth much anyway. Doubt anyone will miss it.”
“It is priceless to us.” said Gift, firmly.
“Gogo was a great artist.” mused Brenda, gazing at its colours as a tear fell onto her cheek. “She’d be happy to know her painting is home. After all these years.”
96 words
I based this loosely on true stories of Jewish families who have had their family assets, arts and jewellery, seized by the Nazis. And whose living relatives fight court battles to reclaim these priceless treasures today.
Gogo means grandmother in some African languages, particular to the Zulu language.
Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Write a story in 100 words or less. Submit your story by clicking the blue frog, and read more awesome flash fiction too.
Fajr, Books & That First Cuppa 
Nice flow of scene in setting
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Thank you, Lokesh.
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Interesting! I love African words and their philosophy on life.
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I have heard of gogo from an anime. Now I know its from africa 🙂
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I think the word itself may have origins in many languages with different meanings. 🤔 thank you for stopping by!
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thats interesting and just to think how many true deserving artists have been plundered of their fame and most importantly a part of their soul is disheartening
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I like that they are taking back their culture, Fatima.
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The theft of their culture is, sadly, a story many peoples around the world can tell
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A shame it had to be stolen to be re-appropriated, but it feels like they did the right thing.
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It is a great reflection of your integrity and values that you pointed this out! Trying to rectify historical crimes is no easy task. And I’m with you on the stealing thing. Most people take the legal route.
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Lovely take on the photo prompt, Fatima.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Too much of history is severely unjust. Glad the artwork is back in its rightful hands. =)
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i guess they had to do what they needed to do. it was worth the risk.
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Money is not only the true appraisal of worth. Nice tale
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I like the way you tell this story obliquely, revealing a little at a time. Very skilful! It’s an original take on the prompt, too!
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Really great take. Original and very well-written.
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So they have recaptured their possession that was stolen earlier.
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Love the path you chose to walk with this one… the returning of treasures. I remember how overwhelmingly joyed, and sad, I felt when a treasured possession that had been my Gr. Grandfather’s (stolen and sold by family at his death) was returned to me many years later. There aren’t really words to express correctly the feelings… Thank you for the memory! 🙂 ❤
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How wonderful that my story reflects your family history too!
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Very interesting take on the prompt. And well written . I liked it.
gramswisewords.blogspot.com
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Good for them – they took a risk but got back what was rightfully theirs.
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We feel the sadness, the sense of history, the evil of the marauders who usurped the right to others’ possessions. Wish it would all end. Repercussions down through the generations.
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Dear Fatima,
What a shame they have to steal back what is rightfully there. I appreciated this piece very much. brava!
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The way art was seized was disgusting…. often a painting represents so much more than its worth for those who has memories attached to it.
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I love this. In only a few words you sketch the characters so well. They brought the treasured art back into the family, not an easy task and it obviously needed desperate measures. It is part of the atrocities–with the Nazis, and elsewhere: wiping out the whole culture, people, memories, art…
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Unfortunately, treasures are sometimes lost forever. I’m sure they felt relief to have had this one. Tragic but you wrote it with dignity, Fatima. Nicely done 😊
Isadora 😎
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