copyright Jennifer Pendergast
From the time he was young, Vladimir Prohofsky Jr. loved to ride the rails. He'd hop a train and ride in the cattle car, freight car, or empty boxcar all the way to the end of line and then hop another.
Over the many long years he rode this country from Maine to California and Canada to the Rio Grande.
One day in a box car to St. Louis, Vladimir awoke with a start. "I must be less forgetful," he thought.
That evening Vladimir checked into the Four Seasons, ordered a $5,000 bottle of wine, and was seen arm in arm with doubtless the most beautiful woman in St. Louis. Vladimir was heir to the Vladimir Prohofsky Sr. fortune, estimated at 75 million dollars.
Vladimir was not an eccentric.
He just had a very poor memory.
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I'm hoping that Vladimir Prohofsky Jr.'s poor memory may distract you from my poor word counting abilities, this piece coming in at over 120 words. At least you and I and Vladimir got to travel the country for the extra few words in this, my weekly Friday Fictioneers entry based on the picture prompt above.
If you feel like heading to the end of line yourself, click below to hop aboard the entries of the other Friday Fictioneers.
All aboard! Watch out for that poop in the cattle car.
I've tried telling myself to be less forgetful, but still have not inherited a fortune. However, I do have the finest two-seater outhouse in the Ozarks which I'm sure my grandchildren will be thrilled to enjoy as their inheritance. Go, Vlad!
ReplyDeleteI think you've forgotten that you married Vladimir Prohofsky Jr. in a same sex marriage in Arkansas seven years ago. So I'd hurry to St. Louis and ... and, oh wait, you were already married. Okay, hope your grandchildren enjoy the two-seater.
DeleteDear Perry,
ReplyDeleteI'm forgetful, too. Have completely forgotten all the money I think I should have. Will try to remember. (Great story, i think. What was it about again?)
Aloha,
Doug
Doug, thanks for writing. Yeah, I have the money that's yours. Try to forget that again between now and the end of this note. There is only one most beautiful woman in St Louis and not enough to go around!
DeleteI can relate to this memory lapse. I too find myself sitting in an office in the city, when I should clearly be outside having fun.
ReplyDeleteI'm outside right now. It's not that much fun. Get back to work!
DeletePerry, at least when Vlad's memory kicks in he has a GREAT time.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's a shame he's 87.
DeleteDear Perry, Great story and WOW - he's loaded all right so he could probably hire a body guard to follow him around and keep him out of trouble. Nan
ReplyDeleteHe had a bodyguard. The guy was run over by a train 45 years ago. Vlad doesn't remember it anyway.
DeleteI'm laughing so hard because your story reminded me that one of our sons recently told us that when we pass away someday, he is going to take his share of his inheritance and go spend it all buying a "White Castle" greasy hamburger and a soft drink (total of $1.55). Ha
ReplyDeleteToo bad his name isn't Vladimir, ha, ha.
That would be quite a trick in this part of the country - no White Castles anymore. We should all try to get adopted by Vlad because we could also afford an order of biggie fries.
DeleteA bad memory could be fun! After all you never know where you're going to end up or how you got there!
ReplyDeleteTrue, you might meet a particularly affecting cow in a cattle car one fine day. No end of thrills.
DeleteI do not think I have ever forgotten a thing like that.. on the other hand I'm not ride trains like that either...
ReplyDeleteRidin' the rails can do that to you, especially when you only have 75 million.
DeleteI'm sure I'd remember if I were rich... oh wait... Nice one Perry.
ReplyDeleteThat's right, Sandra, you are! Umm, will you marry me?
DeleteIf you're that rich, a poor memory will be forgiven. I hope the wine was worth the money.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't matter if he poured it down the sink. There's lots more where that came from --- if he can remember.
DeleteIt sounds like Vladimir is an adventurous chap. I can't imagine he'll go back to riding the rails anytime soon. That bed at the Four Seasons must have felt mighty nice! What else is he forgetting? A wife? Kids?
ReplyDeleteYou're right,Amy. He's forgetting that his wife is Scarlett Johansson and it doesn't even matter who his kids are. Hope he remembers sometime soon before he's too old to reap the benefits.
DeleteI might have met Vlad. Though I can't remember. I must admit I'm not a rich man. I don't even like boxcars, because the dust makes me sneeze. I do like the thought of seeing all the scenery in the United States, from California to Maine. It is a dream of mine, if I can only remember to go.
ReplyDeleteNow what were we talking about? Oh yes, Vlad. I made one time in a boxcar. He gave me five hundred dollars. He couldn't remember why he gave why he gave it to me or why he had he even had that much money. Now that I think about it, I'm not even sure if it was Vlad. I really can't remember.
Your friend... what's my name?
Now what were we talking about? Oh yes, Vlad. I met him one time in a boxcar. He gave me five hundred dollars. He couldn't remember why he gave it to me or why he had he even had that much money. Now that I think about it, I'm not even sure if it was Vlad. I really can't remember. Did i tell you this before. seems like i did - but with many typo's and repetitions... repeating myself.. a lot....
DeleteYour friend... what's my name?
Vlad says he meant to give you 10 million dollars when he gave you the 5 hundred. He can't remember why. He's back on the rails. If I were you I'd get with it and see if you can find him somewhere between California and Maine.
DeleteI wish I had a memory like that!
ReplyDeleteOoops..sorry, yes I won't be into my manufacturing job tonight, I forgot I am a millionairess.
Actually you forgot that it was Vladimir Prohofsky Jr. who is the millionaire. Get that lunch bucket and get into work!
DeleteI'm sure he'll have a great time with all that money.
ReplyDeleteI could have a better time. I'll bet you could too.
DeleteDear Perry,
ReplyDeleteI'm forgetting, are you guys supposed to be paying me for steering this train? Perhaps not. Ah well, y'can't blame me for trying. As for the extra words, I'd never have noticed if your own guilty conscience hadn't caused to spill your kishkas.
Shalom,
Rochelle
PS I'm still trying to catch up with last week's stories, Oy vey iz mere.
I'm still trying to catch up with February's stories. Maybe if I just used less words...
DeleteThe most original twist I have read so far! Fun read...I need to go now maybe I'm forgetting something :)
ReplyDeleteI think you have forgotten something. If you think this is the most original twist you're forgetting all the other stories!
DeleteRight now, I'd like to forget about budgets and check into such a room... I might save some money and buy lovely drinks at the bar, versus one bottle of wine, but to forget and just enjoy... ahh. That sounds nice!
ReplyDeleteHey, Dawn, congratulations on your latest published writings, worth far more than 75 million dollars. Well, you might want the money too! Keep up the great work.
DeletePerry, I'm sitting here trying to remember if I was left a fortune, but no luck. I'll be sure to watch out for the cattle car poop, although I know s**t happens to the best of us. Funny stuff as usual. :D --- Suzarnne
ReplyDeleteThanks, Suzanne. I'll try to leave you an extra million or two; I'll see how much is left over after my bequest to keep Greece afloat.
Deleteif only I'd forgotten something so valuable, then I could get rich remembering again. Sadly, I suspect I'm stuck in terminal forgetfulness and poverty, until someone realises the genius in my writing and starts paying me $100,000 for every 100 word story...
ReplyDeleteI realize it. Unfortunately I remember too clearly I ain't got nada ...
Delete