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Flash Fiction Friday – Bar 49

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Hugh W. Roberts

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January 31, 2022, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about “the’ 49ers.” Who or what are they? What is the significance of the number? Do you follow the Gold Rush history or venture into new territory? Go where the prompt leads!

Bar 49 – by Hugh W. Roberts

“Who’re all these men in this old photo, Gran?”

“That’s my grandfather with a group of men known as the 49ers.”

“Forty-niners?”

“Yes. Unfortunately, they all died in Auschwitz.”

“The concentration camp?”

“Yes, and you’re old enough to know the truth. In Berlin, the men were all arrested in a bar known as ‘Bar 49.’ Homosexuals frequented it. They were rounded up, made to wear the symbol of a pink triangle and taken, some with their families, to Auschwitz.”

“Gran, I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, Carl. Be happy that you are marrying the man of your dreams tomorrow.

***

Written for the 99-word flash fiction challenge hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch.

***

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***

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37 responses to “Flash Fiction Friday – Bar 49”

  1. Did You Miss Any Of These? Monthly Round-Up – February 2022 – Hugh's Views & News   avatar
    Did You Miss Any Of These? Monthly Round-Up – February 2022 – Hugh's Views & News  

    […] Flash Fiction Friday – Bar 49 […]

    Reply
  2. Anne Goodwin is bringing Matilda Windsor home avatar
    Anne Goodwin is bringing Matilda Windsor home

    Wow, Hugh, such a powerful story.

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Thanks, Anne. Glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply
  3. D. Avery @shiftnshake avatar
    D. Avery @shiftnshake

    Such an important story. An excellent take on the prompt.

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Thank you. I’m glad you think so.

      Reply
  4. The ’49ers Collection « Carrot Ranch Literary Community avatar
    The ’49ers Collection « Carrot Ranch Literary Community

    […] Bar 49 by Hugh W. Roberts […]

    Reply
  5. Charli Mills avatar
    Charli Mills

    It’s unsettling to think that such brutality is not that far in our past. Hugh, you did a good job of making the reader feel that tragic history and then give us an infusion of hope with the wedding. Excellent writing!

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Less than 100 years ago, Charli. And throughout the world, people are still imprisoned or face the death penalty for being gay. There is still a lot of work to do.

      Thank you for the lovely endorsement of my story. As you can see, I went down a very different track with the ’49ers’ prompt.

      Reply
  6. Norah avatar
    Norah

    I didn’t know that piece of history, Hugh. There are still so many wrongs that need to be righted. The only way is to bring them out into the open and discuss them.

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      I agree, Norah. There is still a lot of work to be done to eliminate all forms of discrimination. A world without discrimination is a world I’d love to live in one day.

      Reply
      1. Norah avatar
        Norah

        I so agree with you, Hugh. Sadly, I think we’ll be long gone before it comes into being.

        Reply
  7. TanGental avatar
    TanGental

    I was talking to a friend Peter who like you came to London in the 80s to try and be himself as a gay man and he reminded me that the early symbol worn at the early Pride gatherings on the South Bank were pink triangles which he didn’t realise had that gruesome link for some time until the rainbow took over as the Pride symbol. It’s a beautiful crafted piece Hugh and painfully apt though with that levenibg of hope.

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Thanks, Geoff. Glad you enjoyed it so much.

      Yes, I remember the pink triangle being worn and displayed a lot back in the 1980s. However, I did know its meaning, probably because of my interest in World War II history when at school. My mother, mainly, used to dispair at me watching ‘The World At War’ on TV. That is probably where I picked up the meaning of the pink triangle.

      Your friend Peter is somebody who may have crossed my path in 1980s London. The LGBT community was vast then, yet it was also a very close society.

      Reply
      1. TanGental avatar
        TanGental

        I’ll ask. Peter Warnes a Suffolk boy and a skilled dance teacher… I know, a guy dance teacher. What are the chances…!?

        Reply
        1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
          Hugh W. Roberts

          Lol, I knew lots of Peters but rarely knew the surnames.

          Reply
  8. ikwords avatar
    ikwords

    I love it. The ending made me smile.

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Thank you. I’m glad this short piece of flash fiction made you smile at the end.

      Reply
  9. Terri Webster Schrandt avatar
    Terri Webster Schrandt

    A modern and relevant twist to the plot, Hugh. We’ll done!

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Thank you, Terri.

      Reply
  10. Erika avatar
    Erika

    Only 99 words, but you managed to give me shivers and at the same time, tears of emotion.

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      That’s lovely feedback; thank you so much, Erika.

      Reply
      1. Erika avatar
        Erika

        You are so welcome, Hugh, big compliment!

        Reply
  11. Aimer Boyz avatar
    Aimer Boyz

    A nice twist on “The 49ers,” Hugh.
    With the rise of anti-Semitic acts lately, and the execution of two gay men in Iran, I’m hard-pressed to believe that the hate will ever end. I’m glad your story, at least, has a happy ending.

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Thanks, Aimer. I wanted to go down a different route than the one I thought some of the participants might go down when they saw the prompt ’49ers.’

      There is still a lot of work to do to wipe out all kinds of discrimination. Unfortunately, I think I will have long gone from this life before it’s likely to have happened, but I like to think that my next journey will take me to a world where discrimination doesn’t exist.

      Reply
      1. Aimer Boyz avatar
        Aimer Boyz

        It’s a nice thought, safe journey :)

        Reply
  12. Josh Sanders avatar
    Josh Sanders

    An interesting story for sure. Thank you for sharing

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      You’re welcome. Thank you for reading and commenting, Josh.

      Reply
  13. Life with Alegria avatar
    Life with Alegria

    Such a meaningful story Hugh. So well done.

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Thank you so much.

      Reply
  14. Colleen M. Chesebro avatar
    Colleen M. Chesebro

    A sad story Hugh. Yet, you skillfully created a new meaning to the 49ers. 🌟

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Thank you.

      I always like to try and think of a story with a theme that no one else will come up with, Colleen. When Charli’s prompt said, ‘Do you follow the Gold Rush history or venture into new territory?’ I knew which route I wanted to take.

      Reply
      1. Colleen M. Chesebro avatar
        Colleen M. Chesebro

        Well, I think you did fabulous! <3

        Reply
  15. willowdot21 avatar
    willowdot21

    A sad but true story Hugh…
    It makes you think dosen’t it.💜

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      It does, Willow. I can’t begin to think what it must have been like, especially when we compare it to what it’s like today.

      Reply
      1. willowdot21 avatar
        willowdot21

        Yes or even not so very long ago in this country too ! 💜💜

        Reply
        1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
          Hugh W. Roberts

          Indeed. Under 60 years ago it was illegal to be gay in the UK – but only if you were a man.

          Reply
          1. willowdot21 avatar
            willowdot21

            Yes how strange and unfair was that 💜

            Reply

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