“Your grandfather was a gajo, he made the place as much like a vardo for your grandmother as possible, but without having to move. He was a homebody.”
I stared at Mother, at the curious little stone house, the wheel seeming to prop it up on a hidden axle.
“Was she happy?”
“She was his mollisher. She chose to marry out!”
I heard the sneer in her voice, the sprinkle of Romani for her, not me.
I looked up at the mountain tops, the splendid isolation. Such freedom, yet such a prison. Nowhere to go for granny.
I wept.
Better late than never for this week’s Friday Fictioneers – thank you Rochelle for the weekly inspiration!
I thought this little old house looked a bit like a caravan, with a wheel stuck in the ground, hence I went down the Romani route this week.
mulani – ghost
vardo – Romani wagon
gajo – an adult male who isn’t Romani
mollisher – woman, wife
Please do head on over to this week’s prompt and see what other writers have created!
Freya Writes... 
“Such freedom, yet such a prison” – lovely!
Thank you!
I have so much wondered about the wanderlust of the romanis… I have heard that many where happy if they where ever allowed to stay… yet I can understand the “marry out” thing… never really a part of anything. Wonderful story
One foot in one camp, one foot in another, never really accepted by either party. It’s a tough line to walk. Thank you, Bjorn.
Unique and touching, what a great take on the prompt. I think there was a lot of love between Granny and her husband, if he built the house for her like that.
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I like where you went with this one, the idea that a house can be seen as a prison by travellers is particularly thought-provoking.
Thank you!
What a beautiful but melancholy story. You got a lot of emotion through with very few words. Not an easy thing to do 🙂
Thank you so much!
A very different take. May be the wanderlust or the the urge to stay home is a genetic memory.
Maybe it is. Thank you!
A very interesting take on the prompt. I used to share a house with an artist whose father was a Romany but had settled with whatever is the female equivalent of a gajo. I think this guy’s parents were happy, but who knows? Their son loved wandering about in the woods and over the fields, sketching this and that. One of my ancestors lived in a mansion, but took to the road in a vardo for the Spring and Summer of each year. Maybe there was some Romani blood from way back that kept calling him to the freedom of the open road.
Hi Sarah, thank you for reading and also sharing a little slice of your history!
I liked this very much. I was not familiar with the Romani, though they sound like what we in America refer to as gypsies. Some people are born with nomadic blood, while others (like me) prefer to stay rooted in one place.
A great take on the prompt.
Thank you! Yes, the Romani are indeed gypsies, although the latter term does tend to be used for anyone who travels theses days here, no matter what their heritage. I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
A great take on the prompt Freya, well done.
Enjoyed the read – thank you 🙂
Thank you!
I like the insight you give into the narrator’s feelings about it all. At the end – she wept because she understood what her mother gave up, although she chose to do so. Great contrast – the cottage with its restrictions and the freedom of the woods and hills beyond it.
Thank you so much! I enjoyed writing it, so I’m glad you enjoyed it too.
A unique take and a glimpse of a world in which I knew nothing about. Thank you.
You’re welcome, and thank you!
I enjoyed this, partly because it was rather timely, for the horse drawn vardo’s have been travelling on the local roads here, to and from visiting Appleby Horse Fair in Yorkshire
Thank you, Michael. I know a little about the Appleby Horse Fair, but didn’t know when it took place. A happy coincidence!
I truly enjoyed this, Freya! The one foot in, one foot out… applies to so many situations, doesn’t it?
Thank you, Dale. Yes, it certainly does!
Dear Freya,
I read this without knowing what the words meant for sure and then went back and read it after I read the glossary. Your story carried the meanings. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you, Rochelle.
Good story, Freya. Thanks for the definitions. That gave real meaning to the story. Well written. 🙂 — Suzanne
Thank you! And you’re welcome 🙂