{This is in response to a prompt from What Pegman Saw, a weekly photo prompt, where the task is to write 150 words about a region selected on Google Maps Street View. This week we are near Provo, Utah, at Bridal Veil Falls, in the U.S.
I took liberties with the voice, and with references to religious figures. Remember, this is fiction, and no harm or insult is intended. Whether or not Bridal Veil Falls is. actually, anywhere near the Mormon Trail, is a fact I could not squeeze out of Wikipedia, so please enlighten me, if you know. We’ll pretend for now, that it is.
You might be able to tell, that I’ve been watching the latest Coen Brothers movie, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, which is a Western! The crux of this story lies in the homonyms: veil, as in, what a bride wears, and vale, as in valley. Saint Petey is a reference to St. Peter at the Pearly Gates, in Heaven.}
In Heav’n, not much gets my goat, but this does. Durn near two hun’erd years. And they steel get the name wrong.
Back then, thousands were comin’ cross-country from Nauvoo, Illinois, me among ‘em. Wagon after wagon on the Mormon Trail. We were followin’ that charismatic preacher and teacher, Brigham Young. Poor man had forty-seven childern, by the time he were done.
Saint Petey tol’ me so. That’s a fact.
I got close to Brigham, once. He ruffled my petticoats sumpin awful.
Bein’ promised to Brother Earnhardt, from the back o’ beyond, din’t help. Wife number ‘leven! Pree darn insultin’, if ya think on it.
Hours before our weddin’, Brother Earnhardt foun’ out. He done tossed me, fi’teen and pre’nant as a pumpkin, right o’er them falls.
Them falls is called, from where I landed. Not what I had on!
I warn’t wearin’ no veil.
And it shore warn’t white.
I have to agree, factual or not the voice in this is great Andrea. I was with your young protagonist all the way, though poor girl was hard done by. All those men taking what they wanted then – literally – tossing her away. Would love to know what comes of her. Fascinating spin on history
Thanks Lynn. I think shes more upset about the misspelling than the push itself!?
My pleasure 🙂
This was fantabulous! And I just finished reading “Educated” and learning all about Brigham Young so… felt like it “were” on spot
Oh i need to read that!
Great yarn, pardner!
Much obliged!
Love the voice. Pregnant as a pumpkin is great!
I haven’t watched The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, but the location was sort of inspired by it nonetheless.
Thanks. That one “popped out” so to speak, although you’d think the groom might’ve noticed earlier. ?
Oh by the way, weird movie so far. Had to take a breather. Its a series of stories. Very well done but a bit twisted in my opinion.
I’ll have to check it out!