Inside the Mind of Isadora

Friday Fictioneers – Sunday Outings

by 50 Comments


Sunday was family day. Staten Island was Father’s favorite place to go because of the beautiful beaches, plus his good friend, Mr. Frank, had a big home surrounded by a white picket fence, and backyard for us five kids.  

Mr. Frank was a Santero. During WWII, he migrated to Cuba from Germany. His live-in housekeeper was from Haiti. She made the best rosemary fried chicken for us. 

The spiritual rituals, Mr.Frank performed were in the basement. Saintly statues, lit candles, incense, cigars, red and white fabrics, were part of the alter. He was frightening.

We always stayed outside. 

2020©Isadora DeLaVega 

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Genre: Flash Fiction
Word Count: 100
Photo Prompt:©Ted Strutz

To join Rochelle and her Friday Fictioneers challenge click below

21 August 2020

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The term “Santería” translates into English as the “way of the saints.”[1] This is the most popular name for the religion, although some practitioners consider it offensive and avoid it in favor of alternatives.

Santería developed among Afro-Cuban communities amid the Atlantic slave trade of the 16th to 19th centuries. It formed through the blending of the traditional religions brought to Cuba by enslaved West Africans, the majority of them Yoruba, and Roman Catholicism, the only religion legally permitted on the island by the Spanish colonial government.©wikipedia   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santer%C3%ADa/

Author: Inside the Mind of Isadora

Intriguing, sensitive, mysterious, loving, artistic and crackling with excitement for life is a pretty good description of who I am. I just retired from the world of art where I sold my Artfully Designed Handmade Jewelry for 28 years; although, art will always be a part of who I am no matter what venue I choose to express it in.

50 thoughts on “Friday Fictioneers – Sunday Outings”

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  2. Brenda's Thoughts
    August 24, 2020 at 2:34 am

    Good idea to stay outside and away from the frightening man. Nice slice of life, Isadora!

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  3. Dale
    August 24, 2020 at 12:38 am

    Yes, staying outside is the right thing! Wonderful story.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. Nobbinmaug
    August 23, 2020 at 10:38 pm

    I don’t know. Rosemary chicken can be quite the temptress.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. Stine Writing
    August 23, 2020 at 7:13 pm

    I like the part “we stayed outside”. Who the heck knows what rituals are going on down there.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  6. Bill
    August 22, 2020 at 7:57 pm

    Great story well told. Enjoyed it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. msjadeli
    August 22, 2020 at 7:44 pm

    I’m imagining the kids peeking in through the basement windows to see what Mr. Frank does. Chilling!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. plaridel
    August 21, 2020 at 8:49 pm

    i guess it’s a ritual strictly for adults only. kids better left to play outside. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. James McEwan
    August 21, 2020 at 8:45 am

    I liked how Mr Franks was frightening, but still you went for the rosemary chicken. My, it must have tasted delicious. I liked the background it shows the variety and richness of real life.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • Inside the Mind of Isadora
      August 22, 2020 at 8:43 pm

      LOL … the food was on the patio. It wouldn’t be as tasty among scary saints, candles and chants. Odd the way kids can remember a small item like an enjoyable food. Thank you for your insightful comment, James. I appreciate it and your visit. Have a wonderful weekend … Be Safe
      Isadora 😎

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  10. draliman
    August 21, 2020 at 5:11 am

    Mr Frank does sound pretty intense, I definitely wouldn’t want to visit his basement. I’ve always been surprised at the merging of some religions, like Voodoo and Catholicism, which one wouldn’t necessarily see as being compatible!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • Inside the Mind of Isadora
      August 22, 2020 at 8:50 pm

      The saints are compatible with Catholicism because they believe the saints are protectors. The VooDoo comes from the spells they’re trying to exorcize from the person during the ritual. Either way, religious cults are created by the one who wants the people to follow, based on the fear of evil. Thanks for your thought provoking comment and for visiting. Have a wonderful weekend … Be Safe
      Isadora 😎

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  11. Tannille
    August 21, 2020 at 4:50 am

    What an intriguing story. If this house could talk. Alt religions fascinate me. Many are misunderstood.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  12. siobhan1967
    August 20, 2020 at 11:08 pm

    This was really interesting, thank you. I’d heard of Santeria but didn’t really know what it was or how it originated – sad that it had such terrible origins in the slave trade. That rosemary fried chicken sounds delicious.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  13. rochellewisoff
    August 20, 2020 at 9:03 pm

    Querida Isadora,

    Mejor quedar afuera entre rituales como ellos. I think I prefer the Biblical version of being born again. 😉 Su cuenta es buen escrito mi amiga.

    Shalom y abrazos,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • Inside the Mind of Isadora
      August 21, 2020 at 1:45 pm

      Queries Rochelle,
      Como siempre, Gracias. 😊
      Sometimes, kids are unaware of these odd rituals.
      Their innocence forming their own conclusions based on what they’ve seen. I’m pleased you thought it was well written. A page taken from the purple queen of historical facts. Enjoy your weekend 😍
      Abrazos y Carino,
      Isadora 😎

      Like

      Reply
  14. Dora
    August 20, 2020 at 6:43 pm

    Glad they kept the children outside! Syncretistic religions always seem to keep the worst of whatever they assimilate.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  15. justjoyfulness
    August 20, 2020 at 10:28 am

    Fascinating and scary at the same time.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  16. Sandra
    August 20, 2020 at 10:20 am

    Staying outside sounds like altogether the best idea. Sinister one, Isadora.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Inside the Mind of Isadora
      August 20, 2020 at 6:25 pm

      Well, I hadn’t thought about doing a sinister tale but, yes, I do believe it turned out that way. Children are always sent outside during these rituals. I’ve witnessed a few as an adult. I’m pleased you found it to be different from my usual stories. Be Safe … Isadora 😎

      Like

      Reply
  17. Iain Kelly
    August 20, 2020 at 9:36 am

    I would avoid the basement for sure. Great way to show different cultures.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  18. doodletllc
    August 19, 2020 at 11:41 pm

    Love the telling of this from the memory of a child. Beautiful.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  19. anotherday2paradise
    August 19, 2020 at 11:16 pm

    This story has a ring of truth to it, Issy. That rosemary fried chicken sounds really delicious. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Inside the Mind of Isadora
      August 20, 2020 at 6:20 pm

      There are a few sprinkles of experiences I had in this tale including the rosemary chicken. Having been a picky eater as a child, everyone was overjoyed that I liked it. I still make it to this day. My mom had the recipe. I’d be glad to share if you’d like it. Thanks, Sylvia. Hope your continuing to stay safe. Issy 😎

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • anotherday2paradise
        August 20, 2020 at 8:51 pm

        Thanks, Issy. Is it made in the oven with chicken breasts covered with garlic and rosemary?

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
        • Inside the Mind of Isadora
          August 20, 2020 at 9:49 pm

          It is made in whatever style you’d like. In my younger days – non-dietary issues: lol – I fried it. Now, I bake or it can be bar b qued in an aluminum pan. The secret is to make it and let it marinate for two days in the fridge. The ingredients are rosemary, garlic(fresh), thyme, basil, oregano, salt, parsley and olive oil. I try to use fresh herbs if I can but dried work just as well. I don’t have measurements. I go by eye. Then, after it’s been in the fridge for 2 days, then you marinate the chicken overnight with the marinade. Good Luck … post a pick if you remember. ~~~ : – )

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply
  20. neilmacdon
    August 19, 2020 at 11:00 pm

    I remember a Haitian explainung to me that Haiti was 80% Catholic and 100% voudou. Like santeria and other syncretic religions around the Caribbean, it gets a bad press

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • Inside the Mind of Isadora
      August 20, 2020 at 6:17 pm

      Yes, almost all of the Carribbean islands practice some form of occult religions to different degrees. I went to a private Catholic school in a monastary for a year. Although Catholic, many of the spiritual practices were in the midst. Strange for a child to understand. Thanks, Neil. Hope your continuing to Be Safe … Isadora 😎

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