Here’s my response to Madison Woods’ photo prompt for this week’s Friday Fictioneers. Also check out Friday Fictioneers Facebook Page.
In 1901 taxidermist Jefferson Thomas constructed a home and a thriving business. His petulant mail-order bride hated rural life.
One day her prized ruby from a former suitor disappeared. Blaming Jefferson, she demanded a divorce. Tongues wagged when she abandoned both her husband and child.
A century later a tornado devastated the house to a pile of clapboard. Amid the rubble, Jefferson Thomas III, found nothing left of his heritage save a lone wall. He tore off a length of wallpaper and yelped.
A glass eyed, mummified woman stared back at him, a ruby ring clinched between her teeth.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
OK – now that's funny! I really enjoyed the history lesson!
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Glad you saw the humor,Sue.
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OHHHHH that was good. Very Very Good. Thank you for liking me on facebook. Here's mine, I just posted it: http://remakingme-atiyatownes.blogspot.com/2012/05/fixer-upper-friday-flash-fiction.html
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I had a big typo in the first comment; that's why it's gone.Yours is excellent–and I swear I wrote mine three days ago before I ever read yours. You'll see why: http://unspywriter.wordpress.com/friday-fictioneers/amontillado/
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It's all good, Maggie. I have a few misplaced commas in my story. Don't look too hard for them, okay?
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I love this; historical thriller in the making. Can we have some more, please? Mine is here: http://readinpleasure.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/fridayfictioneers-lost-without-you/
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Anything's possible. Always spinning more story in my head.
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Hmm, seems lots of people used this weeks prompt to pay homage to Poe, though each in a different way. I never expected both a ruby and body to be found behind the wall. Very exciting and fun read. Well done!Mines at http://whimsicalquestsofacuriousmind.blogspot.com/
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Dear Rochelle,I read this story from cover to cover, sucked in immediately by the tone and timbre of your voice. What a wonderful ending. Macabre and yet telling. (Our stories are joined at the hip, and not just by tornadoes. See what you think.)Aloha,Doughttp://ironwoodwind.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/the-nerve/
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Those mail-order brides can be so fussy. Imagine, loving a ruby more than rural life. She's obviously related to the woman in Doug's story.Thanks for visiting mine. Here's the link for othershttp://russellgayer.blogspot.com/
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Great story! I was hooked from the start. The body in the wall: that was just the icing on the cake.http://authorbrandonscott.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/this-old-house/
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That sounds like the perfect synopsis of a new book to send to a publisher. Well done :-)Here's mine too: http://womanontheedgeofreality.com/2012/05/03/friday-fictioneers-a-wall-to-keep-a-secret/
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Exactly! I was thinking of writing something similar, but yours came out perfectly. I love that the ring was clenched between her teeth! What a shock!Yours in Bath,Uk,Linda Lindaura
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Unexpectedly funny, this one.Mine is nearly 200 words this week:http://garybaileywriting.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/175/
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I love this (and the last sentence was totally unexpected)! Well done. 🙂 Here's mine http://alongthewaywithjulia.wordpress.com/
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Hmm, really spooky reveal at the end there. And such a contrast with highly 'factual' voice at the start. Nice one.http://castelsarrasin.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/dysfunctional-friday-fictioneers-may-2012/
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Had a 'Poe' feel, being walled up like that. I wonder if she was dead then walled up, or awoke to find a gem wedged in her mouth in the darkness behind the wall…Here's mine: http://thebradleychronicles.wordpress.com/
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Ahhhhh-Sweet Revenge! 🙂 Loved it. Great job!Mine: http://www.vlgregory-circa1800.vpweb.com/blog.html
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Hmmm, I think she probably got exactly what she deserved. Nice twist, didn't see it coming. I was expecting him to find just he gem. Great.Here's mine:http://teschoenborn.com/2012/05/03/friday-fictioneers-the-gig/
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Excellent! Should have known something was up with hi being a taxidermist, but I didn't. Writing it as a historical account heightens the fictive revelation at the end.Mine is at: http://repuestodelatabla.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/friday-fictioneer-100-word-srory-parents/
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Yikes. Dark and Creepy. Great twist at the end. Didn't expect it, even though him being a taxidermist was a neat clue. I spook easily so I can imagine what the sight of that mummified face would have done to my heart murmur. Nice work Rochelle. Here's mine:www.triplemoonstar.blogspot.com
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Well, the fact that she was mummified is a clue there. Not sure how he killed her but it was justifiable homicide.
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Glad you saw the humor in it. I personally thought it was funny so what does that say about me?
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Hello Rochelle,I adore this story! Even at the point where I guessed what would happen, the pace and the crisp narrative kept me engaged. Very well done!Wakefield Mahonhttp://www.wakefieldmahon.com/1/post/2012/05/bump-in-the-night-fridayfictioneers.html
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Thanks for the high praise. I'm really having a blast with this short story thing. I tried to leave a comment on your blog but it wouldn't let me. Your story had a Tom and Jerry meets Charlie flair to it. Love it.
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Hi there…whoa….the last part made me speechless. It's nice, the words are concise. Hope to see you more often…. and read more, too. Have a blessed day.http://writeforacause.org/
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Oh yes, setting him up as a taxidermist in the first sentence sure worked for this story! Loved it Rochelle. Great twist, lol.
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Wow, this one took me a bit to figure out. A well constructed mystery story, and extremely vindictive. Well done…truly creepy.Mine is here:http://glossarch.wordpress.com/2012/05/05/a-time-for-everything-friday-fictioneers/
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I love it! The historical feel did not hide the poor man's frustration.
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Whoa. Nice! Loved how you took it WAY back!
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I liked this story better than the others. It was a little more clear on what was happening, and a little suspenseful. Got your message reply. I have the site Writeforacause following my blog site. I am going to submit too, and try a 100 word piece. A little different for one who likes a bit more detail, but we'll see. I'm still teachable. Ha.
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I understand. I tend to be verbose myself. Having to tell a story in only 100 words causes you be judicious about what you say and how you say it.
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Well, at least she got her ring back! And at least Jefferson Sr put his skills to good use and there’s part of me that doesn’t blame him – she made all that fuss over a ring a ‘former’ suitor had given her? What a baggage! Grisly and yet it made me smile too.
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