It’s that time again! Friday Fictioneers. Thanks to Madison Woods for the opportunity, challenge and fun. It never ceases to amaze me how one picture can stir so many imaginations. Thanks to Lora Mitchell for the intriguing prompt. Here’s my submission for this week. I’m looking forward to reading other stories from new friends around the world. 97 words.
“Whaddya think?” Jeff parked Myra’s wheelchair next to the statue.
Its three, single-file posterior wings and impossible position made her twisted back ache.
***
One year ago today they’d strolled along the Poughkeepsie Bridge.
Jeff whipped out his iPhone. “A portrait of next year’s Olympic gold medalist.
She mounted the side rail like she would a balance beam. There she struck a pose. But she slipped and plummeted 212 feet to the river.
***
Myra stroked her lifeless legs and then the statue’s contorted neck. “I think if I had a fairy godmother, she’d look like that.”
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Very well done and touching!
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touching and unexpected. I always enjoy your pieces.
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Thanks, Bill. Always nice to hear.
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HAHAHAHAHA! OK.
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Seriously?
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Awww…like everyone said, this is touching. Very well done!
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Hi Rochelle,
Nice parallelism between the statue and Myra’s story.
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Hey Rockstar.. Bittersweet. Lucky she survived that fall. PS; I knew you’d come up with an interesting take and not find it so hard after all. The bl and wh. photo looks great against the pink.
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Thanks for the photo, Lora. I’m publicly (for those who read this) apologizing for a crass, rash comment made about the statue on someone’s blog. I was speaking out of exhaustion and disappointment on a totally different level which I let flow through my fingers in an inappropriate manner.
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Thanks for the apology, Rochelle. It was not necessary but considerate.
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Ouch. I hope her fairy godmother is sorry for not looking after her better. Then again, after watching the Paralympics, perhaps she could still be aspiring to more if she wasn’t busy feeling sorry for herself! Great story.
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It’s a challenge to put everything into a 100 words. In my mind, Myra will aspire to more. It’s only been a year since her accident. Give her time. Thanks for your comments.
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Topical, unexpected and very touching. A great take on the prompt this week Rochelle,
Dee
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Ah, Rochelle, I guess the olympics is still fresh in both our minds. I’ve often wondered what my fairy God-mother must look like. Probably in a pink tutu, bearded, and weighing 285. The only way she could save me would be diving under me to break my fall.
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I just emailed you a picture of mine, Russell. She has curlers in her grey hair and her wand is slightly bent, but she watches over me while I write.
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very sad how life turns out…sometimes.
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Very poignant and moving. Excellent job.
Here’s mine: http://unexpectedpaths.com/friday-fictioneers/homo-avis/
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It does take time to become used to limitations; I feel for her as much as I hope for her. Good work, Rochelle 😉
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In an early draft of the story I had “The doctors called her a miracle.” . To fall from that distance, she’s extremely lucky to be alive. However, it was one of those sentences cut in the conservation of verbiage. At any rate we’ve all heard stories of people who’ve survived insurmountable odds.
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aww. poor girl.
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Since I see you picture in my “like” row, I’m assuming this is a positive comment.
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yup.
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Very unexpected ending. Oh, you got me. I’m glad she’s ok in the end. Maybe she takes more chances being in a wheelchair, I wonder.
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I think since Myra still has her hands she’ll probably be a wheelchair racer.
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There are chances you take and chances you don’t. Walking on a railing that far above a river falls squarely into the don’t category.
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Invincible youth, Adam. You see stupid stunts in the news all the time. College students jumping from high buildings into swimming pools and not quite making it comes to mind. thanks for reading and commenting.
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A pretty tragic take on the prompt, but really well executed. Somehow the fantastic nature of the sculpture really gives weight to the girl’s reality.
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Tragedy and resiliency. Nice interpretation?
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Jeff strikes me as rather inconsiderate. She seems to take it well and obviously a survivor.
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Interesting comment. Again, it’s hard to put everything into a 100 words. I hadn’t really considered Jeff, but in my head he really cared enough about her to stick by her. At any rate it was Myra’s idea to mount the railing, not his. But there again, it’s a challenge to convey everything in 100 words or less. Thanks for stopping by.
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I read this one and the last 4 or 5 of the Friday Fictioneers. You write well. Each one was touching in its own way and held my interest. Thank you for visiting my site.
Scott
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Wow, if that one doesn’t put at least a small lump in your throat then it’s time to check for a beating heart. You have a gift of conjuring up powerful emotions with minimal words. I’m not sure how you do it, but I’m going to keep coming back here so I can learn!
Very impressive Rochelle!
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Your generous words gave me something to smile about t his morning, John, Thank you.
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““I think if I had a fairy godmother, she’d look like that.” Are her words bitter or a realistic acceptance of where, and who, she is?
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A thought provoking question, VB. Perhaps I little of both I think. Thanks for reading and asking. 🙂
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