10 May 2013

Published May 8, 2013 by rochellewisoff

WELCOME TO FRIDAY FICTIONEERS. 

As always, writers are encouraged to be as innovative as possible with the prompt and 100 word constraints. 

Henry David Thoreau said it best.

“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”

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THE CHALLENGE:

Write a one hundred word story that has a beginning, middle and end. (No one will be ostracized for going over or under the word count.)

THE KEY:

Make every word count.

THE RULES:

  • Copy your URL to the Linkz collection. You’ll find the tab following the photo prompt. It’s the little white box to the left with the blue froggy guy. Click on it and follow directions. This is the best way to get the most reads and comments.
  • MAKE SURE YOUR LINK IS SPECIFIC TO YOUR FLASH FICTION. (Should you find that you’ve made an error you can delete by clicking the little red ‘x’ that should appear under your icon. Then re-enter your URL. (If there’s no red x email me at Runtshell@aol.com. I can delete the wrong link for you).
    •  Make note in your blog if you’d prefer not to have constructive criticism.
    • REMINDER: This page is “FRIDAY FICTIONEERS CENTRAL” and is NOT the place to promote political or religious views. Also, you are responsible for the content of your story and policing comments on your blog. You have the right to delete any you consider offensive.

    **Please exercise DISCRETION when commenting on a story! Be RESPECTFUL.**

    Should someone have severe or hostile differences of opinion with another person it’s my hope that the involved parties would settle their disputes in private.

    ***************

    :) My story follows the prompt for those who might be distracted by reading a story before writing their own . I enjoy your comments. :)

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    Copyright-Ted Strutz




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Genre: Literary Fiction

Word Count: 100

HANAI

            I met Kevin online. Our connection began with shared interests and blossomed into more.

            “You should visit in person,” said my sister.  

            “Fat chance. He’s in Hawaii, I’m in Nebraska.”

            Last week I received an airline ticket.

            “Next Saturday. Icon Grill. Seattle.

                                    Aloha,

                                    Kevin.”

_______________________

            He slides into the booth across from me. “You bring it?”

            From my purse I take a faded photograph of twins, a boy and a girl. Korean War orphans. I’ve carried it for forty years.

            His almond-shaped eyes crinkle as he fishes an identical photo from his wallet.

            “Jah-meh, I always hoped to find you.”  

*Jah-meh – Korean for sister

130 comments on “10 May 2013

  • Poignant – and particularly relevant to all of us…incredible separations caused by that unspeakable but also very immature regime. You kept the suspense to the last second! Masterful..

    Like

  • I was “found” on the internet by my Brother whom I had not seen in almost 25 years. This story brought our reunion back to me. Just lovely..Thank-you.

    Like

  • Rochelle,

    This little story makes my heart soar. I’m an adoptee that has a sibling out there in this big bad world. You’ve no idea the joy it would bring me to have us find each other. Your prose brought a tear to my eye along with a tiny glimmer of hope. Thank you my dear. Very much.

    Fondly,
    Renee

    Like

    • Dear Lilac Lady,
      Your comments also make my heart soar. I believe you mentioned you were adopted once before on a story I wrote. I hope you find your sibling one day. Stranger things have been known to happen.
      Shalom,
      Rochelle

      Like

      • Your comments back make my heart do the same. I hope you know that. I’m taking a break from my blog. My words have dried up. I’m so very sad…. I’ll still do FF. Not this week, but for next Friday. It’s tough on us passionate ones. We always seem to hurt the most. Don’t we?

        Like

  • While not a twin – I have a brother who I had to wait a long time to meet. So I really like this.

    I’d add my photo icon but I’m not sure how. Someone helped me last week – Thank you.

    Like

  • Hell, Rochelle… once again you blow me away with your story! There will be lots of meetings at the Icon Grill this Friday I am sure… maybe none this touching.

    Glad you liked my photo. It will be fun to read the stories. I saw you used my photo when Janet tagged me on facebook and her story appeared on my page… almost moved to tears by that one, she will be hard to beat. Instead of a story this week, I will tell our friends a little about the Icon.

    My life of late has been hectic with a combination of work and the end of my daughter’s Fast Pitch Softball season. She is a junior at Friday Harbor High School, and I go to all her games and take pics for them to have. That involves a lot of trips to the mainland and travel. My writing time has suffered, but it’s not only the writing time, but the time to read everyone else’s stories… and that does go hand in hand. I try to keep up with my faves, and this week plan to read all the stories.

    Like

    • Oops… Major Typo Dept I meant my Granddaughter not my daughter. Oh, to be that young again. The funny thing. While Isabel is not a ‘spitting image’ of my daughter Ashley, when she is at bat concentrating on the pitcher, I see Ashley under that batting helmet. Ashley’s baseball career ended at 12, when I took her to the Emergency Room with a broken wrist, obtained sliding into Home Plate… Isabel plays with the same intensity.

      You can see her under that batting helmet on my facebook page. Other pics of the girls in a couple albums are there too.

      Like

  • Hey Rochelle,
    Nothing like a good rainy day to bring me indoors….been busy. Just glad to have a few moments to read some of the stories this week. A great job as always. At first I thought you were going to meet up with Doug. I think I dropped out of this thing last April only to come back in September when I had more time. I hope to find the time to squeeze a few stories in this summer. Well I enjoyed you touching story and I hope to catch up soon.

    Tom

    Like

  • Rochelle, this is beautiful! I was sucked into what I thought was a budding romance and was pleasantly surprised by the twist. (Also, my apologies to the other Fictioneers that I don’t comment on this week; I’m working on a deadline and hope to be more freed up in coming weeks!)

    Like

  • Beautiful story beautifully done. In this day and age, naturally the first thought the reader has is a match from a “singles” website. You keep the suspense just right until the description of the photograph. Perfect.

    Like

  • Hi Rochelle
    You’ve led me down the garden path again – I thought it was one thing, and it turned out to be something else entirely. I love the Korean spin on this, especially the crinkling of his almond eyes. Great stuff!

    Like

  • I’ve sooo missed everyone. Been away with my terminally ill fatherinlaw. He’s going into the nursing home this weekend, so finally, Mom has realized that he can’t be cared for at home any longer. It’s bad. That said, I’ve been spending the endless hours of sitting working on some writing that I haven’t gotten posted yet. Will give the pic above a try…

    Like

  • Hi Rochelle,
    I liked this. It’s a poignant story (with a happy ending, I hope) and it has an historical dimension which appeals to me. One thing snagged – the narrator refers to her “sister” in the first section. Then you conclude by telling us “Jah-meh” means sister. Isn’t this a bit too many sisters? The first could just as easily be “my girl-friend”. Not meaning to be negative – it’s just how it struck me.
    Cheers, and thanks for curating Fictioneers,
    John

    Like

    • Dear John,
      Yes, I see this as a happy ending. As for the perceived snag, all comments are welcome. In this case it’s intentional. I could’ve said “adopted sister” but that would’ve been a giveaway. and, you’re right I could’ve said “girl-friend.” Good point. Perhaps at some point, when my stories go into print, I’ll take the change into consideration.
      shalom,
      Rochelle

      Like

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