HAPPY NEW YEAR AND WELCOME TO FRIDAY FICTIONEERS!
May it be a good year, filled with prosperity, happiness and publication dreams fulfilled.
_____________
Henry David Thoreau said it best.
“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”
In 2014, as in 2013, writers are encouraged to be as innovative as possible with the prompt and 100 word constraints.
THE CHALLENGE:
Write a one hundred word story that has a beginning, middle and end. (No one will be ostracized for going a few words over the 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.
- While our name implies “fiction only” it’s perfectly Kosher to write a non-fiction piece as long as it meets the challenge of being a complete story in 100 words.
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- ***PLEASE MAKE NOTE IN YOUR BLOG IF YOU PREFER NOT TO RECEIVE 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.
- Like us on Facebook
My story follows the photo and link tool. I enjoy honest comments and welcome constructive criticism. 
- Shalom,
Rochelle
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word count: 98
THE SINS OF THE FATHER
When I was young, my mother deflected my questions about her time in Auschwitz.
“What’s past is past. Be happy.”
“Are you happy, Mom?”
“Don’t ask.”
I hounded her until she told me more than I was prepared to hear. For years her pain and bitterness clenched my heart.
“Promise me, Rivka,” she whispered from her deathbed.
In the stillness of dawn I scatter her ashes in the Sola River near the camp. As they swirl and sink beneath the water to join those of the beloved grandparents I never met, I feel her fingers release my heart.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
As ever, you get to where it hurts.
Great writing.
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Dear Elephant,
It does seem my muse likes to lead to the darker places. Thank you for your kind comments.
shalom,
Rochelle
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I sensed pain….heart touching ! Beautiful story Rochelle I love this weeks photo.
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Dear Lala,
The strength of survivors I’ve known never ceases to amaze me. The indomitable human spirit is a wonder to behold. Thank you for commenting. And I agree, Erin’s photo is wonderful. I’m looking forward to great stories this week. 😉
shalom,
Rochelle
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So heartbreakingly touching… And this week’s photo is so great…
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Thank you, Björn. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sad but beautifully written moving tale. Strength of survivors is really amazing but must be very difficult to forget past.
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Dear Indira,
I have an acquaintance who is the child of survivors. I thought of him in writing this. Unfortunately, he hasn’t found peace or closure. I don’t believe it’s an experience anyone can forget. What I don’t understand is how they remain sane.
Thank you for your sweet comments.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle, you have this wonderful writing style which touches the heart. Shalom.
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You hint at so much more story, but keep the narrator firmly in place. I’d have liked to go deeper into her feelings and those of the mother too – this is one of those stories where 100 words just doesn’t seem enough.
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Dear Jen,
Perhaps this will grow into a larger piece at that. You’ve fired my imagination as to where this could go.
thank you for commenting.
shalom,
Rochelle
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You always write such beautiful stories, Rochelle! You tell enough to get us interested, and then drop us off with enough information to feel satisfied, but still wanting more anyway.
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Dear MSS,
Thank you very much. Nice words to read. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh,this was heart breaking and an intense portrayal of the underlying agony! Rochelle you are a master story teller!Missed FF and writing and am so glad to be back,too and once again wish you and your loved ones a very Happy New year!Loads of love 🙂
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Dear Atreyee,
Again, good to have you back and hope that you experience only good health in 2014.
Thank you for your sweet compliments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A pleasure to read anything you write dear Rochelle-am learning so much from you:-)
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I am glad that Rivka’s heart finally has some degree of freedom after carrying the burden of her mothers’ ordeals. And I’m glad her mother is finally at peace as well. Amazing that you can present us with an entire lifetime’s story in just 100 words.
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Dear Michelle,
Thank you for coming by and commenting. I’m happy the story came across as intended.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This story said it all, without actually saying it, which is a mark of a good story. Not over-cooked, beautifully under-stated. Well done.
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Dear Sandra,
You’ve made my day…possibly my week…with your kind words. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The title… perfect. A beautifully told tale.
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Thank you, Lisa. Your comments mean a lot.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Your stories mean a lot. I love how you tie photos to historical events, revealing truth about sometimes hidden chapters of humanity’s story. Thank you for turning our eyes to those pages we might not otherwise read.
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It’s wonderful how you say so much is so few words. Well written, and well balanced.
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Dear Georgia,
Many thanks for your words. 🙂
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, This is wonderful – so moving and I can see her emptying the ashes in the water “to join the grandparents I never met.” So powerful and I love it! You are a master story teller!
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Dear Nan,
I’m pleased that my story moved you. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A very moving piece. So sad and powerful and all around wonderful.
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Dear Adam,
Thank your for your all around wonderful comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m still waiting for the picture to load but the prose is beautiful, and desperately sad.
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Thank you, Etienne. Glad you stopped by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s that last line that grabs you – releases you – grabs you. I like the pace of this story, Rochelle. Gentle and powerful.
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Dear Honie,
Like you, I do a lot of chiseling until the sculpture emerges. Happy to grab you. Thank you for your sweet comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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always a beautiful story from you, but i liked this one a lot. every word just seems to be so perfectly in place. even the title says a lot. i absolutely loved the last line.
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Dear KZ,
You’ve just made me smile. Your comments mean a lot to me.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A wonderful tale of closure.
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Thank you, Dawn. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Emotional as always, beautiful 🙂
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Many thanks, Helen.
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Rochelle- This was stunning. Seriously one of favorites.But you know I love the mixture of love and loss.
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Dear Dana,
Your words make me smile. Life is a mixture of love and loss, isn’t it? Glad you liked my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The title intrigues me: the mother chooses to have her ashes spread with her parents rather than a husband (or the father of the narrator)–is the title a hint to other horrors her mother suffered as a young girl in a concentration camp? Good story, Rochelle.
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Dear VB,
The title has more to do with the burden that’s been handed down from generation to generation. It seems that the children of survivors have the same unforgiveness/bitterness as their parents.
Thank you for coming by and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Well-told story. As painful as it is, we must never allow them to be forgotten.
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Dear Patti,
It does concern me that with the passing of that generation that it could be forgotten. And there are those who claim that it never happened, despite the evidence the Nazi’s so systematically left behind.
Thank you for your comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Agree with PattiSJ. Never to be forgotten. You touched deeply in 100 words. Simply amazing. I would love to join in this some time.
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Dear Alexandria,
Thank you for your sweet words. As for joining…any time. It’s a challenge to stuff a whole story into 100 word package but once you get it down, it’s hard to stop. I was addicted from my first one in April 2012.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A sad story, so elegantly told. At least Rivka can move on now that her heart has been released. Once again, you write about a terrible thing and make a beautiful story from it.
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Dear Eric,
I’m pleased that you liked my story. I’d hoped that it wouldn’t feel as dark as some that I’ve written. Nor do I want to become a “one note” with Holocaust stories. On the other hand, it’s a subject that’s up close and personal to me. So when the muse strikes, I will write.
Thank you for your sweet words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Closure in sorrow. It does twist the gut.
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Dear Joe,
But if there’s no closure, the gut remains forever twisted. Thanks for commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Tis true!
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Heart-wrenching. A beautiful ending as the narrator finds herself released in releasing her.
-HA
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Dear Anmol,
Nice to see you back. Thank you for commenting. Glad you liked it.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A beautifully written reminder of a horror.
I found “she told me more than I was prepared to hear” particularly poignant, considering the subject.
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Dear Ali,
I was particularly happy with that line, too. Is it okay for me to say that? I will often come back to this particular historical subject. I guess you could say it’s ingrained in me. As that generation is fast becoming a memory, I fear it’s too easy now to forget than ever.
Anyway…thank you for commenting. Glad you liked it.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very touching Rochelle. Our parents generation did keep their pain to theselves you expressed that very well.
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Dear Kim,
They did indeed, but the tension was there nonetheless. Thank you for your kind words.
shalom,
Rochelle
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How is it that you can make the hair on my arms stand up, bring a tear to my eye, make the blood rush to my head with great emotion, …..and do it in 100 words? Not once, but story after story. I am married to a master. I bow to you, and envy your amazing talent.
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Dear Jan,
How many are fortunate enough to have their spouses in their corner. Thank you for your love, support and patience in reading, sometimes, four drafts per story.
Love you,
Rochelle
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“I feel her fingers release my heart.” is a beautiful last line to a poignant story.
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Dear Lindaura,
Thank you for your sweet words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beauty that speaks through darkness.
Sorry I have been gone for several months (writing, family, holiday). A perfect prompt to return to.
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Dear Leslie,
Good to have you back in the fold. Thank you for commenting. Glad you liked my offering.
shalom,
Rochelle
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I have only participated once, because I am not much of a fiction writer. I do love to read fiction, and you are a compelling storyteller. This story was so bittersweet.
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Dear Robin,
Practice brings improvement. 😉 Glad you came by with your kind comments.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, thank you so much for doing this. Silent
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You’re most welcome, Silent. Thank you for stopping by.
shalom,
Rochelle
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You are GOOD, girl. Always moving . . . .
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Thanks Suz 😀
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Dear Rochelle,
Your tale has the feel of a once jagged rock that has tumbled through long years down the river from mountain to sea. Its smooth beauty masks the work required to shape it, but to the discerning eye, many stories can be read there.
Another stone for your journey.
It is happening now.
Aloha,
Doug
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Dear Doug,
If I can be a fraction of the writer you are in your comments, I’ll have accomplished much. Thank you for sharing the journey. It is happening now.
Shalom-aloha,
Rochelle
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Your story is so haunting. Beautiful! It brought tears to my eyes.
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Dear Lisa,
Nothing’s more complimentary to me as an author than to hear that my writing brought tears. Thank you for coming by with your sweet words.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Painful and powerful. Excellent as always.
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Thank you, Jan. Very kind of you to say so.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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i visited auschwitz a few years back. what really happened there was so tragic and despicable that survivors would be reluctant to tell about their experiences there.
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Dear Plaridel,
Fortunately, many survivors have told their experiences. We have their memories in writing many times over. But there were and are those that found them too horrible to speak of, particularly to their children.
I’ve never been to Auschwitz but I did get to travel to Israel land Yad V’Shem, the holocaust museum. Many tears for me. Quite a few of the people in photos of those who perished looked like they might have been my own relatives.
thank you for commenting,
shalom,
Rochelle
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have you been to the holocaust museum in washington, d.c.?
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There needs to be a button that says “Love the writing, the content broke my heart” — specifically for you, darling, because you do it so well.
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Goodness, Rochelle, this is so powerful and moving – it’s what you don’t say in this that is conspicuous in its absence. It tugs at something deep inside. Shalom
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Dear Freya,
Thank you for your sweet comments.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Difficult to imagine that time in history, when the devil revealed itself in the guise of Hitler. Since then it seems, evil continues to ebb and flow in all manner of men. Keeping them in check is the responsibility of those who believe that good always triumphs in the end. hugs for reminding us of our duty…
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Dear Millie,
I’ve also heard it called the spirit of Amalek…first recorded in Haman in the book of Esther and manifest many times over….Hitler was one…Stalin also had a plan to rid the world of the “Jewish problem.” Thankfully death thwarted him. Of course the list could go on.
I suppose my contribution is a small one in writing stories to keep the memories alive. But who knows when we’ll be called upon to do more?
Thanks for commenting.
Shalom and hugs,
Rochelle
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God help us if that day ever comes. I pray heartily it doesn’t. Hugs, dear friend…hugs.
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Oh so very eloquent, evoking the long held pain and the release to the river. Beautiful, Rochelle. Not a word out of place.
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Dear Erin,
Your beautiful photo is an inspiration. Thank you for your sweet comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I feel her fingers release my heart…wow, I love that. This is hauntingly beautiful, Rochelle. A pleasure to read and share with you. Here’s some great writing!
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Dear Amy,
I never tire of reading such compliments. 😉 It’s a pleasure to be part of this group and to be able to share with writers such as yourself. Of course when I joined I didn’t expect to be in the driver’s seat. I’m pleased you like my writing and my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
It’s always a pleasure to read you. And what would we do without you?! Please don’t ever leave us.
Shalom,
Amy
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Painfully touching, Rochelle, but at least some peace is found with the ending. Beautifully done – and always a pleasure to read your tiny tales. 🙂
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Dear Joanna,
Tiny tales. I like that. Could be a good book title as my publisher’s interested in putting my flashes into book form.
Thank you for your comments on my story. Glad you liked it. As all know it’s a subject near and dear to my heart so I hope my stories don’t become tedious.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Never tedious, Rochelle 🙂 Our best writing comes from sharing things for which we have a passion. 🙂 Hence the magic, inspiration, and (usually) happy endings in my own creations! 🙂
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A powerful, heart breaking story, told so well. Well done Rochelle.
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Thank you, Mike. 😀
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Hi Rochelle,
That does look like a beautiful place to scatter ashes. A touching story, grounded in history as you do so often so well. Ron
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Dear Ron,
Thank you for your touching and humbling comments. Much appreciated.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great writing Rochelle! Lovely photo too!
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Thank you on both counts, Barbara. Of course the credit for the photo goes to the talented Erin Leary.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great photo and it allowed me to add more to the story I did for Al’s Sunday Photo Fiction! 🙂
Have a great weekend Rochelle! Shalom!
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Absolutely perfectly beautiful story! That’s all there is to say.
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Dear Linda,
Then all I will say is thank you. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’ve hit the spot once again. Great writing.
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Dear Patrick,
And you hit my happy spot. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Dr. Feelgood (perhaps I misnamed you this week),
Once again you make history personal by assigning names, faces, and feelings to those who lived through such a horrible experience. It touched my heart. – Bill
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Dear Bill,
I thought the ending was something to feel good about. 😉 Glad you could drop by and leave such nice comments.
Shalom,
Dr. F. G.
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Honoring 6,000,000 in 100 words. Wonderful and poignant and lasting.
Here’s mine: http://unexpectedpaths.com/friday-fictioneers/grasping-for-straws/
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Dear Maggie,
Every chance I get I will honor them. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Quite a poignant story you told, Rochelle…and a testament as to how that time in history affects people even today. This is my first time here. I’ve done other prompts with Flash writing before and always have enjoyed the challenge. Hope to visit you again.
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Dear Gayle,
Thanks for your comments and welcome. I came in as the new kid on the block in April 2012 and inherited Madison Wood’s baby by October. Haven’t missed a week since…hardcore flash fiction addict here.
So welcome! I hope to see you again.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you for the warm welcome, Rochelle. I’m just getting back to my blog writing after some time away…still getting warmed up. I’m sure our paths will meet again.
Gayle ~
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Beautifully written Rochelle. Loved that last line about finding closure.
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Thank you, Subroto. Glad you stopped by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The subject is one that I have personal knowledge of. For that reason, the most expressive and essential part is the first half. The central duo of sentences is a structural marvel of which the first one is the embodiment of truth as both salvation and damnation.
Two sad thumbs up and shalom, Tay.
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Dear Tay,
Your beautiful comment leaves me without reply other than a heartfelt thank you. Blessings on you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, I’m way behind on my Fictioneer reading this week but I wanted to read this before the next batch gets posted. I loved this piece. There is so much emotion and history and significance is such a small area. You distill a story well.
-David
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Dear David,
I’m honored and pleased that you took time out of your travels to stop by. Your comments mean a lot to me. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very poignant. And it’s true that some people don’t speak of horrors they’ve gone through. Others don’t stop (like my grandfather). I don’t understand the title, though. Obviously, I’m missing something. I don’t believe in that strange and shallow idea that if something bad happens to someone, they somehow deserved it! I don’t believe you meant that either.
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Dear Ann,
Was your grandfather a camp survivor?
The title implies that the curse is passed from generation to generation, certainly not that it was anything deserved. The children of camp survivors tend to have emotional problems that stem from their parents’ experience. I know of one such man who has carried his parents’ bitterness. I hope and pray that one day he’ll also find closure.
I hope that clarifies it a bit.
Thanks for commenting,
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks for the clarification. I can see that. No, my grandfather was a soldier in the Great War. Spent a lot of time in the French trenches. He lost his beloved younger brother only a month from the end of the war. His experiences coloured his life. He was angry and bitter and talked about his experiences as I was growing up and so his distress lives on in me, but not his bitterness. 🙂
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Such a rough time as I can only imagine for those who were there.
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Lovely, Rochelle. This piece contains a depth and maturity that I am happy to see. Shalom.
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Dear Marie Gail,
How wonderful of you to drop in and comment. You’ve made me smile.
shalom,
Rochelle
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