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Below is the photo prompt. I’ve tried to enlarge it but it defies all my attempts. 
PHOTO PROMPT
Copyright -Mary Shipman
*I have out-of-town guests coming this week so I won’t be reading or commenting much after Thursday. I really appreciate all of you.*
This was the fourth story I posted for Friday Fictioneers, 1 May 2012. It’s still one of my favorites and it’s fun to go back there to see who commented and what they said. 😉
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word count: 99
SIMPLE HOUSE
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 
Have a wonderful break Rochelle.. an intriguing story.. those glass-eyes probably had a sheen of itself… I will soon leave for a break too. so we’ll see if I decide to post for this one.
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Dear Björn,
I’ll still be lurking a bit. Enjoy your break, too.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
I remember this story. I liked it then and I like it even more now because it brings back memories. There were only about 45 regular writers in FF and yet, because that was more than double the original numbers of the charter members, we thought things were getting out of control.
You’ve inspired me to post my story for that week. Thanks for the impetus. (And for all of the hard work you do herding all of us cats.)
Enjoy your guests and your well deserved time off.
Aloha,
Doug
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Dear Doug,
45? Who knew it would almost triple? I’m so glad that some of those longtime FF’rs such as yourself have stuck around. Without your moral support I don’t know how I would’ve made it through at times.
This story is near and dear to my heart for a number of reasons.
Thank you for stopping by. Safe travels, my dear friend.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle & Doug,
I’m glad you stayed with it long enough for me to join.
Thanks,
Phyllis ;0)
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I expected the ring. Its owner startled me. Good take. 🙂
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Dear A.D.
Glad I could startle you. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I am taking a 90% break myself, so I won’t be doing them in this time either. Enjoy your time off Rochelle.
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Enjoy your break, too, Al.
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🙂
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Rochelle, Have a great, well-earned vacation! I hadn’t read the story before so I enjoyed the surprise ending. Well written as always. 🙂 —Susan
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Thank you, Susan. It’s one of my favorites even after two years
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Have a wonderful break. Brilliant story
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Thank you on both counts, Amanda.
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Great story. Enjoy your well deserved break.
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Thank you, FF. I’m looking forward to a brief respite. But I’ll be back to my fictioneers family.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Excellent and creepy!
Bonnes vacances, Madame.
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Merci on both counts, Cher Elephant.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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i Rochelle – enjoy your change of role – from one host to another. I am sure you as well as those you host will enjoy as we do! 🙂
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Somehow “Hi” lost its “H” to become “i” in the beginning !
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Thank you, Indrajit,
i’ll still be lurking but not quite as active for a couple of weeks.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The ruby ring clenched between the teeth brings a wealth of action to the history of this piece. Sometimes it’s the little things that really give a story ‘legs’. Nice one Rochelle, enjoy the partial hiatus. 🙂 (I’ve been dying to use that word for a while…
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Dear Sandra,
I’m pleased you liked my story. I remember having a lot of fun with it at the time.
Just a few more hours until my vacation officially starts.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, super.
I need to dig through my files and unearth my two year old story.
Cool!
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You could always write a new one, JK. Thanks for dropping by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I enjoyed going back in time reading the stories I’d shared two years ago and I actually liked the original better than the idea I’d come up with for a new story, so I reposted the original. Cool exercise, tho!
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I go back and read the old ones from time to time. It’s fun to see who commented and what they said. This one being my fourth one when I was still the new kid on the block. And I still rank this story in the top ten of my favorites out of over a hundred.
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Dear Rochelle, Wonderful story and the ruby ring clenched between her teeth – awesome passage! Love it! Nan 🙂
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Enjoy your vacation – you deserve it! Nan
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Thank you to both, Nan. I’ll admit to having a lot of fun with this story. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Nan,
So far, I’m enjoying the break and my company. I’m pleased you like my story. It’s still one of my favorites for many reasons.
Thank you.
shalom,
Rochelle
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It seems we all need a break. I missed the last two weeks and I’ll be missing this one also. I’m finishing up a renovation project that is taking all of my free time then leaving for a camping trip this weekend. Hopefully I can return next week refreshed and with no more renovations in the near future!
Enjoy your break! I’d say you more than earned it.
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Dear Adam,
Thank you and enjoy your break.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi Rochelle, I’m not very old in FF so creepy story coming from you surprised me. Have a nice time dear.
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Dear Indira,
I might add that it’s lovely to have you as part of our group. In your willingness to learn I’ve watched you grow as a writer and I always appreciate your kind words and support.
This story actually surprised me a little. I never know for sure where the muse will take me which makes writing such a thrill.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It worked very well Rochelle. The end shocked me. Thanks for such kind words dear.
Shalom.
Indira.
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I wonder how much the ruby is worth and who is the woman. Enjoy your time with your visitors.
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Oh, I get who the lady was! I’m a little slow in the mornings and I need sun badly. We’ve had almost forever rain and clouds.
Lily
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Dear Lily,
Apparently the ruby was worth enough to her to lose her life. 😉 I am enjoying my visitors.
Thank you.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, you are such a dear, sweet lady, with an extraordinary imagination and truly the hostess with the mostest.
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Dear Honie,
Your sweet comments make me smile as does your writing. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think it must be time for a little break, Rochelle. Truly gruesome tale…
Have a wonderful vacation and thanks for all your work for Friday Fictioneers!
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Dear Lisa,
I’ll admit to enjoying the break. This story still ranks among my top ten favorites of over 100 flashes I’ve written in the past two years.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love this story. It’s amazing. You know, you hear about people walling up their victims , often in the killer’s home. That has got to smell! Well, done. Have a nice time off. Lucy
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Dear Lucy,
Exactly the point. I wanted to wall up my victim but thought about the smell. So how could she not? He stuffed her. 😉 Then I thought “taxidermy.” So I googled “taxidermy, human” and, voila, came up with this.
I am enjoying my time.
Thank you,
shalom,
Rochelle
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I, too, expected the ring but not the bearer. Nice (?) surprise.
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Dear Alicia,
There was a rash of walled up body stories that week. But I think I had the only ruby ring. 😉 It was a fun write.
Thank you,
shalom,
Rochelle
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What a spooky story! Is it true? Often your tales come from history itself. I could almost see this one happening for real. Great story Rochelle! In the end, I guess he wasn’t a pauper after all.
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Dear Eric,
This is a work of pure fiction. It is, however, the first flash that I did some research for. I didn’t want the body to stink so I had to find a way it wouldn’t. I googled “taxidermy, human” and came up with mummification. Aha! I guess I took a bit of liberty calling this one “historical fiction.”
Thank you for commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’ll keep this short – you have better things to do! Enjoy your break, and thanks for still hosting even while you’re away from us.
Don’t take this the wrong way, but I often find looking back shows me how much I’ve grown as a writer. I enjoyed this story, and can find no fault with it, but I think your more recent pieces are even richer and more powerful. This is good stuff though, and a lovely grizzly surprise at the end.
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Dear Jen,
Good friends. I’ve hardly been online in the last 24 hours.
I agree and took your comment as a compliment. It’s fun to look back and see how far I’ve come. I was a green novice at flash fiction. Addicted from the start and have learned so much about editing. (Like maybe I should edit that last sentence. 😉 )
Thank you.
shalom,
Rochelle
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well done! well done! i do believe my dark side is rubbing off on you Rochelle:) loved the shocking ending! i laughed out loud. one last thing she can shove in her mouth.
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Dear Contactrida,
I wrote this one two years ago. 😉 Dark side already in place. I have to let this morbid little muse come out to play every so often. It keeps people on their toes. I guess it’s more dark humor than historical fiction and I’m glad it made you laugh.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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i read your write up after the fact. oh how i wished it was me who turned you dark:) LOL! loved the oldie but goodie anyway:)
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Taxidermist husband, disgruntled mail-order bride longing for an old flame, final battle over missing ring….I love it when I have to tease out the details to understand the story. You did an excellent job. Sorry I missed it the first time around.
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Dear Melody,
Better late than never. 😉 Yes, you caught it all. I had a blast writing this one.
Thank you.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Love it!
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Thank you. 😀
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I just loved this. I wanted to be angry at her, then not so much. 😉 Excellent imagery.
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Dear W,
I guess i didn’t have a lot of sympathy for her. I saw her as something of a shrew. I’m glad you liked.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, this isn’t a re-run for me. I wasn’t with you until about August or September. This is a great story to return to. I love the ruby ring clenched between her teeth. That’s quite a visual!
Enjoy your guests! Oh, you so deserve a break! Don’t worry about a thing here.
Shalom, Amy
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Dear Amy,
This is still one of my faves. I had a blast researching and writing for it, ie how would the body not have offered up an unholy stench? Glad you liked. Hm. Seems like you’ve always been an FF’r.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I know, right? The time seems to just fly by! I think my 2-year anniversary with FF will be sometime in September. I’ll have to check. Thanks again for all your time. You are such a shining light for all of us.
Thanks!
Shalom,
Amy
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An amazingly dark story. Taut and brilliantly narrated. It knocked the stuffing out of me!
(Sorry, I couldn’t resist the urge!)
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Dear Vijaya,
I’m pleased you like this one. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wow, if that thing popped out of a wall at me, I’d run and never look back! I love the details you sprinkled throughout to really bring this to life! Have a nice break, Rochelle! 😀
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Dear Adelie,
I’d run, too. But since I’m the author I’m fearless.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ha! I thought that photo looked familiar. I don’t think I wrote one that time. Your story still stands as a good one, R.
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Dear Ted,
It is still one of my favorites.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
I enjoyed your telling of this story. I’ve read other versions of this in the past from other authors, and the details are so amusing.
I also like the retread idea. It’s a great way to give yourself a break while keeping the action alive in the blogosphere.
Have a great time with your visitors!
All my best,
Marie Gail
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Dear Marie Gail,
I’ve gotten better at stepping outside the box since then. 😉 Glad you enjoyed.
Having a blast with the visitor.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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She wasn’t in Kansas anymore (or maybe she was!) Enjoy your break and who says you can’t go back again? You just did.
janet
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Dear Janet,
This retro and your visit have been fun.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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have a wonderful weekend celebrating some time for yourself and sharing with your friends, Rochelle. you kept me wondering what would happen to that mail-order bride . . . she should have been grateful but guess it’s hard when the marriage was somewhat arranged.
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Dear Sun,
I have a hunch the mail-order bride did it for the money and when things didn’t turn out the way she imagined…well..you get the picture.
Having a lovely time and am very slow to answer or get around this week.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Well…good news is, at least they found the ruby! 😉 Hope you have a great, relaxing weekend!
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Dear Anne,
No doubt that was an inheritance J.T. III didn’t anticipate.
Thank you.
shalom,
Rochelle
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She hadn’t abandoned, she was made to abandon with the ring… what a chilling tale, Rochelle!
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Dear Anita,
That was the whole idea. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Something about old wallpaper just makes for a good scary story. I figured she didn’t just leave her husband and son, and so figured she must have ended up in that wall… but the ring in her teeth, oooh, so creepy! The image really stays with me. Another good one, Rochelle! I hope you enjoy some much deserved time off with your friends.
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Dear Dawn,
As I recall, the first time around, that photo spawned a few walled up body stories.
I am enjoying my company. Enjoy your travels.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wonderful story, I love that the final image of the ring clenched between her teeth tells so much about the murder without any need for details
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He stuffed her! Fantastic.
The oldies are just as good, then?
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Dear Patrick,
Wow. There’s your comment after all. it must have been hiding.
Thank you…again.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Excellent! And very dark for a Rochelle story—loved it!
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Thank you, Jan. 😀
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I guess the message is…love it…or…you’re outta here, like permanently. The best, as always, Rochelle.
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Dear Millie,
I have the feeling that old Jefferson Thomas had enough whining. 😉 Nothing worse than being reminded that you weren’t the first choice.
Thank you.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Another valuable lesson from the great Jefferson…
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What a great story, Rochelle. The ending came as a complete surprise, and I can’t believe I missed the clues. Clever writing.
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Dear Karen,
Love to put in a twist whenever I can.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My goodness that’s spooky! ! ! I tried for spooky this week but yours has hit it out of the park! Enjoy your break. I think a flashback is a brilliant idea for when you have a much-needed rest.
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Thank you, Jessie. Yes, I am enjoying a bit of a break.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wonderful story! Have a lovely break 🙂
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Thank you, EL. 😀
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Dear Rochelle,
What an ending! Enjoy your break and your company.
Love,
Renee
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Hi Rochelle,
What a great story! Not quite the best way to meet an ancestor.
Thanks for hosting this exercise, and enjoy your break!
All the best,
Emilie
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Dear Emilie,
Indeed…a very odd way to meet your great grandma. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi Rochelle, I very much enjoyed your story! I wrote my story and linked to your site on my blog. I also used your linking process, and the link works – not sure why my gravitar didn’t show up in the link, however.
Thanks for hosting the Friday Fictioneers. It’s great fun to try to think fo a story based on the photo prompts chosen.
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Dear Kate,
It’s hard to say why your gravatar didn’t work. Gremlins? At least your story posted. .
Friday Fictioneers is very special to me and hosting is my pleasure.
My story is still one of my favorites after writing and posting over 100 thus far.
Thank you for commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh my, I was expecting a normal history piece and found a delightful bit of beautiful horror fiction! What a lovely surprise!
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Dear Georgia,
Perhaps the historical fiction tag is misleading. Lovely surprise? Oh my.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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🙂
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As your friendly neighbourhood spammer, I’ll attempt posting comments again 🙂
Great story even though Grandma turned out to be a mummy (just like any TV soap worth it’s salt). And looks like Grandpa carried his secrets with him. Hopefully her gift of the ruby ring will help him through the rough time.
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Dear Subroto,
No doubt the ring will assuage any grief. 😉 Thank you for your spamming comments. Always welcome.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Clever story Rochelle, great visual image at the end. I love a good horror story. Enjoy your break.
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Dear Maree,
Glad my story worked for you. I am enjoying something of a respite, thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Enjoy your guests and taking a break. This was a new story for me and such a good one to show the passing of time and how much you can get into 100 words. I’m left wondering if Jefferson’s wife is related to the shrew in the cellar in Doug’s story.
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Dear Sarah Ann,
I don’t think Jefferson’s wife was related to the witch in Doug’s story but they certainly were joined at the hip, weren’t they? 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I found it really hard not to follow in your wake, Rochelle, and have a walled-in person or else take Mr. Poe’s cues for a tell-tale something in the wall/floor. Anyway, I wrote a long FF (190-something), yet again, that I won’t link up but I’ll mention here in case someone wants to take a gander (http://leighswordsmithery.wordpress.com/2014/06/24/friday-fictioneers-meditations-museum/). I love writing these; thanks for providing the “kin’lin,” Rochelle! Hope you’re enjoying the time off as I write this!
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Dear Leigh,
I was still a novice when I wrote this two years ago. I wasn’t the only one who walled up a body that week. But I didn’t want the body to stink. 😉
I’m enjoying a bit of a respite with a good friend.
Thank you,
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The ruby clenched between the teeth was a bit scary. Do take a well-deserved vacation Rochelle. will miss you.
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Thank you, Kalpana.
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