The next photo is the PHOTO PROMPT
Let it speak to you. Does it tell you a story?
PHOTO PROMPT -Copyright – Jan Wayne Fields
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 99
HOME FIRES BURNING
“Nights are long and my bed ever so cold…”
She stopped writing, crumpled her letter and recalled their conversation the day before he left.
_____
“The last time you went for six months it turned into four years.”
“I am needed there.”
“You are needed here.”
“Debbie, my dearest.” He placed his hands on either side of her face. “Accompany me. You will love London.”
______
Deborah Franklin laid another sheet of parchment on the desk, dipped her quill in the inkwell and wrote.
“Dear Benjamin,
I love you so. Had it not been for my ridiculous fear of the sea…”
.
.
.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Rochelle,
When you send me to google to understand the depth of your historical fiction I really love it.. No links required, such an interesting relationship they had.
This is a picture with so many possibilities so its hard to understand.
Björn
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Dear Björn,
I’m glad the story came across without explanation. I do like to include history if it’s there, though.
There is a lot going on in that photo, isn’t there? I’ll be interested to see where it leads people. My husband took the picture in an old house in a pre-revolutionary town in upstate New York.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very nicely created! Clear lines with hidden depths to them. Made me smile at the end!
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Dear Kingsley,
Glad you liked. Thank you.
shalom,
Rochelle
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You can feel the love and sorrow in that letter. Hydrophobia can be devastating.
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Dear Al,
I would love to have been able to find more about Deborah Franklin. Mine phobia is acrophobia. Although it doesn’t keep me from air travel, just from high stadium seats and ladders.
Thank you.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Yikes, I can imagine the fear at the “Gods” seats of stadiums.
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AnElephantCant help asking
What on earth have they done to WordPress
He has to confess
He thinks it’s a mess
He is not in the slightest impressed
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Are you referring to the new method of creating a post?
If so … I have to say, fairly, it’s early days ….. but ERRK! Not a welcomed opportunity when trying to post at 3 a.m.
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You mean I’m not the only one who posts that early? 😉
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Nope! Pain wakes me up and keeps me grounded, so I may as well use my time wisely and work – writing that is. 🙂
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Oh, Pat, I’m sorry that’s what wakes you. I’m just naturally a ridiculously early riser.
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No need to worry Rochelle – if the pain has taught me anything, it is how better to cope with it, and manage my time wisely; at least I can make constructive use of my waking hours better.
Lol — ridiculously early riser — this makes me laugh 🙂
Does this mean you are a ridiculously early to bedder?
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Yes. By seven my brain turns to Guacamole. I’m often in bed by 8:30. On the positive side of that, I enjoy my mornings.
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I can understand that. As you’ve said though, there is something special about the wee hours of the morning though. A delightful time of night-morning. 🙂
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And, Rochelle, beautifully written piece, as ever.
Sorry for the rant above!
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Dear Elephant,
I can’t explain WordPress. All I can say is that I still prefer it to Blogspot.
Thank you for your kind words on my story. 😉
shalom,
Rochelle
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AnElephant does not mean to imply that you are in any way responsible for this latest heap of mince. Perhaps it will settle down, he suggests hopefully.
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And they say love conquers all. Not, it seems, in this case. I’m not a convert to travelling by sea so I can understand her reluctance. Nice work as always Rochelle.
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Dear Sandra,
I imagine that sea travel in those days could be treacherous.
Thank you.
shalom,
Rochelle
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How on earth do you do that! Systematically finding a tiny little diamond of a detail that might have changed history, or did! Fascinating – so well told – your niche, definitely.
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Dear Hamish,
Your comment makes me smile. Thank you for your affirming words.
I enjoyed your story as well…a bit gruesome but well layered. I tell you this here because I can’t, for the life of me, figure out how to leave a comment on your page.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, I know I’m butting in – but I can’t figure out how to leave a comment for Hamish either.! Nan
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When they ask me in which time period I would like to live, I always say present. My pragmatic nature overshadows my romantic aspirations. How our present would be different if our past were to change…Love your historical fiction, it is always so cleverly written.
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Dear Loré,
I’ve been asked the same question. It’s difficult to answer for each era has it’s advantages and drawbacks. Given a choice I’d have to stay here in the 21st century for I’m totally addicted to my computer and iPhone. 😉 Although it might be nice to take a visit to another time here and there. I guess that’s why I love to write historical fiction…my own method of time travel.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
PS Indoor plumbing’s another argument for the present.
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Well told. I do enjoy historical fiction. Currently reading Hilary Mantel’s take on the French Revolution.
And I didn’t know this particular story about BF.
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Dear Patrick,
I love where the research thread takes me. I really didn’t know much about Deborah Franklin. Happy to take you along for the ride.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, Lovely story. I looked up the history on Google and learned something. That desk is a beauty. It looks like a combination dresser and desk. Thanks to you and your husband for supplying it for the prompt this week. Well written as always. 🙂 —Susan
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Dear Susan,
It does look like something of a combination. I hadn’t thought about it until you said so. As for the history, I’m always happy to pass it on as I learn it.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely idea, and beautifully written. And that is a very lovely desk. I could do with something like that. Currently I write on my lap on the sofa.
(BTW there is a typo in the quote from Thoreau at the top.)
Claire
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Dear Claire,
I have a nice desk but nothing like that one. I’m pleased you like the story. Thank you for catching that pesky typo. At present the challenge is how to fix it in Picasa, the program I used. I’ll be working on that.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A lovely way of posting …. letters back and forth, with unspoken words … in this case, unwritten words, leaving one curious as to possibilities.
Very effective Rochelle – I feel I have stepped back in time. 🙂
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Dear Pat,
When I wrote this I, too, felt like I’d stepped back in time. Such is the nature of research. Nothing pleases me more than to learn I’ve taken a reader with me.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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🙂
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History is so fascinating. Too bad I learned that late in life. Doing my best to catch up. You’re helping by leaps and bounds. Nicely done. Alicia
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Dear Alicia,
Happy to help as I’m right beside you in that boat. I never cared about history when I was young. I suppose as we age and our remembered past is in the history books we realize that those before us were warm, breathing humans. At least that’s how I see it.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle,
Considering Benjamin Franklin’s role overseas during that time and his other affairs there, I wonder how history would have been different if she had come with him. I just did a bit more research on Deborah. What a tragic tale. This is a beautifully crafted story.
-David
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Dear David,
I’d never thought of it in that light. What would have happened had he stayed home or if she’d gone with him? Both possibilities are food for thought, aren’t they.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Regrets are the worst. I wonder how Benjamin Franklin felt when he got the news, if he wished he had more time or if he would have done the same all over again. Think how different history could have been if he had made different choices.
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Dear Anne,
I’m sure Mr. Franklin had many regrets and ‘what if’s’.
Thank you for coming by.
shalom,
Rochelle
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history comes alive with your storytelling. looking forward to read more.
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Dear Plaridel,
Your comments make me smile.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Benjamin, huh? Good one!
p.s. tell Jan… Ethel and Cheryl were inspired to make an appearance today.
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Dear Ted,
Yep. Benjamin. Who else?
I’ll pass your news along to Jan and look forward to seeing Ethel and Cheryl. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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first of all, i so want a desk like that. perhaps owning one might inspire me to write more often. 🙂 and wow it’s really exciting to speculate about these possibilities, what would have happened… what would have changed. i applaud the fact that you put a great deal of heart and research on your stories.
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Dear K.Z.
The desk is in a display?museum home in upstate NY. I hope to see it in person in a couple of weeks when we go out to visit our eldest son.
Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I enjoyed your story. It reminds me that patience was defined by a different measure of time in that era.
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Dear Anne,
In present times where correspondence has become as instant as microwavable popcorn, it’s hard to imagine a world where one waited months for a letter, isn’t it?
When I was a young girl I had a pen-pal in Wales. Of course it was all snail mail then. If we wrote once a month it was frequent. Now I have 100+ pen-pals around the world. And a daily Skype friend five-thousand miles away. That kind of communication was comic strip or sci-fi when I was growing up.
At any rate, I’m happy you liked my story. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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When I taught in grade school I found and purchased a book called ***Eating the Plates: A Pilgrim Book of Food and Manners. My students often groaned and were heard to exclaim, “Eeeeew!” When I read your story I was taken back to what we read and shared in my class, and I fully understand Deborah Franklin’s not wanting to cross the ocean.
That said, you have revealed a bit of history I wasn’t taught in school. They never would teach this aspect of the Franklin’s life in class. 😉
Thank you, once again, for enlightening me, Rochelle!
***http://tinyurl.com/kbr4guu (link to Amazon and the above book)
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Dear Lynda,
Thank you for that link. I had to go check it out of course. Yeah, I added my “eeeeeew!” at “Bugs for Dinner.”
I’m pleased that you found my story enlightening. Every time I do the research for one of these historical flashes I learn something new.
Thank you for the affirmations
shalom,
Rochelle
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I always find your stories time well spent, Rochelle and today is no exception. I read it, felt the love and difficulties between then, then read the link before reading the story again. Those who’ve never done it can’t imagine a long distance relationship, but for those of us who have, it’s just part of life.
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Dear Jennifer,
I, for one, am thankful for emails, internet and Skype. Waiting for those letters could be tough. I have experienced the long distance relationship. 😉
Comments like yours make me want to write more.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Good – write more and more and more!
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I always like it when people see the same cues as me, but arrive at totally different ends of writing spectrum. That of course is the beauty of the challenge you set. A well written story, as always. My only observation would be with the line “You are needed here”. To me, when I read this story, the emotion of that statement is very powerful, but because it stands alone, it might be overlooked by some.
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Dear Weltchy,
At least you saw the power in the line. Unfortunately a writer can’t always control what a reader sees or doesn’t see. I’m glad you did.
Thank you.
shalom,
Rochelle
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The poor Franklins, kept apart by her phobia. That must be tough. A long distance relationship must have been even harder pre-Skype.
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Dear Ali,
We live in amazing times, don’t we? Although there’s much to be said for a handwritten letter. But I’ve also been in a long distance relationship where my then boyfriend was a lousy letter writer. 😉
Thank you for your comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This is my first time here, and first time to participate. Your story is beautiful, and touched me….I think of all the things I haven’t done, and the people I haven’t done them with, due to my fear of flying. Thank you so much.
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Dear Grace,
Welcome! I understand about the fear of flying. The only way I can ever see my brother in person is if I fly to Virginia to see him.
Thank you for your sweet compliments.
shalom,
Rochelle
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I can’t believe how much you have said in so few words. I have attempted to join you this week 🙂
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Dear Colline,
Happy to have you aboard this week. 😀 Thank you for your comments on my story
shalom,
Rochelle
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I look forward to reading more
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Great short! So much with so few words! Hope I can do the same! BTW: No blue guy
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http://salmonfishingqueen.wordpress.com/2014/08/14/jane-austen-friday-fictioneers/
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Dear Barb,
That little Bracken as Ali calls him is an ornery little blue guy, isn’t he? Not sure what the problem has been. Glad you were able to finally link.
Thank you for your sweet compliments on my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I enjoyed it! Be well! ^..^
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My dear Rochelle, you have unknowingly fueled an argument that rises up from time to time between Conja and myself. I’ve often called Benjamin Franklin a philanderer. She insists that since he wasn’t legally married he couldn’t truly be a philanderer. 🙂
As to the story, I love it. Nicely handled and a great take on this week’s prompt.
All my best,
Marie Gail
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Dear Marie Gail,
it was never my intention to cause domestic unrest. My jury’s out on Ben Franklin the philanderer, but, on the other hand, common law marriage was recognized in those days.
At any rate I’m glad you liked my story. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So much in such a brief story – and so sad. These days it would be fear of flying that stopped her going, and emails that connected them.
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Dear Liz,
And there’s Skype. Don’t forget that. But her bed would still be ever so cold. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This photo took me to H.C. Andersen at first, having just visited the museum of his life, in Denmark. The desk really evokes that time period, those lofty minds. You captured all of it so perfectly in this story. The complexities of their marriage, and the man that we all came to know in history. In 99 words, you took me right in there. Wonderful!
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Dear Dawn,
I’m so pleased that you found so much in my tiny story. I’ve always found Benjamin Franklin fascinating. Digging into Deborah’s life was fun but dismally lacking in information.
Hm. Hans Christian Anderson is another fascination. More grist for the mill?
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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There’s a romance to letter writing that I understand and yet don’t. Sometimes I feel my unlimited, takes two seconds, text messages are wasted because I can’t convey how I really feel. How frustrated I’d be if I only had letters! If I were Deborah, that letter could take me months to write before I was remotely satisfied with it…
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Dear Lauren,
Texting, though I do it often, is the bane to letter writing and, most certainly, to spelling.
The art of letter writing seems to be dying a rapid death by technology and I’m as guilty as the next person. Email’s quick and easy. There’s something sweet and personal about reading someone’s handwriting. I think people did take more time to write letters in those days.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Nice piece. Thanks for the reference.
Many of the founding fathers spent long periods away from their families, eh.
Randy
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Dear Randy,
It’s probably why they’re called the founding fathers. (Long winter nights).
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Venus,
I’m a big fan of Ben Franklin (he was a printer, you know). In the past, I fortunate enough to collect a few portraits of Ben. Initially, they were worth one hundred dollars a piece, but at the rate our money is devaluing they are worth far less in today’s market. Therefore, I’ve decided to trade my portait of Ben for ten Alexander Hamilitons. The former Treasurer creates more fluff in the wallet.
respectfully yours, Walter
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Dear Walter,
Yes, I knew Franklin was a printer. I always liked his 5 and Dime stores, too. 😉
Good decision to trade Ben for Alexander. Good luck with that. Are you printing them yourself?
Shalom,
Venus
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This is a beautiful piece, Rochelle. Heartbreaking – to me. The pieces and parts we don’t know.
Ellespeth
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Dear Ellespeth,
Thank you for such lovely compliments.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi Rochelle, you put so much and so beautifully in 100 words. You are master in this craft. I loved your style.Now I will go to the link for more information. Thanks for it.
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Dear Indira,
It was a fascinating research path this week. I’m pleased you liked my story.
Thank you.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
A lovely letter and great to learn a little of the back story. This is definitely your genre, you write so comfortably about history
.
I think we will have a lot of letters this week; at least we remember actually writing at a desk!!!
Take care
Dee
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Dear Dee,
I often marvel at my relatively recent romance with history. In school I didn’t see the need for it and found it dull. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that much of what is fresh in my mind is in the history books.
I’ve really enjoyed the letters this week. I feel they’ve been among the best ones.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hey, that’s a pretty cool story there, Cuz. I didn’t know there was a Deborah Franklin, either. Maybe I dozed off in history class …
I’m glad to see, and you are, too, that Ben got his hair done before he posed for that half-dollar …
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Dear Kent,
Isn’t it interesting that you never see Ben in a powdered wig?
No need to chide yourself. I don’t think there was much about the Mrs. F in our history classes. There certainly wasn’t all that much on the net. 😉
Glad you liked my offering.
Shalom,
Cuzzin Rochelle
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Always felt so bad for Deborah — this really brings her frustration alive. 🙂
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Thank you, Jen. 😉
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Hi Rochelle,
Your historical fiction is always so interesting! You captured Deborah’s character brilliantly. Nicely done.
Take care,
Emilie
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Dear Emelie,
A friend just pointed out that probably 60% of my flash fictions are historical. What can I say? I want to remind myself that historical figures were warm, breathing and emotional human beings.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So well done, Rochelle. I’m always amazed at how you can pull so much of history into such a small space. What a fascinating history. I like the crumpling of the paper. Any writer could do that, but especially one with little education. Nice detail. I didn’t know that Ben Franklin was one of 17 children. Wow! I guess their love prevailed.
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Dear Amy,
Perhaps if I crumple my paper I can stuff more into the small space. 😉 Thank you for your lovely comments and compliments. Can you imagine 17 children in one house? Poor Mrs. Franklin.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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i love the first line in your story. sets the stage for the difficult situation people struggled with back in historical times. communication being really slow and travel whether on land or sea probably not the safest. how did they manage??? great story and thanks for the extra information – did not know about it.
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Dear Sun,
With our modern technologies such as email, cell phones and Skype it’s hard to remember that as recent as forty years ago there were no such conveniences for general use. I don’t know that I’d want to go back to those times. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle, Yes, you are a wonderful writer and so happy you are our leader! The picture of the desk, is beautiful. I have an antique desk (with the letter ‘D’ engraved on the front that has been in my dad’s family for years). We affectionately call it the ‘D desk’. My sister received a roll top desk that had been our grandfathers. It is magnificent! This has indeed been a difficult week and your historical piece is marvelous! Thank you so much! Nan 🙂
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Dear Nan,
We have two roll top desks that belonged to folks in my husband’s family, I cherish these antique pieces.
Thank you for your lovely comments and affirmations. They’re part of what keeps me going with Friday Fictioneers. Thank you for being a part of it.
shalom,
Rochelle
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This is a wonderfully crafted story which provides a ‘humanising’ aspect to a famous historical name. That link makes you think a lot more when you read the story again in the context of that knowledge of their relationship. There is whole book here for anyone who wishes to attempt it.
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Dear Subroto
It would be an interesting novel wouldn’t it? I write these historical pieces as much for myself as anyone else. I want to be reminded that these were not two dimensional illustrations, they were living, breathing people.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such a touching love story, all related exquisitely in so few words. Beautiful.
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Dear Diane,
Than you for such lovely words that started my day with a smile.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great that letters have no fear of the sea & can travel to Debbie’s dear Benjamin 🙂
4 years is a long time to be away, Rochelle…
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Dear Anita,
The first time he left it was four years. Much longer later on. 😉
Thank you for coming by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Something about this picture that brings out the grieving person in us. I wonder what 🙂 Thanks for a lovely prompt, Rochelle!
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Dear Shailaja,
Perhaps it’s because the desk is so old that we associate ancient ghosts with it. My husband tells me there’s a lot of interesting history surrounding the desk. In two weeks I hope to see it for myself. Perhaps I’ll blog about it. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you so much for including the link with your beautiful story.
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Dear Dawn,
Thank you for such a lovely comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think her second letter will be better received. Your story is a reminder that sometimes we have to think about the addressee more than we do about ourselves, however much we are hurting. I have to say I don’t think her fear of the sea was terribly irrational for the times in which she lived.
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Dear Sarah Ann,
It’s also easy to take things wrong in a letter with absence of facial expression or voice inflection, isn’t it?
I agree about sea travel. From things I’ve read it doesn’t sound pleasant at all.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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If she’d lived long enough to know about Titanic breaking in half she’d have been even more terrified!
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Dear Liz,
True that. And I’m sure there were plenty of those old wooden ships that sank and never made the history books. Deborah’s fears had some merit.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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