The following photo is the PHOTO PROMPT. Does it speak to you? Do you see only a vehicle? Tell me in one hundred words or less. 😉
PHOTO PROMPT -Copyright-Roger Bultot
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Word count: 100
HAFIZ’S SOLUTION
“You’re unbelievable, Trisha,” said Joe. “We’re stuck in the middle of nowhere and you’re reading poetry?”
“The tow truck’s on its way. Nothing we can do but wait.” She grinned at him from the passenger seat, her feet propped on the dashboard. “Relax. Enjoy the breeze.”
“The repair bill’s gonna be astronomical.”
“Could just be the battery.”
“Or the transmission.”
Joe’s mind raced from one awful conclusion to another as he paced back and forth in front of the stalled minivan.
Trisha giggled.
“What’s so funny?”
“Listen.” She read, “‘O someone should start laughing! Someone should start wildly laughing. Now!’”
To read over Trisha’s shoulder click here.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Amusingly different from your norm.
Love it.
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Dear Elephant,
It was a bit of an experiment. Friday Fictioneers is a great place for that isn’t it? I’m pleased that it worked for you.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I loved that poem. Thank you for conveying it in one of your habitually impressive vehicles. I always learn something when I come to your site, Rochelle.
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Dear Sandra,
A friend recently introduced me to Hafiz. Amazing poet. Your words are more encouraging than you know. I’m always a bit nervous when I venture out with something a bit out of the ordinary for me.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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No call at all for nervousness. 😉
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Lovely.. what a great reason to laugh.. In Iranian friend of mine gave me a book of Hafiz.. some wonderful poetry to be found there.. wonder though whether Joe will laugh 🙂
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Dear Björn,
A dear friend of mine gave me the book “The Gift” by Hafiz. He had a great way of looking at things, didn’t he? Somehow, I don’t think Joe’s gong to get it and I’m sure he won’t laugh. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This is a wonderful piece Rochelle – more so because you dared to venture out of your comfort zone. The beauty, apart from this alone, is that it works as a wonderful little story.
Too often we are so overwhelmed by the sudden misadventures that befall us – if we knew enough to step back and see the “bigger” picture in the moment, we’d be far less stressed and I dare say, much healthier and happier.
Hafiz is brilliant. Ranks up there with Rumi and such.
Have a wonderful day Rochelle 🙂
Shalom
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Dear Pat,
I’ve only recently been introduced to Hafiz. His poetry has a way of turning things around and making us look at things from a different angle, doesn’t it?
I’m so pleased that this piece worked for you and I appreciate your affirming words.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think it’s wonderful that you’ve met Hafiz. 🙂 I’m sure you will come to appreciate his works — they do turn things around — and often, they offer such a simple, clean and clear perspective that leaves one marveling. I hope you enjoy his works as you get better acquainted.
And once again, well done with the piece 🙂
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Good, light hearted story Rochelle. Very much Joe and Trisha’s enjoyed the conversation. One question though. Are you missing a word from “Relax, Enjoy Breeze” as it doesn’t quite fit in with Joe’s speech later in the story
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Trisha’s speech even. I thought it might be a recital from Hafiz? Also, enjoyed Joe and Trisha’s!!
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Thank you. Good catch…but now that will out me at a 101…what to do? Glad you liked. Whoever you are. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Doh. Would help if I was logged into WordPress!!!
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Aha! Okay…fixed, traded one word for two. Again, good catch. I appreciate it.
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Rochelle, Even though it was different from your usual type of story, it was good and well written as usual. The poet and Trisha seem to both have a better sense of humor than Joe. From the look of the undergrowth, he should be glad they’re both okay. Well done as always. 🙂 —Susan
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Dear Susan,
Joe is the kind who awfulizes. Trisha helps balance him out. 😉
Thank you.
shalom,
Rochelle
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anytime is a good time to read poetry 🙂 i like Trisha and i definitely enjoyed your light hearted story this week
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Dear K.Z.
I have a growing affection for Hafiz. 700 years ago he wrote words just for me. 😉 Glad you enjoyed my story.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I would be in the guy’s shoes, pacing 😉 Very different take, Rochelle. Enjoyed it!
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Dear Shailaja,
I’m the one with her feet on the dash. (Drives my husband crazy.) Glad you enjoyed.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That’s great, Rochelle. Sometimes in life we just have to laugh, despite (or because of) the circumstances. I hadn’t heard of Hafiz before, but I like his poetry.
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Dear David,
Your comment means a lot to me. I tried something a little different for me this week and wasn’t sure how it would be received. Doug recently introduced me to Hafiz. I’d never heard of him either. It’s amazing to me how ‘current’ his words are…or at least..,the translations. 😉
Sometimes you have to laugh because it does no good to cry.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, I truly enjoyed this one. I actually love to watch couples when one is boiling over and the other calm. I have found myself in this very predicament but without the wonderful poetry to read. Thanks for sharing that too. Dana
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Dear Dana,
I’ve been in this situation more times than I can count.
Glad you enjoyed.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
This is a lesson I need desperately learn. When nothing can be done about a situation, its a good time to prop up your feet and read a book. My guess is that Trisha is a far healthier human being than Joe. I hope she can teach him to relax.
All my best,
Marie Gail
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Dear Marie Gail,
I’m not sure Trisha will ever teach Joe to relax. 😉 The best she can do is prop up her feet, read a book and learn to relax in the midst of the whirlwind.
Thank you for coming by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wonderful!
I have been on this little “Zen” kick lately where things that don’t matter – simply just do not matter. If it is out of my control – i must let it be. Your story is a lovely reflection of this. Reminded me of my Husband & I. (Haha) 🙂
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Dear Jen,
The older I get the more I realize some things don’t matter and getting tied up in knots helps nothing. I’m not going to say that I’m always calm and laid back. Those who know me best can attest to that.
Thank you.
shalom,
Rochelle
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A little levity always lightens the situation…live! love! laugh!…that’s what I say. hugs for brightening my day…
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Dear Millie,
Being able to see the humor in a situation lessens the pain, doesn’t it. Thanks for the hugs. They always brighten my day.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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i think they do make a nice couple – not far from other couples i know. they complement each other well. 🙂
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Dear Plaridel,
I think most couples are like Joe and Trisha. They tend to balance each other out. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wonderful story, Rochelle! I think Trisha has the right attitude. I enjoyed the poem too.
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Dear Lisa,
Nice to see you here this week. Sometimes it’s better to laugh than cry, particularly when there’s nothing you can do about the situation.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wonderful story, different but beautiful. I can relate ,once we were stuck in the same position on our car drive and I had to keep my husband in good spirit it was tough but ‘..someone should start laughing…’ so true. Lovely poem and thanks for the link. You really teach me something new every time thanks..
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Dear Indira,
I’m pleased the story resonated with you. We’ve been in this situation a few times in one way or another. Wish I’d had Hafiz with me then. 😉
Thank you.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Without humor one can’t survive in any situation. Who knows better than you dear, right? 🙂
Shalom,
Indira.
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Nice entry and nice poem. I will be reading more of his work.
O.
ha.ha. ha.
Sorry, but that was a little bit of the truth coming through my lips, teeth, mouth, and onto your blog.
Thanks, Randy
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Dear Randy,
I have a thousand brilliant lies for you.
A friend recently introduced me to Hafiz. Wonderful poet. Ahead of his time…or maybe just tapped into human emotion that is timeless.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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🙂 A little levity to lighten the load. Love it! 🙂
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Thank you, Graces. 😀
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Ying and yang here,I suspect.
(Well done, managing those quote marks.)
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Dear Patrick,
Those quotation marks can be tricky. Thanks for commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A lovely perfect snippet of these two characters and their relationship. And thanks for the poetry.
Claire
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Dear Claire,
I know this couple quite well. 😉
Thank you.
shalom,
Rochelle
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This is a perfect description of my best friend and me. Spot on!
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Dear Loré,
It seems that everyone’s been able to see themselves and someone else in my story. I certainly can 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m so much like Joe it’s not funny! You can always count on me to concoct a catastrophe from a tiny upset 🙂
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Dear Ali,
What can I say? This is a slice of familiar life. I’m of the mind that there’s humor to be found in most every situation. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Really liked your story Rochelle, really enjoyed the humor, the sense of fun, even in the midst of stress and misery. I really liked Trisha’s attitude, her positivity and her sense of fun. I’d definitely be more like Joe, 100,000,000%. Guess more of us should have Trisha’s attitude and humor and fun and view of the world, the world would be a better place, more fun and less animosity. Really fun, pleasant, enjoyable story Rochelle, really liked this one. They just learn to accept the inevitable: they can’t do anything about it, there’s nothing that can be done so we might as well laugh at the absurdity of the whole thing… 🙂 I’m too much of a pessimist and a cynic to ever do this myself I think. 🙂
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Dear Clara,
I can’t say that I always am like Trisha, but I do try to find the humor in a situation. Laughter often beats crying. I’m pleased that my little snippet resonated with you. .
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Violet Haze,
I loved the poem and thank you for posting the name of my blog in the middle of your story. I wonder how many folks will catch that. In closing let me say, your writing flows like water down a tater row.
sincerely – Big Johnston
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Dear BJ,
Posting the name of your blog might have been unintentional, but on the other hand I don’t mind giving you a little publicity. 😉
I’m glad you liked the poem…hope that includes my story in the like part. After reading your story I’m not sure if I’ve been complimented or not….water down a tater row.
Shalom,
Violet Haze
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Hee-hee-hee-HEEEEE!!! “Old Joe” — you sneaked him in there GOOD. Now I know why there are no Jewish truck drivers.
Are there …?
Good story. (“Good pretzels! War and whiskey don’t mix. General Grant kept throwin’ up on his bugler.”)
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Dear Kent,
I don’t know about Jewish truck drivers….at least not here. There are plenty in the Land. And who can forget Gabi? (Okay. So that was a bus, but close enough.)
Well not exactly that Joe. 😉
Glad you liked.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I remember Gabi. A great trip!
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He’ll just tell her it’s not a laughing matter.
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Dear Alice,
Yep. My guess is that he’ll take the poem as an affront.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Story and poem equally lovely.
Ellespeth
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Thank you so much, Ellespeth. 😀
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Joe sounds like me and Trish sounds like my partner. Sometimes he adds fuel to my fire by being reasonable and calm. 🙂 Love the poem and your story.
Lily
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Dear Lily,
Why is it that partners have such different ways of looking at things? Must be a reason for that 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such a wonderful story and Hafiz is so right … in situations like that … it’s better to laugh than build up all that anxiety with “what ifs” … 🙂 Thanks Rochelle!
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Dear Georgia,
It’s amazing how current Hafiz’s poems are. There’s humor to be found in the worst situations…well most of the time. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle … so true about Hafiz a great poet and wonderfully in tuned with human nature … which I presume is what makes his poems and humor so timeless. 🙂 Ciao Georgia.
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Dear Rochelle,
This is a story with a message! Why stress? Rather be cool 🙂
Regards,
Anita
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Dear Anita,
Yes, it was most definitely a message. I can’t say I always heed it myself. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You inspired me this week Rochelle (as you always do), but I loved how you took this off the beaten path and opened a little portal into the world of Hafiz and Sufi poetry.
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Dear Subroto,
I’ve only recently become acquainted with Hafiz. Happy to inspire. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, creative take. I enjoyed this. We all should be laughing a lot. Sometimes it’s better to admit you don’t have much control in many situations, maybe all!
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Dear Amy,
It’s often hard to laugh at unfortunate situations but I believe that people who can have a lower ulcer rate. 😉 Happy you enjoyed.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Art imitates life! I love how things like that happen sometimes.
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Dear Anne,
Hafiz could’ve been writing today I think. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such a clever, real dialogue and moment. While this is different from your usual, that is what I love most– your ability to surprise us week after week. Love the simplicity and humor in this. Shabbat shalom!
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Dear Dawn,
It seems we both took a different path this week. 😉 Glad it worked. From the comments I see that most of us can relate to the scenario. Hafiz is the icing on the cake.
Thank you.
Shalom v’sh’vua tov,
Rochelle
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Linking my first 100 words fiction for Friday Fictioners… Thank you. 🙂
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Welcome.
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i like the contrast of emotions between your characters and Joe should laugh along. no sense fretting. great to learn about another historical figure. thanks!
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Dear Sun,
They say opposites attract, right? Glad you enjoyed the history, too. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hah! This was pretty much my husband and I last month, when our minivan up and quit on us on our way home. At least it was only a mile’s walk home!
Well done. Quite a nice contrast between the two personalities.
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Dear Emilie,
Well, in all honesty, this is a slice of my life, too. 😉 And it wasn’t a mile’s walk home.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle, Funny and different! I love it that my husband and I have been there before – well once on vacation with the kids in Yellowstone our fuel pump went out and we were stuck there for 3 days before the park automobile service could fix it. What a nightmare – and on the third day, I was laughing – not so funny – but hysterical. Your story is great – Thanks for the entertainment! Nan
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Dear Nan,
Sometimes laughing is better than crying, particularly when you can’t do anything but wait. I can’t say I was quite so humored when my car died this past winter and I had to wait for the tow truck in the freezing cold. However, it is funny in retrospect. If you can just find the humor…
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Poor Joe. I don’t think he’s the laughing type. Great character portraits and thanks to Trisha (and you) for introducing me to Hafiz – I’ve been clicking through more and more of his poems via the link.
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Dear Sarah,
I can tell you from personal experience that Joe lacks a sense of humor in certain situations. As for Hafiz, I’m pleased to share. A good friend introduced me to him a couple of months ago and then gave me a volume. He was an amazing poet.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Just reading the comments and I have to say that I certainly would never guess you were insecure about stepping outside your comfort zone. I thought that was only me.
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Dear Dawn,
You’re most definitely not the only one. I rather sweated this one. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love this. Life’s situations often pan out in this way. This is a bit spooky, since I just posted a blog including a quote from Rumi and found the Poet Seers web site in the process. And I’d just opened a book and what I read was very apt, as in your story. Anyway, unusual twist on the photo prompt. 🙂
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I really like how aptly you weave in the poem to conclude your story. I read some Hafiz ages ago but had forgotten what he’s like; so much so, that when I read the quotation I thought it sounded more like something from Ginsberg. It’s made me want to read more Hafiz again 🙂
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Catching up – slowly. I like the juxtaposition of these two characters; I like to think I’m more like her than him, but it depends on the situation more than I care to admit. The poetry is new to me, but I’m glad I clicked through; even without it, though, your story leaves me thinking, and that’s a great thing.
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