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Below is the PHOTO PROMPT. What thoughts crystallize in your mind? Can you tell the story in a hundred words or less?
My story follows the prompt below. I enjoy honest comments.
PHOTO PROMPT – © Copyright Marie Gail Stratford
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
SCHIST HAPPENS
I’ll never forget Mike O’Hara, my fellow New York sanitation worker. What a storyteller. Every Friday night me and the boys would settle round for a long listen.
“So I says to Mr. King, ‘whatcha make a dis rock I dug up?’”Mike took a long swig of beer. “Heavy sucker. Looks kinda like a red diamond. King says he knows a jeweler who’d kill for it.”
“This might be your tallest tale yet, O’Hara,” said Pete.
Mike had the last laugh when his “sewer garnet” made headlines in 1886. Pity he didn’t sell it hisself. Could’ve made a fortune.
.
.
.
http://www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com/jhbnyc/articles/garnet.htm
http://www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com/jhbnyc/articles/nycminerals2.htm
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
What an amazing story.. I had never heard about a garnet that size.. though I’ve found the small pebble size variety a few times.. it’s an amazing stone.. and Imagine it goes from stone to rock.
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Dear Björn,
One of the reasons I love the internet is for research. Following little trails has taught me some pretty amazing facts and led me to some equally amazing people.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I don’t think I’d be laughing I’d be crying….. Good story.
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Dear Irene,
Opportunity missed. Absolutely nothing is known about the sanitation worker who found the garnet so I had fun inventing him. I’m glad you enjoyed my little vignette.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That’s an amazing piece of history you have there Rochelle! I guess most of the big stones have some stories stuck with them 🙂
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Dear Horus,
I was pretty excited to find this piece of history in my research. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Intriguing story, and I loved the disputed versions of the garnet’s origins. Human nature always adds a little extra to the mix, and you also added a unique perspective to the story. Nice one.
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Dear Sandra,
The only solid thing in that history is the disagreement. 😉 It’s amazing what research can unearth, isn’t it?
Thank your, as always for your comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This is really amazing story Rochelle. Very interesting take on the prompt. Your research makes us rich also.
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Dear Indira,
I’m always amazed at where the research trails will lead. That’s what makes writing historical fiction so exciting for me. I’m happy if anyone feels richer for reading. Thank you for your encouraging words my friend.
shalom,
Rochelle
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And I’m amazed as seeing this prompt how you thought of writing such a marvelous piece whereas I’m still wondering what is it all about.
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Dear Rochelle,
I’ll never take one of your titles for garnet again. You have a wonderful way of digging until you find the pony in the room. Ignominiously lurid yarn.
Aloha,
Doug
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Dear Doug,
Digging through the schist is always an interesting task. Riding the pony makes it worth the effort and your comments even more so
Interesting Lyrics Yours,
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I wonder what the tale of the Hope Diamond would be like…
Well crafted story. I liked it!
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Dear Miles,
I’ll have to look up the Hope Diamond. Well, maybe later. 😉
Thank you so much for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A nice little history story again. Loved the little ‘vocal’ touches ‘dis’ & ‘hisself’ – not enough to make reading it a challenge, but flavoursome 🙂
Cheers
KT
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Dear KT,
I couldn’t find a thing about the sanitation worker who actually dug up the garnet. However, with my father being from Brooklyn, NY I had a pretty good idea of what dose guys might have sounded like. I love historical fiction and I love feedback such as yours.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, what a jewel of a story. 🙂 Couldn’t resist that but now it’s time to head for work.
janet
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Dear Janet,
Of course you couldn’t resist. 😉 I would be disappointed if you did. Of course I hope the comment isn’t all tongue in cheek.
It’s now hot coffee in the morning and hot tea in the evening weather. L’chaim.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Not to say I don’t like the story – I do – but my favourite part of this is the title. Heh.
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Dear Simon John,
And I wondered if anyone would notice my title. 😉 I just couldn’t resist and I’m pleased that you enjoyed it as much as I.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great story, Rochelle, and I love the title. That’s the first time I’ve heard ot that find. Really interesting, and well written as always. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
It’s amazing what one can dig up by starting a research trail with “crystals.” It was the first time I’d heard of it, too. That’s what I love about writing historical fiction. 😉 Glad you liked the title.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Fun stuff! I can’t wait to dive in and see what fun stories my photo inspires this week. You certainly set the bar high.
Peace,
Marie Gail
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Dear Marie Gail,
It was a fun story to write. So far, your photo has inspired a nice range of themes and stories. It’s a great photo.
Thank you for such a lovely compliment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, you dig up the most interesting information. I really like da dialogue.
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Dear Stephonie,
Digging is what I do and I dig it. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That’s a gem. Fascinating story in there and I love the title.
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Dear Karen,
Thank you for your gem of a comment. And I thought no one would notice my title. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A lovely story, and creatively brought to life! A very minor thing – in the middle section I think you’re missing a single ‘ after the question mark. I had to read it a couple of times to work out who was speaking.
Claire
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Dear Claire,
I’m glad you found it so. As for the “minor thing,” I appreciate you’re seeing that. I’ve fixed it to avoid any further confusion.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That’s incredible! Nice job inventing the character who is the man behind the legend. Those stones/rocks on those pages are impressive and so interesting in their different shapes and colors. Nice job and thanks for sharing this cool information. 🙂
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Dear eLPy,
I couldn’t find a thing about the man who dug up the garnet so I figured I could take license. It really is an amazing story that I was completely unaware of until I started the research trail. I’m glad you enjoyed.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Seems fair! Thanks again for sharing. 🙂
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You never know what you may find in schist. But I will guarantee that if it is Rochelle, it will be interesting. A real gem of a story.
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A great story, I love fictional characters in a real-life stories.
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Dear Loré,
Historical fiction is most definitely my favorite genre, to write or to read. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Another great slice of history, Rochelle. As an old rock hound, I enjoyed your seeing crystals in this – and the more I look, the more I see them, too.
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Dear Alicia,
Nothing’s more exciting to me than beginning a research trail that takes me to interesting history I knew nothing about. My husband used to be something of a rock hound, too.
Glad you liked.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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As usual, you’ve unearthed an interesting piece of real history for us this week, Rochelle. I found the last paragraph a touch explanatory; I think I’d have liked a bit more of Mike rather than the narrator’s commentary, but down to you.
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Dear Jennifer,
As always, I appreciate your perspective and honesty. In this case I saw the narrator as a character equal to Mike. Perhaps I’ll play around with it at a later date, taking your comment into consideration for there’s always more than one way to write a story. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle, I like Garnets! Your story is great! Recently there was a one hour show on the Smithsonian Channel on the Hope Diamond. Wow – I don’t think I would to own that stone ever. They say it’s cursed (and I know it isn’t) but it makes you wonder about all the tragedy surrounding it. Good story! Nan 🙂
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Dear Nan,
What would one do with the Hope Diamond anyway? I’m quite happy with the ones in my engagement ring and a few other pieces of jewelry from my honey.
Glad you liked my story. It was a fun write.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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i’m glad mike didn’t feel sorry for himself for the lost opportunity to get rich. what a guy!
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Dear Plaridel,
Of course no one really knows who the real sanitation worker was. 😉 But perhaps, he kicked himself later.
Thank you for commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You sure do find the most interesting stories, Rochelle. I feel like I must have gotten at least a Bachelor’s degree in history just from reading your stories. 🙂 This is great, although it’s too bad he didn’t get to sell it.
This is quite the picture. I looked at it on my phone when I first woke up this morning and I confess, I could not make anything of it until I saw it on a bigger screen at my office.
Take care,
David
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Dear David,
It’s a pity I never had this kind of interest in school, but it’s never too late to learn, is it? Your words have me, as Doug would say, chopping some pretty tall cotton. It’s all out there on the internet for the taking, some of it’s even true. 😉 At any rate I love learning and I’m happy to take anyone along for the ride.
Marie Gail does have a knack for snapping interesting photos and I appreciate her generosity in sharing them.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great story. Loved the dialogues.
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Thank you, Norma. 😀
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The title! Love it. And the story, based on truth, no less. Poor Mike, though. What a great tale!
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Dear Gah,
You might have guessed by now that my favorite genre is historical fiction. Of course Mike O’Hara and his narrator friend are figments of my imagination.
For some reason, my title is getting a lot of notice this week. 😉 Glad you liked both title and story and came by to say so. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wow, that was quite a find! Where do you find out about all this stuff, or is it just general internet searches?
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Dear Ali,
There’s a lot out there on the internet. I started my search with “crystals.” I’m usually amazed where the path will lead me. Of course Mike is a work of my imagination, but that’s the fun of historical fiction. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Excellently written. Loved the story title as well.
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Thank you on both counts, Weltchy.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The workers always get the short straw. Neat title too!
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Dear Liz,
I’d love to know about the real worker who found the garnet and what really happened. Ah well, I was left no choice but to resort to fiction. Glad you liked the title, too. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I guess that this is a case of schist happens.
When it was found out what it was worth, another man might have committed sewer-cide.
Randy
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Dear Randy,
He could’ve dug up a load of bull-schist. Thank you for your most worthy comment, it makes me happy.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love the personality you brought into this prompt. Good story.
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Thank you for such a nice comment, Sheila.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That was definitely a missed opportunity for Mike! A great little historical story. 🙂
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Dear Fairymind,
Thank you for such a nice comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely realisation of the image.
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Thank you, Hilary. 😀
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I love the accent! I felt like I was in the bar listening to him talking. Well done.
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Dear Yaral,
I couldn’t ask for a better compliment. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, this story was wonderful. I completely enjoyed it. 🙂
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Dear Joy,
It’s always nice to get comments like yours. Thank you for taking the time to read.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My pleasure.
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He’s probably just as happy with the tale. But still…
I’m always learning things from you. Thanks for the links.
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Dear Alice,
I learn so much from my research and it’s fun to pass those tidbits along. I’m glad you enjoyed. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wow, that’s absolutely wild. I think the phrase, “Fact is stranger than fiction” might need to have a post-script that says, “but historical fiction is more interesting to read.” Great story, so much life and atmosphere in only 100 words. Nice use of dialect too, by the way. I’ve known that to be kind of a hard thing to juggle without it becoming phony-sounding. But I think you handily avoided that.
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Dear Michael,
Your comments make me smile. I agree, dialect can be overdone and my editor of my anthology called me on it. She taught me a little seasoning is better than the whole salt shaker.
Thank you for your much appreciated words. Wow is always nice. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The “sewer garnet,” that’s great. I bet he has his regrets. That must have raked in a pretty penny. Great story and historical account I knew nothing about. Fascinating, Rochelle. You captured it well.
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Dear Amy,
As I always say, the research trail has led to some fascinating facts. I’ve learned so much since I started writing historical fiction.
Thank you for such lovely comments. They mean a lot.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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LOL @ “Schist happens”! I didn’t quite get the story until I followed the links you included. I love how all your stories have a historical truth to them.
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Dear Michael,
I love a to play with words and this one just fell into my lap. 😉 Glad you checked out the links. Fascinating stuff.
Thank you for coming by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Heh heh…schist. Nicely woven tale that also enlightens me with a history lesson somehow. I love how you do that. Kudos!
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Dear Erin,
Happy to enlighten as I’ve been enlightened. 😉 Thank you for reading and leaving such a nice comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Dr. Gabriela,
Love your title this week. 🙂 Finding rare gems is definitely more exciting that digging up bones.
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Dear RG (oh wait, that’s someone else ;)…nah it fits.),
Digging up facts is more fun than digging up s(c)hi(s)t, too. Thanks for coming out of the frozen wasteland to comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
I love the places your research takes you, always managing to educate as well as entertain with a well written story.
Take care
Dee
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Dear Dee,
I love traveling the research trail. I’ve learned so many things by doing so. I’m pleased to have you as a traveling companion. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m sure that’s one of the nicer things he’s pulled out of the sewer! NYC’s infrastructure is fascinating, as are the people who maintain it/built it.
When we go up to Lake Superior every year, I go garnet hunting, though I only find little chips here and there. The water carries them from its eastern shores all the way to Minnesota. That stuff is always so interesting.
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Dear Emilie,
I wonder if the sanitation had any idea what he’d found. History doesn’t tell much about him so, of course, Mike’s my invention.
I’ve never been garnet hunting. Sounds like it could be fun.
Thanks for coming by to read and comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hello. I wonder if Mr King made anything on it. Lovely piece of speculative dialogue.
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Dear Patrick,
The historical accounts conflict about who sold the stone to whom. Ah well, we’ll probably never know and most will never care.
Dialogue is fun. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rocelle Wishoff-Fields 😉
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Oh, the poor long suffering Irish. Poor Mike.
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Dear Tracey,
Perhaps the sanitation worker was of another nationality. Hard telling, not knowing.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great title and a very entertaining little history lesson 🙂
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Thank you, Sonya. 😀
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Great spin on the photo Rochelle.
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Many thanks, Dawn. 😀
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Great characters and a most enjoyable and informative story. I love the title.
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Dear Margaret,
For some reason, my title’s getting attention this week. 😉
Thanks for reading and leaving such nice comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Entertaining and a fun learning experience as always, Rochelle!
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Dear Tiffany,
I’m pleased you found the learning as much fun as I did. Thank you for coming by to read and say so.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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“Sewer garnet”–there’s a name that attracts attention! Interesting story and links!
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Dear Emily,
I loved where the research trail took me and just had to share the experience. I’d never heard this story before either.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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An amazing piece of history – and you’ve made such a clever story out of it. I take it the name of ‘sewer garnet’ was actually used in those headlines of 1886? Great story, Rochelle. 🙂
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Dear Millie,
“Sewer Garnet” and “Kunz’s Garnet” were the two terms that were in the articles. I’m not sure about the headlines actually.
I’m glad you enjoyed the story.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh no, poor Mike! I hope he got something out of the find. The dialect/dialogue is great in this piece, Rochelle. I can imagine the bar and the patrons 🙂
Enjoyed the historical links and how you wove all that together.
I’m so behind in my reading this week 😦 Ah well, not much one can do when schist happens 😛
Ellespeth
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Dear Ellespeth,
I understand about being late getting around. I am this week. Trying to finish reading before tomorrow. And life is about to take a turn for the busier.
I’m glad you were able to find time to read and comment on my story. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That’s a gem of a story. Loved the dialogue.
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Dear Subroto,
Thanks for the pun and the comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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