16 October 2015

Published October 14, 2015 by rochellewisoff

The disc and the dragonfly

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The following photo is the PROMPT.  Let it speak to you, then tell us in a hundred words or less what it said. 

PHOTO PROMPT -© Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

PHOTO PROMPT -© Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

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Genre: Realistic Fiction

Word Count: 100

NIGHT AND FOG

            To escape the downpour, I duck into a musty antique shop.

            “Willkomen, sir,” says the elderly shopkeeper.  

            I walk past her to browse the cluttered shelves. A hauntingly familiar porcelain teacup catches my eye.

            “Lovely, isn’t it?” she asks.

            “My sister had one just like it until we quarreled and I broke it.”

            The shopkeeper’s eyes brim. “That was the day the train took my brother Helmond and me to Auschwitz. I thought he died.”

            “Esther!” I gasp.

            My heart pounds as her radiant smile transforms her into the mischievous child I remember. We embrace and she whispers, “Apology accepted.”              

123 comments on “16 October 2015”

    • Dear StepHonie,

      I’m not always sure why my mind goes were it does with some photos. There was a decree on Dec. 7, 1941 that went out from Hitler while everyone else was preoccupied with another horrible event. The decree was called ‘Night and Fog’ and was one directed at political prisoners and underground resistance fighters, etc. These people went to the camps or gas chambers with no documentation. They just ‘disappeared.’ Of course my characters didn’t but it seemed like such a relevant title.

      All that explanation for such a short and very sweet comment. Aren’t you glad you stopped by? 😉

      Thank you.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Liked by 2 people

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  • Those supposed coincidences happen quite frequently. I recently read of a thirty year old paramedic who saved the life of a guy who turned out to be the doctor who delivered him as a premature baby. People have said that coincidence is where God works anonymously

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    • Dear Larry,,

      There are so many stories like this one even though mine is fiction. I quite agree about so called coincidences. I prefer to think of them as Divine Appointments. 😉

      Thank you for reading and commenting.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Liked by 1 person

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  • Who would ever think that after so many years and miles apart, something like this could happen? It can and does. Such a warm and good story from a dreary photo. Now, who would ever think that a story this good could ever happen in 100 words or less? It can and does every week with this wonderful writer.

    Liked by 2 people

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  • A moving story, Rochelle, and like so many of yours, it gives me the feeling that it could have happened, even if it’s not as such a true story. Excellent writing.
    As I have sworn to honesty and critique, I will give you a couple of extra thoughts, which you are welcome to ignore / disagree with, though. In my head, the narrator was a woman (no reason, except possibly a natural association of narrator with author), so I had to read the middle part a couple of times to understand who was talking and who the brother was. Secondly, she finishes the story for him, but maintains the third person, which seemed a bit unnatural to me. And thirdly, it might possibly flow better into the apology if they were separated immediately, for example only one of them taken to the camp, or taken to different camps.
    Hope the shift of gears is going well,

    Jen

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    • Dear Jen,

      As always, I do appreciate your honesty. You make good points, but given the word limit there were things I couldn’t shoe horn. I can think of a couple of tweaks I might do to establish his gender. Aside from that, I like the fact that she keeps in the third person when she finishes his story. I’ve thought about separate camps but there wasn’t enough leeway with the word count and males and females were automatically separated within the camps.

      At any rate, I’m glad you were moved by the story, which is based on true stories.
      Thank you,

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

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  • I just read a book on the history of the Nazi concentration camps (Why? I don’t know it was a HUGE book with tiny, tiny words.) I remember reading about NIght and Fog. Your story gives it a much better ending.

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    • Dear Alicia,

      Sometimes I wonder if I overdo the Jewish history/Holocaust theme, but there are so many stories to tell. Even in a book that size, I don’t think the surface has been scratched. They’re finding out new things all the time.

      Thank you for reading and commenting.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

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    • Dear Janet,

      It seems there are a few of those stories out there and can be found on You Tube. This one needed a happy ending.

      I’m already adding my voice to those who’ve said they don’t know how they found the time to work. 😉

      Thank you for coming by.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

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  • That completely SLEW me! What a haunting, heartbreaking, beautifully narrated story! I love the tightly packed details, the back-story, the dialogue, and the gentle humor at the end. How on EARTH did you manage ALL of that in just a hundred words? You are a genius!
    (And, by the way, I’ve seen “Night and Fog,” a truly haunting and horrifying documentary of Auschwitz and the camps.)

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  • Dear Rochelle,
    Lovely reunion!

    I thought she had found her brother who had another teacup, but then she found the same sister with whom she had quarreled!
    Couldn’t guess that her elder sister had more teacups as your story says- “My sister had one just like it until we quarreled and I broke it.”.
    A reader thinks there was just one cup, while a surprise greets:)

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    • Dear Anita,

      I’m glad you like the story.

      The narrator is the brother who broke his sister’s teacup. There is only one sister in the story–the shopkeeper. The teacup on the shelf is like the one the brother broke.

      Thank you.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

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  • Your stories go right to the heart and trigger the tear ducts every time, Rochelle. Always so real and raw. A beautiful story with a tragic middle but a happy ending. Shalom, Cheryl-Lynn

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      • Rochelle,

        You’re welcome! I noticed a comment you made wondering if you are “overdoing the Jewish/history theme”. With a dying generation from those days, we need to remember, put a face and a story to the history and you do that so well, Rochelle.

        Other countries have other realities and write about that and I enjoy (even if tragic and heart wrenching) reading stories from Afghanistan, India, China (I used to love reading Pearls S. Buck) Jerusalem, Russia, Rwanda and the list goes on. Stories are what bring the history to life. I may not understand the politics but I want to hear about the stories behind these wars and genocides. We are all connected to the same race…the human race.
        Shalom
        Cheryl-Lynn x

        Liked by 1 person

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  • Dear Rochelle,

    You took my breath away this week. One of your finest stories! This type of tale is difficult to tell from a fresh perspective in a way that doesn’t feel tired or overwrought, and yet you pulled it off. Kudos!

    Peace,
    Marie Gail

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  • Rochelle, what a reunion this is. The teacup as the focal point reflects how nothing has changed, but at the same time everything has changed. The teacup is now broken, but their love isn’t and they still have each other. Wonderful, moving story this week, Rochelle.

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  • I held off reading, as I always do, until I could write my own. This photo took me to much darker places, I’m afraid. Your story is inspiring and lovely, Rochelle. Our dear friend Noemi, a Holocaust survivor, just stopped driving… I fear there will be few of them left soon. You do this so well. 🙂 Shalom.

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    • Dear Dawn,

      I can’t explain it, but there are times I know what I have to write even though I’ve tried to take it other places. This was one of those times. Alas, these precious people are dying off. Someone has to keep their memories alive. 😉

      Thank you for taking the time out of your travels to read and comment.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Liked by 1 person

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    • Dear Sara,

      Thank you for such a lovely comment. I’ll read the other story soon. I skimmed it and it looks like a good one. It’s unimaginable that humans can be so cruel to one another…and then to deny it ever happened? Unconscionable.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Liked by 1 person

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      • Greetings, Rochelle! I hope you enjoy Jenna’s story. She’s quite a word smith!
        It is unconscionable what humans will do to one another. Good thing there are so many of us that pursue education and improvement of ourselves and the world around us.
        Best,
        Sara

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  • Rochelle,
    what a wonderful story, although I wrongly assumed the shopkeeper was male first, so I had to read it again to sort out the genders.
    Every time I see this picture I think of the night Leah and I stayed at the hotel north of Kansas City, the same day we saw you and Marie Gail. The weather looked a lot like this and the scene as I looked down into the parking lot to make sure a tornado hadn’t carried off our car was a lot like this one. 🙂
    -David

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    • Dear David,

      Funny, I ended up adding ‘sir’ and taking out an unnecessary word further down do clarify that the narrator was a man. At any rate, if you felt compelled to read it twice it’s all good. 😉

      I took this picture last month when we went to Wichita. There had been no rain in the forecast. And of course, as we all do, I thought it might make a good prompt photo.

      I did enjoy meeting you and Leah that weekend so I’m really glad a tornado didn’t carry off.

      Thank you and Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Liked by 1 person

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  • Lovely! That’s the kind of miracle I like to read about. I just heard on the radio that a married couple in their 80s were reunited after over 60 years of separation. The Korean War separated them. Did you hear about the reunion visits they’re now able to have? I can’t imagine the emotions – the wife was 19 when they separated.
    Margaret

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Dear Margaret,
      I hadn’t heard about that particular couple but I’ve read a few others. There’s an organization in Israel that is working to reunite survivors with their families.

      I’m pleased you enjoyed reading my story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

      Thank you.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓

  • Rochelle, I didn’t receive your Challenge Post in my email this week. I went into my “Manage Subscriptions” and requested to follow you (although I already am following you, but I wanted to make sure it had not been deleted) and it gave me the message, “You do not have access to this blog.” Did you block me from receiving posts from your blog???

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