The following photo is the PROMPT. Keep in mind that all photos are the property of the contributor, therefore copyrighted and require express permission to use for purposes other than Friday Fictioneers. Giving credit to whom credit is due is proper etiquette.
Please be considerate and make an effort to stay within the suggested word count.
PHOTO PROMPT © Sean Fallon
Many of you will remember this prompt. It’s one of my first as Friday Fictioneers Fairy Blog Mother. This week I feel the need to direct my writing energy to another project so I’m falling back on a re-run. It’s one of my favorite photos and stories from nearly four years ago. Looking back on the link from that prompt I see that quite a few of you wrote stories for it. Thank you for sticking with it. ❤ Feel free to take a break or write another story.
Genre: (hopefully not) Realistic Fiction
Word Count: 100
A WELL-ORDERED LIFE
Prototypical milquetoast, Benjamin Parker wore bow ties and kept to himself.
Three days of no-call, no-show to work passed before anyone missed him enough to call the police.
When we broke into his immaculate apartment we found his pajama-clad body in bed. There were no signs of foul play.
Jars filled with things like batteries, safety pins, wine corks and matchbooks lined cabinets and counter-tops.
“Quite the collector. Wonder if he jarred his tidy whities.” I flung open the closet door and choked. “What the—?”
In single file on the top shelf human heads floated in name-tagged gallon jars.
***
This coming Sunday, March 6, I’ll be interviewed on local TV at 7:50 AM CST. It will be streamed live here. Click the red new button and then “Live Streaming.”
And for your listening pleasure.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Ooooh. Interesting piece, Rochelle. And well-told story. 🙂
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Thank you, Rosema. Glad you liked. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yes, I did. But now I can’t think of a 100-story. 😀
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That’s really why it’s best to post first and read others later. Although I’m still glad you read and enjoyed mine. 😉
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Oh… I have written mine last night. 🙂 It will be posted on Friday. 🙂
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Dear Rochelle,
Wonderful. I burst out laughing😉
Best wishes
Helene
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Dear Helene,
Your laughter makes me happy. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ohhh… A serial killer found dead. Interesting. 🙂
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Dear Funsie,
And they weren’t even looking for him. What a surprise. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Spooky short story.. wow. Congratulations for the interview.
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Thank you, Lata. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Another one who burst out laughing here – unexpected twist, Rochelle, but I liked it a lot!
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Dear Lorrie,
This one was, and still is, out of the ordinary for me. I had fun with it and am glad you did, too.
Thank you,
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ohhh my! That’s so creepy! Great story!
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Dear Melony,
This is among my favorites over the years.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wow, That is a dark one, Rochelle. Brilliant stuff.
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Thank you, Lindy. 😎
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ah.. I don’t remember you writing so dark.. but yes there could be some OCD in that jar… so we just expect a serial killer to be as compulsive about his mementos…
I do remember this prompt, and I had always wanted to rewrite it a little… so I actually edited the story… and changed the end. Love that aspect of reruns…
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Dear Björn,
This one’s still a bit out of character or me. One has to break out of the jar every once in a while. 😉 I’m glad I’m not the only one who likes to revisit and even tweak the oldies.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wow shock end! Loved it.
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Shock and love, nice combination. 😉 Thank you, Louise.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That is one very disturbed corpse.
Great story!
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Dear Chioma,
Disturbed indeed. Have to wonder how he died.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a relief. I was afraid they would have found the heads all jumbled up in a pile. I detest messy serial killers. 😉 Nicely done,, Rochelle.
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Dear Chris,
Benjamin was nothing if not neat. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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it was quite a horrifying ending
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Dear Arora,
It would be horrifying to find, wouldn’t it?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I remember this one and the “Wait a minute” moment at the end. You had several dark stories that made me look behind me as I heard you coming. Lol. Good story with great twist of taking OCD to a new level.
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Aaaa. Serial killer down! Definitely a surprise ending. Well done.
Phyllis
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Thank you, Phyllis, 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hey, Rochelle, I probably won’t get a chance to write a story this week, but I want to thank you for using this picture. It gives me a great idea for storing my batteries. I usually toss open packages of batteries in a box somewhere, but this is much better and neater —– hey, it’s even decorative!
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Dear Sandra,
I’m glad my post served a purpose. 😉 I kind of hope you liked my story, too.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, my gosh!!!! I meant to read your story after I wrote the note, but I was doing two things at once, and without even thinking, I signed off and kept working on my other project. But since I’m working online, I got the notice about this comment. I will definitely hop back over there and read that story as soon as I’ve closed out the work at hand. Sorry about that. How rude can a fellow writer get?????
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A departure from your usual offering, beautiful character study with a twist in the end. Well done!
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Dear Sandra,
Every so often, one has to break from the norm. Glad you enjoyed.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Never judge a book by its cover or a man by his bow ties, Rochelle. I never saw this – or the prompt – first time round, which makes me extra glad yo brought it back for another turn. Great story, leading us carelessly to its terrible conclusion.
I am a bad person though today; my story is 120 words. Feel free to skip it; I might try later to cut again as the excess niggles me!
Jen
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Dear Jen,
I’ll forgive the extra verbiage. Since you’d just had Sebastian when this was posted the first time we’ll call it a belated baby gift. 😉
Glad you liked my little story.
Thank you and shalom,
Rochelle
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HA -HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA ……… Wow! Look out, readers! Yes indeedy, this one’s a keeper!!! I don’t care what Elmore Leonard says about overuse of exclamation marks; this situation requires lots of them. What makes it extra funny for me is that I was here earlier, and intended to read the story after my note about the picture. But then realized later that I had not done so. When I finally did read it, it made me feel a little like I had been standing right next to all those head in the jars without knowing it —- Ewwwwwwwe!
Great job on this, Rochelle. I didn’t have a clue until you zonked us with it.
(And — on second thought — I don’t think I’ll start keeping my batteries in a jar after all.)
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Dear Sandra,
Use all the exclamation points you want. 😉 Your comments gave me a good laugh. Sorry to have put you on the spot the way I did. But not really.
This remains one of my favorites among those I’ve written for Friday Fictioneers. It was fun to take it out of mothballs and share it with a fairly new audience.
Many thanks for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A nightmare for who ever opened the closet, ” ‘thought for the day’, stay out of strange closets. But then we might not be a writer”.
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Dear Michael,
Don’t look under the bed either. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wow didn’t see that coming, wickedly horrible ending. Love it.
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Thank you, Michael. Happy to surprise. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ewwww, makes you wonder about that guy down the road with his quiet, timid nature and his lawn that always seems disturbed by that shovel he leaves just out of view! Oh yes, I’ve seen him smoothing out those ‘rough’ surfaces and furtively looking around.
Oh yes, Rochelle, they ‘are’ amongst us!!!
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Dear Carolyn,
Really we hear these types of stories fairly often. Spooky and it does make you take a second look at the ‘quiet ones.’
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yikes!
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🙂
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Funny how you remember things… I remember the pajama-clad body! And I remember the jar of batteries. I repeated my story from 2012 as it features one of my favorite Friday Fictioneers. True story, no fiction this time.
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Dear Ted,
This is one of my favorite stories that I’ve written. I read yours…again. Brings back good memories. Miss him.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A bit on the creepy side (in a very good way) for you, Rochelle! Good luck with your writing.
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Dear Alicia,
Sometimes I person just has to ‘go there.’ 😉 Thank you on all counts.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Quite the bloodthirsty little soul back then, weren’t you, ma’am.
Excellent story, full marks for very black humour.
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Dear CE,
You weren’t with us back then so someone had to do it. 😉 Thank you for the high marks.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Heck, R, I haven’t killed anyone for ages.
Well, Sunday, actually.
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Yikers! That’s spooky. Too bad no one knew him. He could’ve given them a heads up…*ahem* Love the zinger in the end. Great story, Rochelle!
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Dear Eric,
Nothing’s so good as a bad pun. 😉 Do we really know anyone? I wonder.
Thank you,
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hello Rochelle,
It’s been a while since I’ve been able to join in, and honestly feel mighty rusty.
But wow! I love this piece, there is nothing better than an organised serial killer! 🙂
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Dear Heidi,
If Benjamin was nothing else, he was organized. 😉
Thank you and welcome back.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Feels like a cross between an episode of Cops and an episode of Hoarders. I quite enjoyed it.
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Dear Adam,
Glad you enjoyed and took the time to say so. This is still one of my favorites.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
The prompt and your take on it are a first time read for me. What a shocker ending!
Shalom,
Lynda
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Dear Lynda,
The beauty of having done this for so long is that to quite a few this is brand new. It’s fun to revisit and the pieces are usually timeless.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You never know what goes on behind closed doors! I love the dark humour here Rochelle.
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Dear Siobhán,
True indeed. It’s those quiet ones you have to watch out for.
Thank you,
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Woohoo, what a twist! And he’s such a neat guy. Great story. And congrats on your interview, the music you gave us with it made me laugh.
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Dear Gabriele,
It’s those neat freaks you have to watch out for. They’re usually covering for something. Glad you listened to the song. It’s a fun one and seemed to fit my news.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a great ending twist, Rochelle. I can see why you chose that one. Well written as always. Congratulaitons on the interview. I’ll try to match the time here. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
Well-rounded week of insanity going on here. Thank you for the kind words and kudos.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I like going back to my old stories, there is always something to tweak or mess about. This one is wonderfully horrible…If I was a serial killer, I would be just like your Mr.Parker. OCD rules! 😀
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Dear Loré,
I do enjoy occasional trips down memory lane. Not to mention that at present, my plate is full to overflowing. My head couldn’t itself around a new flash. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochell
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The ending is horrifying! A thriller in 100 words. Nice one, Rochelle.
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Dear Jahnavi,
Happy to horrify. 😉
Thank you and shalom,
Rochelle
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That is a neatly packaged, and nicely bottled up horror story, Rochelle! Wow! I am amazed by your versatility.
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Dear Vijaya,
Thank you for those words. Today these dry bones are feeling a tad stretched, trying to catch up with last week and keep up with this week. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle YFBM (my wand is recharging.)
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My pleasure! I love that your wand is recharging! 🙂 ❤
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Hi Rochelle! This time a different story from you but enjoyable.
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Dear Indira,
One has to break out of the box from time to time. Glad you liked.
Thank you and Shalom,
Rochelle
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Shalom dear.
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Dear Mother Goose,
If Benjamin had any back-pay, sick leave, or vacation time built up, please forward me those funds at your earliest convenience. I will consider this satisfactory restitution for his killing my cousin, Abbey Normal, who was scheduled for a brain transplant just before she came up missing.
Thanks,
Goldilocks, M.P. (Master Procrastinator)
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Dear Goldilocks,
As you can see, you’ve not cornered the market on procrastination. I feel like I’m waterskiing to catch up to last week while beginning this week and my skis are going in different directions. as for your cousin’s brain…sorry about that. Benjamin left nothing but a jar of tighty whities…and I would advise just tossing them.
Shalom,
MG
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I think they found Jimmy Hoffa — or Judge Crater. One of the heads did get to the Dark Carnival, I think.
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By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes. I’m sure one of the heads was mine…I seem to have lost it lately for I’m here, but not all there.
Shalom,
Cuzzin Shelly
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Awesomely creepy! Nice story Rochelle… I am always scared to hear about hoarders… My Nana was a hoarder and cleaning out her place was a little nerve wracking for my mum… no heads tho thank goodness!
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Dear Laurie
We used to live next door to a hoarder, Horrifying. I’m surprised the house is still standing and they still live there. I haven’t been inside in some thirty years. I can only imagine,,,
At any rate, I’m pleased you enjoyed my foray to the dark side.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Clever, unexpected, and totally gruesome ending!
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Thank you, Liz. 😉
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he sounded weird but he ended up weirder than i thought. great story-telling.
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Thank you, Plaridel. 😀
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Querida Rochelle,
Benjamin Parker has been a bad boy. I think he had a bit of evil in him.
A very gory take this week on the prompt. Loved it ….❤️
lyla tov … good night 😴
Con carino,
Isadora 😎
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Querida Isadora,
I’m playing catch-up this morning as I’m between two prompts. Benjamin was definitely a person to stay away from, wasn’t he? Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom y abrazos,
Rochelle
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Querida Rochelle,
I’m not surprised you’re up to your ears with things to do. After all, you’re a radio star. 😄
You keep getting that book out there. The FF-ers will always be here; especially, me. I’m addicted to the wonderful stories of all of these stellar writers and yours too.
Muchos besitos,
Isadora 😎
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Terrific buildup to a great ending. Watch out for collectors, I say.
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Dear Margaret,
Those collectors are a shady lot. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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“Loved the prompt photo and your story! A re-run was fine for a newbie like me,” she said. “And, I had fun with the picture!” She added, “Congrats on the interview — that’s neat!”
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Dear DH,
Some stories are timeless and it’s fun to have them to draw from. Thank you for the compliments and kudos.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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“Thank you for Friday Fictioneers!” she said.
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Rochelle, I think that’s the kind of guy people say of, “He seemed so quiet.” I once worked with a guy who collected change. He would go to the bank just to get it and had huge jars of it. No heads that I knew of. 🙂
-David
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Dear David,
I’m a change collector, too. It’s always nice to take that full jar to the bank for a yearly wiindfall. 😉 Of course if the guy you worked with collected heads you probably wouldn’t know about it until he had yours. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a gruesome discovery. But isn’t that often the way of it?
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Great story! I was just feeling sorry for him when I reached the gruesome end. It’s always the quiet ones 🙂
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Dear Ali,
They say you never really know about those quiet ones. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Holy cow, Rochelle! What a story! So well-organized, compact and that ending delighted the heck out of me 😀
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Dear Lori,
It delights me to know how much you liked my story. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My pleasure, Rochelle 🙂
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Twisted! I love it. Plus I always wondered how long it would take for me to be found if I stopped showing up to work😊
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Dear Jenn,
Interesting and rather grisly thought to ponder. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I also recycled my Friday post this week. I am. just. so. tired.
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Dear Symmantha,
Some weeks are like that, aren’t they?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Admittedly, I was really hoping for tighty whities! A creepy one this week, Rochelle (or, from a while back!)… hope your other projects are coming along! The live stream will be a tad early on my coast, but do you know if we can look it up later? Would love to hear your interview! Good luck with it!! xox
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Dear Dawn,
You can find what video I managed to get of the interview, thanks to a best friend who recorded it from the TV with her phone. Wobbly but not too terrible. I posted it on this week’s blog. Still trying to catch up.
This is still one of my favorite stories that I wrote for FF. It’s nice to have them to draw from and for many the prompt and story are new.
Thank you and shalom in your busy world.
Rochelle
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This one was worth repeating,but then all your stories are masterful. Congratulations on all your projects and the interview!
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Dear MTO,
Thank you and than you. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Never done this before! Hope I followed the rules. Thanks for this wonderful writing practice! Fun!
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Oh, my goodness, Rochelle! That was a shocker. Something about jars does say “collector,” doesn’t it? Great story then and now. Best of luck on your radio show! You’ve been so very busy with your book(s). That’s wonderful. I hope all is going well.
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Dear Amy,
There’s something odd about a collector. Ever see the movie “Everything is Illuminated?” Really wonderful. Glad you liked my story.
Yes indeed, the books are keeping my über busy. The interview coming up is actually a TV interview. So I’ll be seen as well as heard. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’ve never seen that movie. I want to add it to my list. Wow, a TV interview! You’re in the big leagues now. You’ll do great. I wish you much success, Rochelle. All the best!
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I wasn’t expecting that kind of ending! He was such a neat freak it makes me wonder if the heads had perfectly combed hair. Great story.
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Dear Jessie,
You ask and interesting question. 😉 I hadn’t thought about the hair on the heads. I think he’d be just OCD enough to comb their hair. Eeew. Thank you
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Mr Parker was quite a collector, even then the police had no heads up to what was happening in his house.
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Dear Subroto,
Thanks for the comment with a pun. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What an image! Great juxtaposition of the mundane with the horrifying!
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Dear Emily,
Thank you for such a nice comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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*Shiver* well told Rochelle!
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Thank you, RG. 😀
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You are so welcome 🙂
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Oh, that was a creep-out! Loved it! 🙂
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Thank you, Jelli. 😀
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