Summer is the time for vacations, picnics on the beach and reruns on the telly. I’m happy to announce that I made my July deadline for my third novel in my series entitled AS ONE MUST ONE CAN. It looks like there’s more work to be done, however. Many thanks to those of you who responded to my plea for your favorite reruns. Look for new prompts the beginning of September as I’ve received quite a few new ones this summer.
Like us on Facebook
Our Mantra:
The following photo is the PROMPT. This week’s retread request is from Dee Lovering If you’re one of those who wrote a story for this prompt feel free to re-post it and enjoy the respite. Remember that all photos are private property and subject to copyright. Use other than Friday Fictioneers by permission only.
PHOTO PROMPT – Copyright – Georgia Koch
This one’s from January 23, 2015
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
IN ISMAY’S PLACE
Logan hunched his shoulders against the icy North Atlantic wind.
“Me wee Patrick’s one tomorrow.”
“Dinnae fash yersel,” said John, the coxswain. “The morrow’ll be the cold start of May and there’ll be eight more months of 1912 to play with the boy.”
“Two points starboard, John,” said Logan from the bow as he readied the boat hook.
***
Four months later the memories of the baby they pulled from the water tormented Logan. Patrick’s cries woke him from a nightmare. He gathered the child into his arms and whispered.
“Let fly, lad. ‘Tis a hard life, but a good sign.”
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Great title, brutally frank.
Great story, as always.
And “Dinnae fash yersel”!
Jings, lassie, ye’ll be talkin’ wi’ the brogue soon.
Hae a wee hug, ye cannae whack it.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Dear CE,
And I’m please ye liked me story. Thank you for such a great comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had to read the story twice and this comment! But well worth it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dear Louise,
I’m pleased that it was worth the effort. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh this is heartbreaking.. the language is spot on, and I do remember this clearly… this was one of my favorite images ever, and I immediately recalled the story I wrote…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Björn,
It’s a more recent rerun so I think there will be a few who will remember the prompt. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
A sad tale that was unfortunately mainly true as well. Good story Rochelle. Thanks for hosting 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Al,
Thank you for a nice comment. And you’re quite welcome as far as my hosting is concerned. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
A great idea, but something about it distanced me from it. Perhaps it was the contrivance of dropping in the date (which isn’t necessary for the story).
LikeLike
Dear Neil,
Interesting comment. I wrestled with myself over putting the date in. In the end I felt it necessary. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. Sorry to distance you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
The only thing to do with advice, Oscar Wilde said, is to ignore it
LikeLiked by 3 people
‘I always pass on good advice. It is the only thing to do with it. It is never of any use to oneself.’
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember this, Rochelle. Heartbreaking. Good writing as always. Congratulations on meeting your deadline! 🙂 — Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Suzanne. This one’s more recent than most of the reruns, so, no doubt, many will remember it.
As for the deadline, it looks like there’s more work to be done according to my agent. Sigh.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I almost hated to “like” this story. It is so very very sad. Reminds me too much of some of the accidents I went out on with rescue… parents who don’t care enough to buckle their children in. Especially when mini-vans first came into vogue. It was horrible… beyond horrible… Gonna be hard to follow this story….
LikeLike
Dear Jelli,
Of course the sad part of this story is that it wasn’t negligence on the part of the parents but a major disaster. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. Yes it is a hard one to ‘like.’
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember this story well as it was a seafaring story with the brogue that had me hearing the accent of the characters. That had to be a hard task with a child of his own coming soon.
LikeLike
Extra dollop of sadness while reading as the sky is gloomy and rain is bucketing down. Well done as always, Rochelle.
janet
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Janet,
What an unexpected pleasure to see you here. It’s raining here this morning as well. Thank you for your kind comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Very touching story. Lovely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Iain. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Yes, I remember this one too. Heartbreakingly familiar, in more ways than one. Well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Sandra,
This was a difficult one to write in more ways than one. Glad it came across as intended. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
I felt for this man and his nightmares.
Very touching.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Dawn,
I can’t imagine it. I would think he had waking nightmares as well. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
This is a sad one Rochelle.
Sad but exquisitely written.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Chioma,
A very sad tale. So many lives lost. Thank you for your comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very sad story. My drawback is not understanding the other than English language.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Indira,
And then there’s the English language. Actually Scots English. Basically the coxswain tells Logan not to worry or fret, there will be plenty of time to enjoy his son. When Logan tells Patrick to let it fly, he’s saying, Go ahead and cry. It means you’re alive.”
Sorry to throw you such a curve, Indira. The slang was a bit daunting this American, too.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for taking so much trouble to explain it to me dear. Everyone else enjoyed your story.
LikeLike
I can’t get the image of a baby on a boat hook out of my mind. So well written that I shuddered.
Tracey
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Tracey,
And shudder we all should. Thank you for such a comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very sad story. Loved the dialect!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Ali. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Gee Golly Guppy,
There’s nothing sadder or more heartbreaking that the death of a baby. I would never make it as an EMT, but I’m glad someone can.
Now, if you’ll please row me a little further into the sage grass, I’ll cast my lure over near that fence post.
Happy knitting,
Junior
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Junior,
Sage grass is not a good idea for me. I’d sneeze and drown I fear. According to allergy tests yesterday, Sagebrush is at the top of my itch list.
I couldn’t be an EMT either. Thank you for floating by.
Shalom,
Gee Golly Guppy
LikeLike
“Four months later the memories of the baby they pulled from the water tormented Logan.” considering adjusting this to “…still tormented Logan.” it helps us more clearly see that this torment has been unending. just a thought. thanks for the perspective to keep us grounded.
LikeLike
Dear Snorts,
Yes, I can see where still might clarify, although I thought four months later implied the thought. And…I ran out of words. I am a bit of a stickler about the word count unless I have a specific reason for breaking the rule as i did when Doug and I wrote our two stories to add up to 200 between them.
Thanks for stopping by.
Shalom,
Randi
LikeLike
from a fellow stickler.
LikeLike
Is it really a hundred years? Powerful story, as ever, Rochelle.
LikeLike
Dear Liz,
Hard to believe a century has passed, isn’t it? Thank you for your wonderful comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
What a sad story. What a job to do. Well done, Rochelle.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Loré,
Sad on all counts. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved that you gave us a little bit of history, with your personal touch in the language
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Michael,
Thank you for your lovely comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Simply poignant! I love the nature of his fatherhood!
LikeLike
Thank you, Sabina. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Really heartbreaking, Rochelle – and so beautifully constructed. I had to read it through a couple of times before the sense of it hit me (though it’s early morning here and I think I’m still half asleep!) But really, a stunning little story, sparely and beautifully told.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Lynn, \
I can’t say that I ever mind hearing that someone read my story more than once. 😉 I’m glad it came across and that you enjoyed it. Although I’m not sure enjoyed is the right word. At any rate, thank you for such a lovely comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a difficult subject matter and we can only imagine how awful it is for the rescuers for this and any maritime disaster. So many lost souls that night. Such a strong story 🙂
LikeLike
It took me two reads and it was worth it… also had to Google ‘dinnae fash’ and glad I did 🙂 A beautiful piece and very sad. I’ve been away from FF for a few months – so glad to be back and looking forward to the new prompts in September!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Jessie,
Dinnae fash originally came from Google. 😉 I’m glad you took the time and found my story worth your while. Good to see you back. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Love the accent, and I’ve become decent at learning words from meaning so I had no trouble understanding. A heartbreaking story, but also heart-warming because the new father remembers and honours the dead child.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Gabriele,
Thank you for taking the time to read and leaving such a lovely comment. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
The poor wee bairn! A sad tale, but with love to give us hope.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Miranda,
Tis the perfect comment. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Rochelle, I love the language you used here. Such a sad story. I don’t know that I could survive the loss of baby in this way. It’s so tragic.Great to be back. My word counts have been sluggish….but I’m here!! Great to see you and congrats on finishing up your edits for your third novel. You must be so relieved.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Amy,
I’m glad you liked my very sad story. And it’s good to see you back.
I would say that it’s a relief to be finished with the edits, however, once my agent returns the manuscript there will be more edits. It looks like next year for the release rather than this fall. Which really is okay. I’d rather have it be my best work than a rush job that doesn’t match the other two novels.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it’s better to be satisfied with your final final draft! Best of luck to you, Rochelle.
LikeLike
Wow… This one grabbed me. Gosh I’m so sad now… I’m glad he was able to hold his child close after that. It would be hard to let go.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Laurie,
I can’t imagine what a job like that would do to someone’s head and heart. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very sad tale, but loved the Scottish brogue!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Clare.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Powerful and very sad, more so because of it’s basis in truth. Great again Rochelle.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Michael,
Truth usually is more impacting than fiction. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
A sad tale with spot on dialogue. Good on ye’.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Bonnie Alicia,
Thank ye as well.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rochelle, you always wring my heart-strings. This was the saddest story, and yet, the end was strangely uplifting and so very tender: ‘“Let fly, lad. ‘Tis a hard life, but a good sign.”’
LikeLike