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The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.
PHOTO PROMPT © Shaktiki Sharma
Genre: Biting Satire
Word Count: 99
QUAFF A CUP TO THE DEAD
“Those eyes,” she whispered. “They set my eighteen-year-old heart aflame.”
My grandmother, an actress and fashion model in the 1930’s, fascinated me. She turned 87 on New Year’s Day 2000. Even in her illness, she insisted her silver hair be perfectly coifed.
“He’s coming for me today. I must be ready to greet him.”
I kissed her rouged parchment-thin cheek. “Nana, he passed away in 1956.”
“Lies! Dracula never died.”
On the television screen, in black and white, Bela Lugosi bent over the ill-fated Mina. A wheezing sigh escaped Nana’s crimson lips as they spread into a peaceful smile.
If you’d like to know more about Mr. Lugosi click HERE.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Oh… I can understand that fascination with such fated kisses. Can they ever die?
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Dear Björn,
Bela Lugosi was said to be quite sensual and women were attracted to him. This one died in 1956 😉 Thank you for coming by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Delightful!
But ‘Biting Satire’?
Really!
Still laughing.
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Dear C.E.
I’m happy to make you laugh. I often wonder who reads my tongue in cheek genre tags. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I absolutely adore your range of topics Rochelle! Wherever do you find this constant inspiration?
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Dear Jessie,
Sometimes the muse catches me off guard. This is one of those times. Friday Fictioneers is a great place to spread our creative wings and try new things. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This is too funny. I hope at least some part of it is based on a true experience.
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Dear Bernadette,
Nana’s character is based on someone I knew although the rest of it is pure fiction. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I can believe that story is true, And if it isn’t, so much the better
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Dear Neil,
Nana is based on someone I knew, but as far as I know the rest is pure fiction, which makes your comment that much better. 😀
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ah, bless Nana, holding out for that suave and glamorous man all those years. I hope he comes for her in the end – even if it’s just in her mind. Sweet and funny tale, Rochelle – Biting Satire, nicely done 🙂
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Dear Lynn,
I see Nana as something of an eccentric. From the smile on her lips as she passes, perhaps he did come for her. Glad you caught the somewhat tongue in cheek genre tag. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You have to love an eccentric old lady – I’ve encountered many over the years and always find them fascinating, even when they’re ‘difficult’. Wonderfully realised, Rochelle – I’d love to read more about Nana’s life
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Nana is loosely based on a lady in a writer’s group I belonged to a while back. She had been a socialite in the 30’s and 40’s and was still quite attractive in her 80’s. After a bout with the flu she told our group how she had been been bending over the commode when she realized she might be at death’s door. It was then that she changed out of her flannel pajamas into something nicer and fixed her hair. She wanted to look her best if she had to call the paramedics. True story.
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Ah, bless her – that’s amazing! I see a lot of that with older ladies – women with astonishing, vibrantly coloured wigs, heavy make up, false eyelashes, still making a terrific effort with their appearance even in their eighties. It could be called vanity, but there’s something admirable in it
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Someone came for her at the end, that’s for sure. Loved the tag! Well done.
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Dear Sandra,
Glad you caught the tag. I’m not sure if the story’s truly satire, but it just needed to be there. 😉 Dark humor, perhaps? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The original Dracula rocks! I have heard it said he is the 2nd most filmed fictional character.. Sherlock Holmes being the first. The classics can’t be beat. Love the story too! 🙂
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Dear Courtney,
Bela Lugosi’s Dracula is probably the most imitated one. In reality, he spoke clipped accented English in the Broadway version because he spoke no English at the time. He sounded out his lines phonetically. Glad you know you liked my story, too. 😉 Thank you for taking the time to say so.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I enjoy the intrigue of following the prompts through your short, yet full tales! In a few words you bring Nana to life…from 18 to 87! And yes, I noticed the genre before diving into the story 😉
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Dear Chris,
So nice to see you hear. I love knowing that my oldest and dearest friends are lurking in the wings. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very lovingly written. Happy New Year to you and yours.
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Thank you, Neel. A Happy New Year to you as well.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I can picture the scene. Nana sounds quite a character.
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Dear Clare,
Nana is based on someone I knew. I can see her in the role. Thank you for such a nice comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love it… and for some strange reason, the line: “All right Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up!” came to mind! 😀
Love, love, love the tag… you funny one, you!
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Dear Dale,
The close up line does come to mind. Thank you for your lovely words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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😎😊
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Your genre. Biting satire………that sucks. Lol. Enjoyed the story and the link on Bela Lugosi was interesting. Lots of facts I never knew. You always educate us. Great job.
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Dear Jan,
I’m glad you enjoyed the story and went onto read the Wikipedia link. Your support is always appreciated, m’love.
Love,
Rochelle
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I’ve seen Bela Lugosi in so many movies – this was one of his best. Go Nana! A truly fun take on the prompt.
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Dear Alicia,
There was only one Dracula. Everyone else merely imitated Bela Lugosi. Nana was most certainly his most avid devotee. 😉 Thank you.
Happy New Year,
Rochelle
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Bela Lugosi was the greatest. I grew up watching his films. Another wonderful tribute, Rochelle!
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Dear Eric,
As I told Alicia, every other portrayal of Dracula was merely a pale imitation of Bela Lugosi. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very entertaining and sympathetically portrayed. Good one again, Rochelle
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Thank you, Michael. Glad you liked. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I can imagine the type – big actress in her heyday, always yearning for the golden days (and that unforgettable kiss/bite of course!).
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Dear Ali,
You are spot on. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Loved the story Rochelle. Imagine waiting for Dracula. it is one way to hope for immortality.
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Dear Joe,
I’m happy you liked my story. Welcome back. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I hope to have more time to write in the New Year. I am trying to reconstruct a few bits of my life to accommodate it better.
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Love this one! A great mix of nostalgia and grief with just a hint of creepiness too. Perfect Dracula tribute. At the end a part of me wonders if…maybe just maybe. Nicely done. On a somewhat related note, I still can’t believe Carrie Fisher passed. I was waiting in line for lunch when it came on the news and the older among us in line were all like – no! Not possible. So it worked for me on that level too. Happy New Year Rochelle!
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Dear Anne,
And now Debbie Reynolds, one of my favorites. A double loss…I mourn them both.
This is probably as close as you’ll ever see me come to a vampire story. 😉 But the dark picture sent me there, which, in turn, sent me to Mr. Lugosi. I’m glad it worked for you. Thank you for the lovely comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I also love your genre tag! The story is heartwarming in its own unique way.
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Dear Pamela,
I’m so pleased you enjoyed my story and took the time to say so. Comments are what encourage us to keep going, aren’t they? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think the genre tag escapes the majority of readers. However, she sneaks them in from time to time and so, having said that, everyone should watch for that. They are always a hint to the stories general atmosphere.
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Funny and creepy! Dracula is always a winner in my book. You might enjoy this tribute to the great Lugosi from Bauhaus – a band of my youth and my otherwise boring hometown of Northampton.
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Dear Miranda,
That was quite a tribute. Glad you liked my story, too. Bela Lugosi will always be ‘the Dracula’ in my mind. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Loved it, from the biting genre tag to Nana’s crimson lips and peaceful smile
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Dear Siobhán,
I’m not sure if this was actually satire…perhaps in a subtle way? At any rate, I couldn’t resist. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom and Happy New Year,
Rochelle
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Love a good vampire story! A great little story with a hint of sadness
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Dear Laurie,
This is as close to a vampire story as I go. However, there was something about that picture that begged for one. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom and Happy New Year,
Rochelle
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I had a crush on the vampire in Dark Shadows but not sure that I will be waiting for his final kiss on my death bed. Ha ha.
Bloody good fiction darling,
Tracey
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Dear Tracey,
Ah, Barnabas Collins. I can’t say I had a crush on him but he was quite the character. I remember rushing home from school to see Dark Shadows. Thank you for the bloody good comment.
Shalom and Happy New Year, Doc,
Rochelle
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sometimes I wonder how you can put two and two together and make up a story. well done.
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Dear Plaridel,
In all honesty, sometimes I’m not sure where a story came from. 😉 Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom and Happy New Year,
Rochelle
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Brilliant post
Great
Visit mine
http://shivashishspeaks.wordpress.com/
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Thank you, Shiva.
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I guess if you played in a film opposite Bela you would never forget. Good post as always, Rochelle. Happy New Year 2017! 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne.
Not sure Nana played opposite Bela or not. I leave that to the reader’s imagination. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom and Happy New year,
Rochelle
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She smiled, I smiled, we all smiled! Delightful Rochelle.
My tale is called ‘Oh Bother!’
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Thank you, Keith. You made me smile. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Querida Rochelle,
A classic tale coming to life with Nana. Brilliantly told, my dear amiga.
Looks like Nana was ready to be wooed even at 87. Ahhh … we should all be so confident of our beauty at 87.
Hope you enjoy my lil flash this week.
Continue with your wonderful CELEBRATION of LIGHTS.
HAPPY HANUKAH …
Abrazos y carino,
Isadora 😎
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Querida Isadora,
We lit the 7th candle tonight. My gentile husband is doing a great job of singing the prayers with me.
Nana is based on a writer I knew a few years back. She was a lovely, poised lady in her 80’s,
Happy to have you back. Muchas gracias, amiga.
Feliz Año Nuevo,
Rochelle
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I feel like your character might be another victim of 2016, but at least she doesn’t seem to mind. Love the characterization in this piece.
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Dear Jen,
Nana passed away in 2000…if she were a real person. 😉 There’s only a day and a half left of 2016, Please…no more. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Those films were so splendidly melodramatic, and girls have always enjoyed being scared!
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Dear Liz,
Bela Lugosi was a most sensual Dracula. Thank you for coming by.
Shalom and Happy New Year,
Rochelle
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Dear Bella Dona,
Enjoyed your snarky humor. I often wondered if Dracula had a favorite blood type. Would type O be flat and leave a nasty aftertaste, whereas AB+ might be zesty, full-bodied, with a bit of a bite? I’m sure the blood sommeliers could argue for hours.
Happy New Year to you and Jan
Perhaps I’ll post next week. Trying to finish the “Idiot” story and get if off to Pen-L.
Peter Lorre
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Dear Peter,
I was getting worried that I’d be left nameless this week.
I would think that AB-, due to its rarity, would be considered a great delicacy by Mr. D.
Thank you for stopping by to save me from an identity crisis. Best wishes with the Idiot…I mean Idiot story. Give my regards to Duke and Kimberly. 😉 Happy New year to you and Connie.
Bella Dona
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Nana must have led such an interesting life. And till the very end. More like sound bite fiction 😉
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Dear Subroto,
There’s a difference between flash and sound bite fiction? Thanks for coming by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wish you a happy new year Rochelle. There is no difference but this one had a “bite” to it 😉
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(Slaps her forehead). D’oh! Happy New Year to you, Subroto. Great play on words and I totally missed it. 😉
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Who could resist Dracula? Fun story!
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Thank you, Debra. I’m lad you liked it.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh the wonders of where your brain wanders, Rochelle; it’s magic! Now, for some chills: I’ve been driving WA to Denver, and setting up my son’s apartment. For some odd reason the subject of Lugosi’s Dracula in the car… TOTALLY out of the blue, and not a usual topic. I log on and here’s your story!! Whoa.
Thanks so much for all you do for FF; you really make every week fabulous! Thanks for your constant commitment to us all! xox
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Dear Dawn,
Oh yeah, that is a little on the send chills up your spine side. I’m never really sure why my mind went the direction it did. This is one of those stories that took me by surprise.
It’s comments like yours that make me want to keep facilitating Friday Fictioneers despite some of the frustrations. Thank you for your constant support. ❤
Shalom,
Rochelle
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hey thanks for the pic. i wonder i can still put in an entry…?
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Dear Shaktiki,
It’s a mysterious picture and was fun write for. Alas, each week the link list is only open from Wednesday to Tuesday evening. You can write a story but you won’t be able to add your link to the list. Sorry.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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yeah i figured that out…i guess i’ll just go with this week’s prompt. thanks a lot.
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