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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 © Ted Strutz
Genre: Speculatively Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
DESIGNATION
Slow moving traffic and gray skies contributed to Ted’s equally gray mood. The rhythmic thump and swish of windshield wipers lulled him.
He had almost drifted off when banging on his passenger-side window startled him. Leaning over, he opened the door.
“Mahalo, hoaloha. I must get back to my sheep near the harbor.”
“Friday Harbor?” Ted stared at the stranger’s crescent-shaped eyes and old fashion clothing. “Where’re you from?”
“Hawaii, but I work for Fort Cowitz.”
“They shut down in 1869. What’s your name?”
“Poalima. ‘Friday’ in English.”
A horn’s blast made Ted jump and the stranger vanished like steam.
*
*
*
Mahalo, hoaloha – thank you, friend.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
I love this daydreaming, and where else than in a queue like this… I wonder if this will pull Ted back to the pond…
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Dear Björn,
After last week, I needed to write something a little lighter. 😉 Happy to pull you into my daydream. Glad you enjoyed. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wonderfully atmospheric. I think Poalima may be a selkie (look it up. It’s worth it, I promise. There may a story in it)
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Dear Neil,
I’m familiar with selkies. Who knows? Maybe Poalima was one. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This was an great mix of past and present, with a captivating ‘lady of the lake’ moment.
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Dear Michael,
I didn’t really have lady of the lake in mind, but now that you mention it…thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely little dream for Ted stuck in the Ferry line. Good writing as always, Rochelle. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
I’m pleased you enjoyed my little speculative fiction. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, well done! Love dreaming, day or night.
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Dear Connie,
Stories are the stuff that dreams are made of. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ghosts asking for directions! Love it. Nicely evocative piece, Rochelle.
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Dear Josh,
Ya never know who you’re going to meet on the way to the ferry. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A nice ghosty tale. Or, as my Gran would have said… an angel unawares. 🙂 ❤
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Dear Jelli,
I’ll go with your Gran on this one. 😉 ❤
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s so intriguing that I thought it sounds as if a ghost visited him. Well daydream or ghost, I’m sure it pulled him out of his grey mood!
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Dear Fatima,
In my mind Friday is a ghost. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hehe. I loved the genre you designated. 😀
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Dear Kecia,
When the normal genres don’t quite fit, I invent them. 😉 Glad you enjoyed.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great story. Another one that I had to look up the references.
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Dear Trent,
There’s history everywhere, isn’t there? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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For those of us who love history, we only have to open our eyes and surely there is something there.
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Love that ‘Friday’ was still concerned about his sheep – even if he has been dead for some time! Would love to know more about Poalima – he must have had some strong personality to have a harbour named after him. Thanks for the link to the history of the area. Love that photo of the three town founders. Some magnificent beards there 🙂
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Dear Lynn,
Trying to find more out about Joseph “Poalie” Friday was kind of frustrating. The ‘facts’ that I could find seemed to alternate. So, I, too would love to know more about him. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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“Picture if you will….” 🙂 Great story Rochelle!
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Dear Courtney,
“Submitted for your approval…” Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ooh went for surreal there. Driving and dreaming is a bad combination yo!
I hope the driver’s not on the verge of death and hallucinating – oy that turned a bit grim. I’ll just imagine he woke up just in time.
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Dear Blue,
I suppose it’s up to the reader to decide if it’s a dream or not. In my mind, Friday’s a ghost. Would I let Ted dream and drive? 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
PS Welcome back. 😀
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That was a lot of fun, Rochelle! What better way to spend one’s time in a queue than to daydream? Aloha!
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Dear Dale,
Ah, but was it a daydream? Perhaps it was a true visitation. Just sayin’. Thanks, my friend.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Indeed! Real or imagined? I like that we are left wondering…
Lords love,
Dale
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A tidy bit of history wrapped up in Ted’s daydream. I love this one, Rochelle! The light side suits you.
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Dear Lish,
After the last story, I really needed to lighten up. 😉 For myself as much as anyone. Glad you liked it. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Daydreaming while driving can be a dangerous thing. Hope Ted made it to his destination alright!
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Dear Adam,
On the other hand, maybe it wasn’t a daydream at all. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I guess that’s always possible too, but my skepticism keeps me from jumping on that wagon 100%.
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I wish I could have dreams like that … then again …
Fun stuff!
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Dear Cuzzin Kent,
Maybe it was a dream and maybe it wasn’t. 😉 Glad you found it fun. 😀 ¡Gracias!
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You say he almost drifted off. Loved the feel of this and the did he or didn’t he aspect.
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Dear Cindy,
Mission accomplished. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Cool. Another history lesson in story form. Nice one, Rochelle!
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Dear Eric,
Always happy to offer a history lesson, even if it is coupled with a bit of paranormal. Why not? Right? Of course right! Many thanks.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Daydream or an apparition from the past?
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Yes.
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Love this, Rochelle. It’s that little space in-between, wondering if it were real or a dream.
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Dear Sascha,
Of course that’s exactly what I had in mind. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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this is one situation when blowing your own horn (no pun intended) can be music to one’s ears. 🙂
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Thank you, Plaridel.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A sweet dream – the knock on his window wasn’t as threatening as I feared!
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Glad it was sweet, Liz. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Danica Cow Patty,
Did you forget to post your cute little selfie on InLinkz this week? I didn’t see your smiling face there. As for your story, you never know what you’ll see out there on the track (I mean highway). It’s usually rather a blur to me as I’m typing 25 words per minute and pausing every three words to let my brain catch up with my fingers. I’m holding out for the ghost of Mae West to tap on my window and invite me up to “See her some time.”
Time for a pit stop,
Mario
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Dear Mario,
My wet, goggled countenance is linked in at #6 this week. A picture of me in my natural habitat, water. The mental image of you typing at your lightning speed makes me pause to smile as I backspace for the fourth time in this reply. I don’t miss the old typewriter days when my page would look like a snow scene with all the white-out. Don’t daydream and drive today.
Shalom,
Danica Cow Patty
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Oh, I see you now. I thought that image was from an ad for a new Disney movie about insects called “Don’t bug me now, or I’ll bite down on your ear and won’t let go till Christmas.”
Kind of a long title for a movie, don’t you think? They should shorten to something like, “Wet Behind the Goggles.”
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How about “Dances With Sharks?” or “Beauty and the Barracuda?” or “Night of the Living Squid.” The possibilities are endless. 😀
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I like “Night of the Living Squid.” Can’t wait to see the trailer.
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I’ll see if I can’t get Kent to work on that.
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A nice tale Rochelle.
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Thank you, Kitty.
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Welcome, Rochelle.
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Thanks for running the challenge, Rochelle. Please have a look at mine at https://kittysverses.wordpress.com/2017/06/22/patience
Thank you all for stopping by and reading.
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Dear Kitty,
Running this challenge is one of my passions. The benefit has been making new friends all around the word. Thank you for being a part of it. However, it’s not necessary for you to leave your link here on my page as long as you’ve put your link on the inLinkz. I will see it.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It my pleasure to be a part of this wonderful challenge, Rochelle. I have taken a note of inLinkz linking, thank you very much.
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Querida Rochelle,
I guess if one is going to have to wait on a traffic line, a quick nap can help revitalize.
Un cuento muy bueno, mi amiga.
Estoy aqui mas temprano esta semana. He tenido mas tiempo para escribir.
Hasta la próxima … adios, aloha y au revoir (el padre de mi mama era Frances).
Abrazos y Shalom,
Isadora 😎
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Querida Isadora,
La pregunta es “¿Fué un sueño o un fantasma? Gracias, mi amiga. Glad you liked.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love the feeling of this piece; a little dreamy and a little spooky at the last line.
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Dear C.,
Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment. I’m pleased my story had the desired effect. (The proof is always in the reader. 😉 )
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
A nicely spooky piece, although I wouldn’t want a visitation from ghosts when driving, as it makes me jittery at the best of times. I listen to BBC Radio 4 in the car, to prevent me from daydreaming or seeing ghosts.
I think a breather from darkness this week was probably necessary. Your piece last week is still haunting me.
Hope you’re having a good week.
All best wishes,
Sarah
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Dear Sarah,
I had to look up BBC Radio 4. It looks like the British counterpart of our NPR. I’m afraid that might send me off to Daydreamland faster than quiet. 😉
You’re spot on in your assessment. I did need to take a break from the dark side. Although I’m sure I’ll find my way back there at some point in the not too distant future.
Glad you enjoyed my little ghost tale.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I like to think that he’s a ghost who pops up now and then to wake up sleepy drivers 🙂 Nice one!
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Dear Ali,
We all need a ghost to wake us once in a while, don’t we? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely story Rochelle. Ted seems like a kindly soul – who else would open a car door for a stranger these days? If the grumpy driver hadn’t sounded the horn, Poalima might have stuck around a little longer.
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Dear JS,
I think Ted is definitely a kindly soul. Thank you for your kind comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oooooooo ghostly visitation.
Wonderfully told Rochelle.
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Thank you, Laurie. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A ghostly tale! Maybe Ted needs to cut down on swigs from his flask on cold mornings. That link was interesting
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Dear Subroto,
Who knows? Perhaps it was the late night pizza. 😉 Thank you for driving by and leaving a comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’ll have to ask Doug how to say ‘You Are Welcome’ in Hawaiian. It will be fun to read the stories.
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Dear Ted,
Good luck with getting that translation from him. Google translate will give faster results. 😉 I hope you had fun reading my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
PS
noʻu ka hauʻoli (you’re welcome)
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Loved the surreal and dreamy effect. Past-life connection, perhaps?
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Dear Joyful,
The visitation is up for interpretation. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Day dreaming ones way out of boredom. Liked the categorisation as historical fiction.
This could have been horror/woo doo or even mystery for all i care.
You brought in a lot of cheer with this sweet little tale. Loved the link to the history of the area as well. As usual a delightful read, Rochelle.
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Dear Neel,
Thank you for such a lovely comment. As I’ve said previously, the event in the story is open for interpretation. Was it a ghost? A daydream? I’ll let the reader decide.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My best stories come from daydreams, but I’ve never written a story about daydreams! A delightfully different tale Rochelle.
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Dear Keith,
Daydreaming is part of the craft, isn’t it? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love stories with a supernatural twist.
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Many thanks, Shivam. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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😮 great story
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Thank you, Sree. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very enjoyable, Rochelle. Pleasantly surreal
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Dear Michael,
I’m glad you enjoyed my foray into the paranormal. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a wonderful character. Thanks for the introduction.
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Thank you, Dawn. Glad you enjoyed. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I wonder why Poalima wanted to visit Ted.I feel there was a reason for her contact.
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Dear Clare,
Poalima was actually a he and a shepherd. He probably visited Ted since he was the photographer who supplied the prompt. 😉 Thank you for driving by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m sure Ted would have offered Poalima a lift if he could. That wakeful horn blast came too soon for me, but 100-words is 100-words. A great cheery little read.
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Dear Sarah Ann,
I’d really like to have found more out about Poalima myself. Slim historical pickin’s. Gad you like. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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so truly beautiful, Rochelle. Your writing has the time -machine effect on me . Thanks for sharing the “Friday harbor” story.
Best wishes,
Moon
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Dear Moon,
I’m so pleased you enjoyed my foray into the paranormal. Thank you for a lovely comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Guess he had a snooze and dreamt or was in suspended animation and met a historical ghost! Cute!
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Dear Sabina,
The question I leave the reader is, “Was it a dream or a real ghost?” 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A Ghost from the Past. Brings up all kinds of possibilities.
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Dear Mike,
Why not? Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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