14 July 2017

Published July 12, 2017 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Janet Webb

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Genre: Realistic Fiction

Word Count: 100

BUTTON-DOWN CONFESSION

             My mother’s button collection fascinated me. Among my favorites were pearly ones with silver trim or grape-shaped ones made of glass. Like the jar in which she stored them, they smelled of stale mustard.

            One afternoon I dumped them out on the table. A shiny blue straggler embossed with curvy white leaves rolled toward the edge. Mom caught it.

            Her faraway eyes sparkled like the button itself. “My dress fastened in front. Indigo satin.  He called me Princess Blue Belle.”

            “Cute. Daddy’s clever, isn’t he?”

            “Oops!” Blushing, she crammed the button into her pocket. “Time to clean up for supper.”

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Original Artwork © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

131 comments on “14 July 2017”

  • unbelievably imaginative, that’s probably how good writers are! Thanks for the opportunity to explore this brilliant world. Thanks for sharing the beautiful artwork with a very beautiful story, Rochelle.
    Best wishes,
    Moon.

    Liked by 1 person

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  • You reminded me here of my own fascination with my grandmother’s button box. Even today I can remember the shapes, colours and designs of them. I wonder who keeps button boxes today, and whether they still hold the same fascination for children. You captured a nostalgic slice of the past here, with a saucy little twist in the tale. Well written, as always.

    Liked by 1 person

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  • My mom had a college photo of herself holding some girl over a railing! That’s about as wild as my mom got in those days. And here I thought she was a boring little farm girl.

    Then again, if you grew up used to seeing the animals doing the nasty ….

    Five out of five WTFs. 😀

    Liked by 1 person

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  • If Mom’s button was revealing, can you imagine my surprise when, at the age of about thirty, I learned that my mom had had a child before she married my dad —and I had a sibling out there somewhere? Yes, Moms do sometimes have a shocker in their past. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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  • Well, now, what a lovely little mystery we have here. Some tales are best untold, I suppose. I used to have a tall pickle jar (2.5 gal) jar full of buttons and beads (a wedding shower gift from the oldest member of the church), and oh, if they could tell the stories of where they’d been. Wish I still had it. Just remembering, I can smell the faint tinge of dill pickle.

    Liked by 2 people

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    • Dear Jelli,

      I’ve fond memories of that jar. It broke some time ago…I think one of my kids dropped it. Then I put the buttons in a cookie tin. I’m not sure where it went to. It’s possible that the boys played with and lost them or they could be buried amongst unpacked boxes in our subbasement. At any rate, I do still remember the mustard smell. 😉 Thank you for taking the time to read and share.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Liked by 1 person

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  • Lovely story that brings back memories of my mothers button box and how as a child a cherished the fancy buttons. Loved the interesting twist at the end.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Dear Liz,

      In this case, I was the baby sister. 😉 Funny how, when we’re children, it’s hard to think of our parents as people with pasts. That comes when we’re ever so much older. Thank you.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

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  • Dear Rochelle,

    This is just wonderful.

    Those dresses with front buttons were very convenient for many reasons, especially playful ones 😉 No doubt they featured in many fantasies, too!

    I just love the illustration and can clearly see the family likeness.

    All best wishes,
    Sarah

    Liked by 1 person

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  • This is lovely, both, the story and the illustration. I hope the narrator gets to hear the story eventually. Eventually we learn to see our parents as people. And I love buttons, too. I never throw them away.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Dear Gabriele,

      The narrator did get to hear the story later in life. Sadly, he was the one who got away because in those days, the girl waited for the boy to make the first move. I wish I knew where that button collection went. Chances are it’s entombed in our subbasement with other missing articles from our move ten years ago.

      Thank you.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Liked by 1 person

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  • Good story, Rochelle with great descriptions. I found old love letters Dad wrote to Mom and she was upset with me. They never talked much about that subject. They were in their 40’s when I came along. Good writing as always. 🙂 — Suzanne

    Liked by 2 people

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    • Dear Tracey,

      I’m busily working on a coffee table book that will be a companion to my three novels. Before I discovered my passion for writing I was visual artist. Now I get to visit both playgrounds. I have several illustrations to go before being ready to put the book together. Miles to go before I sleep.
      This piece, however, I confess to painting to go with this story. So much fun.
      I agree about children. It’s all about us until we hit a certain age. Alas, some never reach that age…emotionally. 😉 Thank you.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      PS Sorry to have run on so.

      Liked by 1 person

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  • Querida Rochelle,
    Su arte es una maravilla, mi amiga. You’re portraits are so very well done. It’s difficult to achieve. May I say you look like your mother in this artwork? She was a beautiful woman.
    I’m sure you know that.
    Your story gives us a peak into the relationship of your parents. A loving couple with sweet memories because of it. Thank you for allowing us inside their love.
    Espero le guste mi cuento … me pase por una palabra – disculpa.
    Love Janet’s photograph. I had commented on it when she posted it on her blog. Good choice, my dear.
    Abrazos y Shalom,
    Isadora 😎

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Querida Isadora,

      Gracias a Dios para Google Translate. 😉 Necesito estudiar mas.

      Some say I look like my mother and others my dad. As I’ve gotten older I see my Aunt Lucille more and more….she was dad’s hermana.
      There’s some fact and some fiction rolled into this story. Although my dad wasn’t who she was reminiscing about. 😉

      I fell in love with Janet’s photo and asked permission to use it. She has a great eye for photography, doesn’t she?

      Muchas gracias como siempre mi amiga.

      Shalom y abrazos,

      Rochelle

      Liked by 1 person

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      • Querida Rochelle,
        I’ve just befriended Siri. I was very resistant. Each time I’d turn my phone on she’d start nagging me. I love her now. She took me to many place I would have had to research a lot more without her help. The WWW like it or not it is sooo helpful. 😊
        I think we get bits a pieces from many relatives. Many have said I resemble my grandmother. I’ll take it. She was quite a looker. And, quite the fun-loving gal. She may have had a few reminiscing thoughts like your mom. hehe She was married 3 times. 😳 I shall burn all evidence of my past so no one knows a thing after I’m gone. LOL Gosh … Janet’s photo was not only great but it has afforded so much dialog.
        Gracias mi amiga por su apollo. Siempre me encata hablar contigo. Eres un marvilla.
        Amor y abrazos – Shalom,
        Isadora 😎

        Liked by 1 person

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  • Hi Rochelle,
    I made it around to this part of the world this week. Your story really made me smile. I remember when I was young and we’d go through Mom’s button collection and look at all the different kinds. I don’t know if any of them had such an interesting history as in your story, but then again, Mom never said. 🙂 Hope the summer is going well for you.
    -David

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Dear David,

      I don’t know that my mother’s buttons had histories that were that interesting. But it was fun to imagine. I do know there was ‘the one who got away.’ I think she always regretted not letting him know her feelings for him.
      I’m happy I made you smile because seeing you here makes me smile. We’re even. Thank you.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Like

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  • (I was so sure I left a comment here some hours ago, but maybe not. So here goes again.)
    Love the final twist… the inner knowing of the adult glossing over details to the child is beautifully expressed. And adore your painting. The expression on the woman’s face is one that suggests a secret or two is tucked away. Most befitting for the story.

    Liked by 1 person

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  • Dear H.K.M.A.W-F.,

    I got a chuckle from the last line. I interviewed my mother in the Story Corps bus when she was 90. They send a copy to the Library of Congress and one to your local museum. Mom shared some great stories about her 1st washing machine (gasoline motor) and an emotional one regarding her baptism. When I started quizzing her about boyfriends before Dad, she locked up tighter than a bank vault.

    Loved the fine art,
    Jack

    Liked by 1 person

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  • I love it, love it, love it. Daughters learn many things from mothers — even the fact that you really can love more than one wonderful man in a lifetime — one at a time, of course. One of the really precious possessions that my sister and I share from our mother is the engagement ring that she received from the young man she loved first in her life. It was during World War II, and he was a sailor. He was killed in combat, and never returned home to her. A few year later, she met my dad — just home from the war himself — and the rest, as they say, is history. It always saddened me to know my mother had suffered such loss and sadness, but then I’ve always been so grateful that she and my dad had a wonderful, love-filled marriage, and that I’m part of the result. But she always kept that ring, and with my dad’s blessing.

    Liked by 1 person

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  • A dear elderly friend told me that when they were girls, “drawers” or “knickers” buttoned onto the band of a “waist” — an undershirt sort of thing. (?) Four buttons for each waistband, and there were six girls. Mom had the buttons all set out ready to sew on when she got called away.
    The youngest girl, not more than four, came along…and swallowed every last button. My friend said, “Of course Mother got them all back again: she just had to wait a couple of days. Couldn’t let perfectly good buttons go to waste in those years.”

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Dear Dale,

      Understandable with the week you had, not to mention the lack of computer. It’s tough to read and comment on a cell phone and not much better on an iPad.
      I’m happy you came back to comment in any event. 😉
      Certainly, moms have secrets. We are women after all. Passionate creatures we. Thank you.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Liked by 1 person

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