Our Mantra
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.
Please be considerate and keep your stories to 100 words. Thank you.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Word Count: 100
LAST RITES
Grandma Tollard met Jeannie at the front door, her long grey hair askew. She seized Jeannie’s arm with one bony hand. “Thank you for coming, dear.”
“What happened?”
“I…we, that is…he…he had a heart attack and—”
“Did you call 911?”
“—he’s dead. I called Fr. Jenson.”
Grandma clutched her lace peignoir robe at the neck and led Jeannie to the bedroom. Biting her quivering lip, Jeannie pulled the sheet over her grandfather’s grinning countenance.
She wrapped a comforting arm around her weeping grandmother.
Grandma sniffed. “I’ll never forget his final words to me.”
“What were they?”
“‘Hi-ho Silver!’”
Many thanks to my BFF Jeannie O’Hare for her generosity in allowing me to share her strange but true family stories. Some things just can’t be made up…but they can be embellished.
To hear my interview on Impact USA radio last week CLICK HERE
A lovely way to start my day – with a grin plastered from ear to ear. You can brighten anyone’s grey November morning, Rochelle.
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Dear Sandra,
Always happy to brighten a November (ugh) day. 😀 Thank you for brightening mine with such a lovely compliment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Funny story, Rochelle. Real people can be such characters. Good writing as usual. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
I’ve been threatening to write this one for while. Every time Jeannie tells the story she has us rolling on the floor. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So much life in 100 words. Beautiful.
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Many thanks, Loré. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great story. I hope I have a great exit line like that one. You can’t make that stuff up.
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Dear Josh,
We don’t really know what Grandpa Tollard’s actual exit line was. But the policeman who filled out the report said, “He died a happy man.” 😉 I thought immediately of “Private Benjamin” when she was asked her elderly husband’s last words to which she tearfully replied, “I’m coming.”
I want my epitaph to read, “There’s a joke in this somewhere.” or “What’s the punchline?” Fitting, don’t you think?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ha, Ha
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What a way to go! Great story.
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Dear Karen,
Some things just can’t be made up. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’d remember those last words also. I wonder if grandma smiled at them.
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Dear Irene,
From what I understand, Grandma was one prolific lady. Those last words are the fictitious part of the story. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Reblogged this on All About Writing and more.
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Thank you for the reblog, Henrietta. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You are welcome!
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That’s so clever, Rochelle. I loved the last sentence
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Thank you, Neil. It was time to ‘lighten up.’ 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great story, as usual. So was the granddaughter in the story based on your friend Jeannie?
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Dear Trent,
Some of the story, of course, is fictionalized, but most of it is not. In this case truth really is more entertaining than fiction. This really happened to my friend Jeannie. I’ve been threatening to write it for some time. 😀 Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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As parting words go, they’re pretty memorable 🙂
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Dear Jane,
I’m sure Grandma will never forget them. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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🙂
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He sure went out with an oomph! Nice story.
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Dear Magarisa,
He died with smile on his lips. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Well, I can think of worse ways to go. That works. Lol. I have heard the story a few times but still laugh every time. Good writing as usual. As for the statement “you can’t make this stuff up”, I have to disagree. Most people can’t, but you are not most people. You have to be careful what you say around you. Carry on wordsmith queen.
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Dear Jan,
I laugh every time I hear this one. I finally got around to recording it…with few embellishments perhaps. Thank you for all the faith and support, m’luv.
Rochelle
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Leave them with a smile, and he certainly did. Nicely observed chuckle 🙂
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Dear Iain,
As the policeman said as he made out his report, “He died a happy man.” 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ha! A day or so ago, I did read that it’s rare for people to have a heart attack during sex, but if it’s going to happen, it will more likely happen to men.
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Dear James,
Hmmm…I wonder what that says about the male of the species? 😉 Thank you for reading and commenting. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I have no idea, but my heart is fine. 😉
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This made me snort with laughter! You painted that picture so clearly, the hint at what has happened with Grandpa smiling and Granny in her robe – so funny because of the subtlety. I wonder what the priest thought when he turned up, but then I suspect priests get to see some astonishing sights. Loved this Rochelle. A pearl of a story
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Dear Lynn,
I imagine the priest might have had a little difficulty doing his job with a straight face. 😉 Thank you for the snorts and kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My pleasure as always Rochelle 🙂
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And there I was thinking, ‘this is sad’ when you hit me with that last line and made me laugh!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Dear Susan,
Glad you laughed. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a lovely way to say goodbye! Delightful Rochelle.
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Dear Keith,
He certainly made a memorable exit, didn’t he? 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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At least he went out with a smile. You can’t so much better than that. you caught me off guard, Rochelle. I wasn’t ready for that ending. Still smiling as I write.
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Dear Eric,
Mission accomplished. 😀 Happy to leave you with a smile. Thank you
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
I am having trouble writing here with my shoulders hopping up and down with laughter. Thank goodness no one is home to hear me laughing all by myself. Well, Zeke is, but he doesn’t seem to mind…
Thanks for the laughs on this November day – added bonus as I can’t complain, the sun is shining and it is a “balmy” 43 F today…
Lotsa love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
I can still hear you laughing from here. 😀 We’re nearly in the 60’s today. At any rate I’m glad I made you laugh. My work here is done…for the day anyway. 😉
Thank you and shalom, my friend.
Rochelle
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😂
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We all have to go, and what better way to leave than with a grin on your face…. maybe dying is just the next beginning.
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Dear Björn,
At least he died doing what he loved…or rather, whom…ouch, did I really say that? Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I have to wonder how often death really happens, or is lead up to or dealt with in the way people expect? The truth is so much more bizarre than any fiction.
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Dear MK,
We never know, do we? At least Grandpa went out in a blaze of glory. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Gabby “Gate-Mouth” W(T)F,
Dare I ask if he left a sliver bullet? Who was that masked man? Perhaps he took one of those little blue pills and got thrown. Still, what a wonderful way to go.
You get the humor prize this week. Five out of five on the silver bullet scale.
Ken Burned-Out
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Dear Ken Burned-Out,
My thanks go to Grandma and Grandpa Tollard who knew how to live…and die. 😉 There are side effects to those blue pills, y’know. Perhaps he failed to read about them…or didn’t care. On the other hand when you’re time’s at hand…or other parts…;)
Thank you for the silver bullets. I’ll try to shoot them wisely.
Shalom,
Gabby “Gate-Mouth” W(T)F
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Thank you for that and the embellished parts did make me grin. Thanks Regina
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Dear Jeannie,
Thank you for being a fount of unusual and entertaining material. Embellishment is what I do. 😉 Thank you for the hunky dory comment. Love ya, BFF
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The story is so vivid. Loved reading this.
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Thank you, Lata. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A witty tale, cleverly written. I particularly like the way Grandma called the priest rather than 911.
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Dear Penny,
Grandpa did go out in a blaze of glory, didn’t he? 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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We should all be so lucky! A lovely story Rochelle.
This isn’t quite last words, but the story reminded me of comedian Spike Milligan, who asked for the inscription “I told you I was ill” to be placed on his headstone. After he died, his wish was granted, but the local diocese (in England) insisted the phrase be inscribed in Gaelic (Spike was Irish-British). It’s a shame that someone who wasn’t in the know would only get the joke if s/he happened to read Gaelic.
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Dear JS,
That epitaph has been used more than once over here…in English. I’ve always thought I’d like something like, “What’s the punchline?” My brother says he wants, “His face was an open mouth.”
Thanks for reading and sharing. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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And I thought it would be sad. Nice one Rochelle. LOL!!! 😀
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Dear Norma,
It was sad in a sense. But what a way to go. The family’s been laughing about it for decades. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Death is always sad but would agree with you “what a way to go.”
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Oh my goodness. Hi ho Silver, indeed 🙂
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He he. Thanks for reading, Linda. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I hope I go happy! Nice story 🙂
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Dear Ali,
We should all go happy. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Riding off on his white charger – Lovely way to go!
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That’s one way of putting it, Liz. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, this made me giggle. I wrote a story for this prompt. I normally write poetry, but I thought I would step into the water spray. 🙂
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Dear Susie,
Happy to make you giggle. BTW some of the FF’rs do write poetry. As long as it’s 100 words…;) And last year I took part in a Jewish poetry reading. The facilitator insisted that my flash fictions read like poetry. I’m happy to have you on board and will be giving your interview with Dr. Reeves a listen soon. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh my gosh. That last line gave me a laugh in a piece filled with sadness. Well told Rochelle
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Dear Laurie,
I’m glad you laughed. Grandma Tollard’s grandchildren still do. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s all fun and games ’til the horse throws the rider. Fun flash.
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Dear D.
But what a way to go. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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LOL! I love to hear about frisky old folks. Makes me think there is hope for me.
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Dear Alice,
Frisky indeed. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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even though this story involved death yet it made me chuckle…
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Dear Balaka,
A little dark humor for the week. Glad you liked my story. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Jeannie’s grandfather sure had personality. Thanks to both Jeannie and you for sharing this lovely little tale, Rochelle. Cheers, Varad
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Dear Varad,
From the many stories Jeannie’s told me I’d say that Grandma was the one with the prolific personality. 😉 Thank you for reading and enjoying.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hah! This made me laugh. Wonderful.
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Thank you, Claire. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That was that! How you can make humour amazes me!💐
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Dear Sabina,
When the humor muse strikes, I must obey. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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😊👍
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Really like this, great turn to laughter.
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Dear Rachel,
Some things are just funny. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A lovely story, made lovelier with your words.
And, I love your pic with your BFF.🙂
Best wishes always,
Moon
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Dear Moon,
Glad you liked that picture. That was taken on the day we celebrated my retirement. Glad you liked my story. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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“‘Hi-ho Silver!’” Now that’s the way to go. Energized and ready for the next adventure.
Good job.
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Hey Phyllis!
Thanks for swinging by for a read and leaving a nice comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A fantastic story leaving so much to the imagination. The picture of grief, the trepidation at approaching the deceased, are both so clear, and the last line a great turnabout. 🙂 Thanks to Jeannie for letting you share.
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Dear Sarah Ann,
I’m fortunate to have a friend who’s so generous with family anecdotes. 😀 Thank you for such a lovely comment/compliment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi Rochelle,
After we finally stopped laughing at the last line (took 10 minutes), we read Russell’s comment regarding “Silver Bullet”, and we laughed another 10 minutes.
Rochelle, you win this week’s funniest award. Great writing.
Mike
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Dear Mike,
Russell puts the fun in Friday Fictioneers, doesn’t he? He’s one of the reasons that keeps it going for me. Thank you for the award. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sad story made delightful. Thanks Rochelle.
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Thank you, Dawn. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle, again another heart warming flash. The last rites were a great write.
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Dear Neel,
And I thank you for another lovely comment. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Cracking last line!
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Many thanks, Clare. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Still laughing Rochelle. FUNNY! You are so clever – great story – just great!
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Awww, thanks, Nan. You’re a sweetheart and always say the nicest things. Thank you
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A cool fun twist to an otherwise sombre mood – thanks for showing another way 🙂
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Dear Dahlia,
Humor always lightens the tone, doesn’t it? This is one I couldn’t make up. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely flash of life. Your last line had me a smiling and a chuckling. Thank you, Rochelle. That was a treat.
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Dear Kelvin,
Life can take some spins and dives, can’t it? Glad my little (mostly factual) tale made you chuckle. 😀 My work here is done. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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