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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 © JS Brand
Please be respectful and keep your stories to 100 words. Thank you.
Genre: Fiction
Word Count: 100
FREESTYLE
Yellow Tangs and Blue-violet perch floated before Elise, unconcerned by her presence. Sunrays beamed through the crystal ceiling, illuminating purple fan coral that swayed to and fro like dancers. Palming the water, she somersaulted and dove deeper, chasing schools of glistening fish.
She flipped again, but before she could right herself, long tendrils of seaweed twisted around her wrists and ankles. Try and tug though she might, the plants held tight.
With a gasp, she woke amid tangled blankets and bedsheets. “Roger Miller was right. You can’t roller-skate in a buffalo herd and you can’t go swimming in queen-size bed.”
*
*
*
And Just for Fun 😉 😀
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
That made me smile – a great start to the day!
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Dear Louise,
In turn, your comment started my day off with a smile. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great undersea description there, Rochelle
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Thank you, Neil. A lot of it is from memory….sigh.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Welcome to the pleasuredome
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You obviously know how to ‘Knuckle down, buckle down, Do it! Do it! Do it!” 🙂
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And I can be happy if I’ve a mind to. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Talk about a rude awakening! There we were, swimming along with Elise and bam!
This was a fun take, Ma’am!
Lotsa love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
Nothing’s more frustrating than trying to do a flip turn in bed. It just doesn’t work. 😉 Thank you for swimming by and leaving a nice comment. Makes my day.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Especially if one is not alone in said bed! An added challenge…
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Oh, that part under the sea was so real. I got woken up with a jolt.
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Dear Claire,
The undersea world is from memory. Great times. And the dream is based on fact as well. Nothing more jolting than trying to execute a flip turn in bed. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Cute story, Rochelle and good writing as always. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thank you, Suzanne. 😀
shalom,
Rochelle
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Haha! That was fun. Don’t we all love those early morning dreams!
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Dear Varad,
Actually, I know it’s time to head for the pool when these dreams happen. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you for introducing Roger Miller and his hilarious song – the title in the story had me laughing before I even realised it was an actual song – they don’t make them like that anymore! Great fun 🙂
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Dear Iain,
Roger Miller was a terrific songwriter. I’m glad the story made you laugh as well. A cold, bleak winter’s morning requires loads of laughter. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love those first images. Makes me long for the Bahamas! Whenever I think of Roger Miller I think of my friend Wayne’s house. His parents had one of those enormous wooden consoles with a record player and radio built in. Roger Miller was in heavy rotation at all times.
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Dear Josh,
Ah…how I loved Roger Miller. Of course we got a kick out of Kansas City Star. Yodel-leedle-layhee. 😉 Thank you for swimming by. It will give you practice to swim wit da fishes in the Bahamas.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such an idyllic picture — and rude awakening twist(s).
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Dear Christine,
Definitely a rude awakening. Ocean waves and bed sheets do mix well. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I wasn’t expecting that ending at all. I was about to join Elise gasping for breath, fighting the seaweed…
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Dear Jane,
Mission accomplished. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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🙂
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Nice story, and, I know where the memories came from. While Roger Miller was a great songwriter, he has some ways to go to catch you. Many nights I think you are trying to swim while you are sleeping. I know this because I am the recipient of the kick or overhand stroke in your dreams. Swim on Spanish Dancer.
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Dear Jan,
Yes, you do know where that memory comes from. Shannon and Sayda’s wedding made it happen. Can we go back? I need some more ginger sauce and a heaping helping of Magen’s Bay. 😉 Thanks for reading and commenting, m’luv. ❤
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Your beautiful underwater descriptions, and the panic of feeling the seaweed tangling deceived me completely! I hadn’t even begun to suspect it was a dream. Nice one, Rochelle! BTW if you use a duvet rather than bedsheets, you won’t get tangled, you’ll fall out of bed instead…just sayin’
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Dear Penny,
I’m pleased to know that my little misdirect was successful. 😉 Thank you for the duvet tip. I’ll keep that in mind. And thank you for taking the time to read and leave a nice comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very amusing, m’lady.
I guess you’d hardly get a queen size bed into an 8 by 12 4-bit room…
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And I am Queen of the FF Road. 😉
Thank you, kind sir.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Never heard of that one before.
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Now you have.
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You had me worried there for a minute then she woke up – made me smile and thank you for reminding me how wonderful Roger Miller was. And how right!
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Dear Jilly,
It’s always hard for me to wake up from underwater dreams. 😉 Thank you…and yes, Roger Miller was wonderful. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ah, an underwater scene (great minds think alike) but yours ended comically! Great story, Rochelle!
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Dear Susan,
If there was an operation to surgically implant gills in humans I’d be first in line. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great fun. Been years since I heard that song 🙂
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Dear Linda,
Loved Roger Miller. Still do. His songs were definitely unique. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a dream!
It was scary to read about the deadly plants!
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Dear Anita,
Fortunately it was only a dream. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Nice twist. Packed a lot into so few words!
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Thank you so much, Sarah. Again, welcome to Friday Fictioneers.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you, Rochelle. I’m enjoying it very much.
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As others have said, really lovely description there Rochelle – the sights and feel of the water so vibrant and real. Then that jolt at the end – we all know how that feels, that horrid rude awakening and you described it so clearly. Top watery marks
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Dear Lynn,
I’ve actually had similar dreams. You really can’t do a flip turn in a queen-size bed. 😉 Thank you for the lovely comments and the watery marks. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
That last line made me chuckle. How many of us have had such vivid dreams that we wake with a start and are bewildered that we are still in bed?
Thank you for a great read,
Renee
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Dear Renee,
I’ve had a few of these swimming dreams. It’s always a bit disappointing to wake up. 😉 Thank you for a lovely comment.
Shalom
Rochelle
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That recalled for me a nightmare from which I awoke the wrong way round under the covers. Eurgh!
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Dear Liz,
Nightmares are always good to wake up from. 😉 And we can find ourselves in some interesting positions, can’t we? Thanks for stopping by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hah! I’ve done flips in bed…and ended up on the floor. Love the beautiful descriptions. The wakeup was a shock. I’m still grinning after that. last line.Loved it. 🙂
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Dear Eric,
Fortunately I’ve yet to flip out onto the floor. I’m laughing at the image. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh I do love the way you moved me from dream to nightmare… great sometimes that we can wake from them…
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Dear Björn,
Some dreams are nicer to wake up from than others. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Loved your fascinatingly beautiful undersea descriptions, Rochelle and the surprise ( twist) at the end.
Wonderful story.🙂
Best wishes,
Moon
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Dear Moon,
Ah the memories of snorkeling. 😀 Happy to have caught you by surprise. Mission accomplished. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Querida Rochelle,
Por poquito … I almost wrote something along these lines. It was because I’ve been hearing so much about Natalie Wood. She was one of my favorite actresses. West Side Story being my fav.
The funny part is that I also thought of myself in those – long tendrils of seaweed – but with my curly hair. This one brings big smiles even from the song.
Muy bueno mi amiga … Abrazos 😍
Isadora 😎
ps – that photograph is awesome … lovin’ the HUMOR !!! 😂
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Querida Isadora,
I can relate to the curly hair. 😉 I loved Natalie Wood and West Side Story, too. She was a beautiful woman.
FYI…I went to a Spanish service at my synagogue (it meets once a month) and I understood quite a bit. Hay mucha genta allí que hablan español y son mis amigos.
Gracias mi amiga.
Abrazos y paz.
Rochelle
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West Side Story was the movie my hubby and I saw on our 2nd date. ~~~ : – )
Aqui adonde vivo no hay gente latina. Tengo que viajar 3 horas a Miami. Tienes suerte que hay tanta gente para practicar su español. Bendición y Abrazos 🙏
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I was getting really worried for her then along came the hilarious last line and that song! Brilliant Rochelle.
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Dear Keith,
It was fun to lead you down the wrong current,. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I really enjoyed your descriptive writing, Rochelle. I breathed a sigh of relief upon discovering it was only a dream! Loved the clever ending.
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Dear Magarisa,
Your words make me grin. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m glad. 😊
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Awesome! Great descriptive writing that made me first wish I was swimming then glad to be on dry land 🙂
Here’s mine: https://theequiaticbind.wordpress.com/2018/02/08/friday-fictioneers-the-hotel-wars/
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Dear Sean,
I’ll take awesome as a comment any day. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very good one, Rochelle! Brings a happy smile! Created a beautiful mermaid picture in my mind, too. Hey, there’s your next art project, giving image to this write. 🙂 ❤
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Dear Jelli,
I do fancy myself to be a mermaid. An art project might be the ticket. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I can picture that… heheh! 🙂
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Well do Wacka do and dang me. All those colors make things really stand out
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Thank you, Larry. Rip pip pip a doowah!
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It occurred to me that Roger Miller is kind of a slightly earlier version of Jim Stafford, even in their appearance.
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I don’t know if they actually worked together, Larry, but they were flip sides of the same record. https://www.discogs.com/Roger-Miller-Jim-Stafford-King-Of-The-Road-Spiders-And-Snakes/release/6266064
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I can believe that. From the nonsense songs to the Southern twang, they fit together well.
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You are a master at this! Delightful twist. I was gasping with Elsie….phew!😥
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Aw thanks, Vivian. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My pleasure!
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Ha, that last line! I almost thought this story was about to end in tragedy for Elise. Glad she woke up just in time! This actually reminds me of a dream I had years ago, in which I got trapped underneath my own aquarium (water-side down, mysteriously defying gravity) and woke up with my lungs ready to explode because I’d actually been holding my breath in my sleep. I was suffering from glandular fever at the time… I had a lot of unpleasant dreams, during that period. I shall now cease rambling in your comments box. Thanks for the story, and the prompt!
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Dear Spaceman,
I’m so glad you woke up and breathed. And I hope you’re in better health. We all have weird dreams from time to time, don’t we? I’ve had a few like this one, although not exactly like it. My husband can tell you that I don’t swim well in a queen-size bed. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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but well, it’s a good one. one has to start somewhere. 🙂
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Thank you, Plaridel. (glug 😉 )
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s not always easy to starfish in bed!
This was so captivating Rochelle – so enchanting and entrancing, it feels like we’re swimming along with her, serene and easy. And then the twist! Ahh, very well done and written.
Shalom 🙂
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Dear Wildchild,
What a lovely compliment/comment. Much appreciated. Thanks for floating by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Loved the descriptions Rochelle and the end was the icing on the cake 😀 And the song is awesome too – thanks!
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Dear Dahlia,
Glad you enjoyed my story and the song. Fun stuff. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Phew! Dreamy to frightening and then back to a dream 🙂
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Dear Ali,
Mission Accomplished. Thank you for going where I wanted you to go. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautiful, evocative writing Rochelle.
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Thank you, JS. And thank you for the evocative photo. As you can see it inspired creativity.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great short story that put a big smile on my face! Thank you and greetings.
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Dear Cecilia,
Thanks for coming by. Happy to give out smiles. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hahaha great one Rochelle. So colorful the first part and then the jolt in bed! A scary and then funny piece. Well told
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Dear Laurie,
This was a fun story to write. It made me want to snorkel again. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I seriously had that dream last week. I didn’t wake up smiling.
Good story and descriptions.
Tracey
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Dear Tracey,
Scary dream to actually have. Glad you liked my story, though. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s weird for a strong swimmer to have a drowning dream. Must mean something. Have a great week.
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She needs to lay off the Melatonin. That stuff can cause some freaky dreams. This made me laught
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Dear Susan,
Thanks for the Melatonin tip. I’ve never taken it. 😉 Glad you laughed. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Loved this and loved Roger Miller. Both make me smile! 🙂
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Dear Sascha,
Two smiles for the price of one. 😀 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You had me there! I did love the description of the place and almost wished myself there. Until the double ending!
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Dear Sabina,
I’d so love to go somewhere I could snorkel again 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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☺☺☺👍
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Time for a swim for Elise. The last line had me laughing. A great twist to the story. Lovely piece Rochelle. 😀
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Dear Norma,
It’s definitely time for Elise to go swimming. 😉 Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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the mIller song was fun… thanks
and some dream….
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Thank you, Yvette. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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🙂
well you are such a layered person, Rochelle and I am super glad that you host this challenge.
Over 2017 I have had the chance to see your layered diversity/ You write a lot about your Jewish Heritage and that is always part of your signature style, but you also have a beat on current events and pop culture (something like that). For example, I was so surprised when you had a fiction piece with the Tom Petty memorial.
And today, Noah was visiting and he is teaching music at a jewish school and I ended up showing in the Mezuzah video on your blog.
In closing, I have been meaning to say that for a while now (how it has been to see your many layers peel back) and I hope you have a nice rest of February –
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Dear Yvette,
I will cherish this comment. Thank you so very much.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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hope you have a good week – and actually good month – I am taking a short blog pause and will be back sometime in March – ttyl
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What a fun story from a nightmare!
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😀 Thank you, Dawn.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I really thought you were writing some grim story of a horrible drowning. Then she woke up and it was hilarious what her first thoughts were. 😃
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Dear Fatima,
I was a great fan of O. Henry, a great storyteller from the turn of the 20th Century. His stories always had a twist at the end. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love it. Such fun.
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Thank you, Patrick. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such gorgeous imagery in your opening paragraph. I really started to worry when Elsie got tied up in the seaweed so I’m glad it was all a dream, and love that you can’t swim in a queen-sized bed.
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Dear Sarah Ann,
I’ve never had that particular dream but I often dream I’m swimming laps and wake up trying to do a flip turn. It just doesn’t work in a queen-size bed. 😀 Thank you
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautiful writing, Rochelle. I was swimming with Elise until the twist at the end. Very nice! =)
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Dear Brenda,
Glad to take you along for the swim…and the twist. 😉 Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
That’s brilliant. I thought that Elise was about to have a very dark end, despite the beauty of her surroundings that you’ve described so wonderfully, and there was that clever and amusing twist at the end. Well done.
All best wishes,
Sarah
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Dear Sarah,
As a child and teen I was a great fan of O. Henry. He never disappointed with his surprise endings. I’m glad you enjoyed mine. 😉 Thanks so much for taking time to read and comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I heaved a sigh of relief at the end. I thought she was done for.
And I love the imagery too. 🙂
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Dear Kwadwo,
Thank you for your kind words. Glad you enjoyed. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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An unexpected ending that left me smiling 🙂
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Happy to give out smiles. Thank you, Colline. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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One of my favorites I think, Rochelle, though tough to choose. But the imagery was lovely, the rising tension intense, and then the “whew” ending, all came together perfectly. 🙂
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Dear Jan,
Hmm…maybe I’ll read this one for open mic Friday night. 😉 Glad to leave you smiling. Thank you. I’ll miss you this weekend.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Nice misdirection Rochelle! We are all holding our breath along with Elise
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Dear TRG,
I hope you didn’t have to hold your breath for long. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I was just starting to black out when you revealed. So perfect timing 🙂
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Dear Curious Georgette,
Thanks for featuring one of my all-time favorite songs. I love the affirmation, “You can be happy if you want to.”
Doot, doot, doot,
Roger
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Dear Roger,
Roses are red and violets are purple,
Sugar’s sweet and so’s maple surple.
Thanks for dropping in.
Rip pip pip a doowah!
Shalom,
Curious Georgette
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That was a neat flip in the end after the wonderfully descriptive start. I guess a struggle for the blanket can be akin to being caught by the long tendrils of seaweed. That was a funny song I guess we all can be happy if we want to.
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Dear Subroto,
Those bed linens can be treacherous. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That was fun, Rochelle! Although it sounded like more of a nightmare…
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Dear Luccia,
Guess you could call this part nightmare and part fun. Glad you came along for the swim. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi Rochelle! What a scary dream. You made it sound like fun, beautifully. Shalom.
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Dear Indira,
I’ve never actually had this dream, but Elise was happy to wake up. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I had this type of dream and I woke up screaming.
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A charming and entertaining tale Rochelle. Like the Roger Miller quote !
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