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Please be considerate of 70 or more participants and keep your story to 100 words. Thank you.
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 😀 (Thanks, Ted)
Genre: Historical/Biographical Fiction
Word Count: 100
STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT
After thirty hours of labor, at 3 o’clock in the morning, Dolly’s desperate physician resorted to forceps to deliver her baby.
Dolly clutched her sister’s hand. “Josie, is it a girl? I don’t hear her cry. Is she—?”
“Stillborn,” said the doctor, sweat beading his forehead. “He nearly killed his mama.”
The midwife laid the motionless infant on the kitchen scale. “Thirteen pounds. Big boy for such a tiny mother.” She held him under running water. “Sveglia!”
He sputtered and cried.
“Hello, piccolo sconosciuto.” Dolly Sinatra took her wailing son in her arms. “Just listen to my Francis sing.”
*piccolo sconosciuto is Italian for ‘little stranger’
Sveglia is “Wake up!”
Because a story about Old Blue Eyes wouldn’t be complete without a song, I leave you with one that Frank Sinatra hated when he first heard it. Doobie doobie doo.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Lovely story well told Rochelle. I do like a happy ending 🙂
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Dear Jennifer,
I like happy endings, too. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I never ask you whether your stories are true. I just know they are. You couldn’t make this stuff up
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Dear Neil,
I’m always amazed when my research path leads me to facts I didn’t know. I only embellish them a bit. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think he resembles his father a bit. I’m sure he gave his parents a taste of his vocal talents even in infancy!
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Dear Fatima,
Now that you mention it, he did resemble his father a bit. Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Good for the midwife. I’d never heard that story before. Good writing as always, Rochelle. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
This was a new story to me, too. Amazing the facts that are out there if we choose to look for them. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wow! Thanks for the trivia there, Rochelle (I am guessing it’s true).
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Dear Piyali,
I’ll always take ‘wow’ as a compliment. Yes, it’s a true story. I just embellished it a bit. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I like embellishments in true stories 🙂 They make the facts more vivid. Thank you for the prompt again. Hope you like my take on it
https://solitarysoulwithachaoticmind.wordpress.com/2018/07/26/a-new-residence/
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Oh, we were so nearly spared!
High drama this week, ma’am.
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Dear CE,
To quote Alfred Hitchcock: “What is drama but life with the dull bits cut out.”
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Life in Hoboken must have been tough in those days
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Apparently.
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What a fantastic tale! Great bit of trivia, per usual, Rochelle.
Cheers, Varad
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Dear Varad,
Glad you enjoyed. I love finding and sharing trivia. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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wow, what a story.. out of the world kinda
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Dear Deepa,
Thank you for such a high compliment. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What an invigorating tale, Rochelle.
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Many thanks, Neel. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That midwife was amazing. Terrific writing, Rochelle.
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Dear Jilly,
She certainly wasn’t about to give up like the doctor, was she? 😀 Thank you!
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great story. I never thought of him as being a big man, but it sounds like he was a big baby! Actually, if I remember right, he was represented in the cartoons as being so thin he was constantly on the verge of passing out.
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Dear Trent,
He was a huge baby, wasn’t he? In his early adult years, he was very thin. Not to mention, his mother was a very small woman. No wonder Frank was an only child. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Shessh! I felt Aidan was big as a 9-pounder… I don’t even want to think about 13 lbs! That they both survived way back then is a miracle, isn’t it?
Love your stories, my friend!
Lotsa love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
My youngest, Christian, was a 9-pounder as well. Can’t even imagine 13 and Dolly was about my size to boot. It is indeed a miracle they both survived. And went on to do more than that. 😉 Thank you, my friend.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Exactly. I’ve notice the huge babies are often born to teeny mamas… weird.
Well he not only survived, but thrived!
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RIP Nancy Sr. I guess Frank always did have a big head. I watched the original Ocean’s 11 the other day and was, as ever, impressed with his style. Nobody else could have played Maggio.
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Dear Josh,
Frank did have a big head and a lot of…ahem…er…backing from his…friends. Nonetheless, he was a great talent. I didn’t know about Nancy Sinatra Sr. Thank you
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That put me right in the room, wanting the baby to cry out.
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Dear Stu,
Compliments don’t get much better than that, 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Leave it to you to introduce nearly unknown trivia to us. Great job.
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Dear Jan,
Trivia is what I do. 😉 ❤ Thanks, m'luv.
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Illuminating piece of history Rochelle. He certainly made the most of the life he was given.
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Dear Iain,
He did indeed. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Just loved it. It has the ending which I wanted but was afraid I won’t get.
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Dear Shivam,
I’m glad the ending didn’t disappoint. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wow! Just imagine what a loss it would have been if the midwife had not revived him. Amazing research here, Rochelle and great story-telling!
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Dear Joyful,
No doubt another singer would’ve taken Sinatra’s place. Thankfully we’ll never know. 😉 Thank you!
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wow. Frank started singing at an early age. Great story about old blue eyes, Loved it. 🙂
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Dear Eric,
Some would call it singing. 😉 No doubt it sounded like singing to his mother. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Does this mean we almost didn’t have a Frank Sinatra? Great story.
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Dear Lish,
Can you imagine life without Old Blue Eyes? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Not for a minute!
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Nor can I.
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What a great fortune for the world… wonderful to hear the backstory of Frankie Boy.
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Dear Björn,
He had a rough start but he did it his way. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Well told, Rochelle. I was delighted when the midwife saved the day!
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Dear Penny,
There are times when truth triumphs over fiction. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautiful ending.
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Thank you, Phyllis. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I liked the contrast of the doctor’s final, frank but unfeeling assessment, his pride in having at least saved the mother, and the businesslike determination of the midwife, who does not give up so easily and (thankfully) takes additional measures.
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Dear Andrea,
Thanks to the stubborn midwife indeed. The music and cinematic worlds would’ve been deprived of a great talent. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Tomte Gnomo W(T)F,
Some say that when I was born my mother gave birth to both me and a turd and only one of us lived. The doctor held a scratch & sniff contest to determine which was which.
I expected to hear you bellow a few strains of “My Way,” but I guess you’re saving that for a live performance next month at OWL.
Pavel the Regifter
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Dear Pavel the Regifter,
I understand the doctor’s confusion.
Personally I prefer Fly Me to the Moon but you won’t hear me belt that one out either. I prefer to mime my solos. That way no one’s ears get hurt.
Thank you for rolling by.
Shalom and doobie doobie doo,
Tomte Gnomo W(T)F
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Wonderful. Oddly I just read a story that said Dolly died in a plane crash when she was going to a concert of his. Knowing how he adored his mother that must have been a blow. While the story was fiction, I presume the account was real.
A voice we’ll never forget. He was even playing while I was in the dentist’s chair yesterday! 🙂
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Dear Sascha,
According to accounts I’ve read and seen on documentaries, he was devastated by Dolly’s death. The account is true according to history, I just had to imagine what it was like in that room. 😉 What a coincidence, I went to the dentist this morning. No Sinatra though. 🙂 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My dentist used to listen to an oldies station. I’m glad he switched. Sinatra and Martin and Buble are much better to listen to when there’s the possibility of drilling. 🙂
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Phew, I was worried there for a bit. Nice one!
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Glad you’re relieved, Ali. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Did he have to do EVERYTHING his way?
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Dear Linda,
It seemed that while he did a lot his way, he also did a the Mafia’s way, too. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yes, I’ve heard that too. Not such a nice man.
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Dear Rochelle,
I’m surprised to learn that slight and skinny man was a huge baby! Still, his voice never diminished in size, even if he didn’t grow up to be a physically huge man.
My husband was such a large baby that his mother sent him away for the first 10 months of his life, so she could recover. As with Frank’s mother, she never had another baby.
It was lovely chatting to you and Dale last week 🙂
All best wishes,
Sarah
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Dear Sarah,
This was one of those finds that grabbed me and wouldn’t let me go. Huge baby. My youngest son weighed just a little over 9 pounds and that was hard enough. I can’t imagine 13! I think if my youngest had been my first I might have reconsidered any more. 😉
I enjoyed our chat as well. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Gripping Rochelle I never expected that positive turn
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Thank you, Akshata. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Sorry to have break the rules in word count. I tried a different approach as I could link my story to many prompts today.
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As we say here in the States, forget about it, Deepa. 😉 All’s well.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thirteen pounds! I might have to go and lie down. 😦 And he was such a skinny little thing, well at least when he was younger. Lovely story, Rochelle, and something I didn’t know. Again.
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Dear Sandra,
We can all understand why he was an only child. 😉 Thank you for your kind comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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i looked at the picture and there was no mistaking who was his father. another one of your wonderful story. 🙂
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Dear Plaridel,
He did resemble his dad, didn’t he? 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love Frank. Great story Rochelle. I sure held my breath in this one
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Dear Laurie,
He did have a wonderful voice. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Funny how the mind of a writer thinks upon viewing a prompt photo. Absolutely amazing, thank you for the story, Rochelle, I’ll never look on this photo again without thinking of your story. Oh God, what if I now have to think of it every time I come off the ferry and start up Spring Street???
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Dear Ted,
It is funny how differently we all view the same photo and have different stories to tell. That’s one of the things that roped me in from my first story. The first time I looked at your wonderful photo I could hear Old Blue Eyes singing “Strangers in the Night.” The rest is history, well, historical fiction, really. 😉 As for what you’ll think of when you come off the ferry…I really can’t say. Thank you re my story. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wonderful story!
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Thank you, Dawn! 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wonderful. I must admit, I do enjoy the entertainment from all the contributors on this site. A friendly happy place to be at the start of the weekend.
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Dear James,
I’m happy you stopped by to read and took the time to leave a comment/compliment. Comments mean a lot, don’t they? Thank you for the smile to begin my weekend. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This is fantastically done! 🙂 I love learning new things about people I thought I knew something about. (13 pounds?!!!! Yawwwwl!)
Added my contribution to the froggy.
Here’s it here, too:
https://naamayehuda.com/2018/07/27/mendels-messengers/
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Na’ama Y’karah,
It’s always fun to learn things about people when we thought we’d heard it all. 😉 Thank you.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank goodness for the happy ending, that was tough stuff
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Dear Shrawley,
It was a happy ending for future Sinatra fans for sure. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. Always appreciated.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely write.
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Thank you, Lisa. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Another great piece of historical trivia. Did you remember him because his first wife Nancy Sinatra Sr passed away this month?
And of course I had to google – “Sinatra weighed 13.5 pounds (6.1 kg) at birth and had to be delivered with the aid of forceps, which caused severe scarring to his left cheek, neck, and ear, and perforated his eardrum, damage that remained for life”. So he had a hearing defect? Fortunately it didn’t affect his singing though.
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Dear Subroto,
I actually was unaware of Nancy Sr’s passing when I wrote the story. When I chose the photo it just said “Strangers in the Night” to me. 😉 Google is how I ultimately found this actual incident. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My heart sank when I read ‘stillborn’, and I swelled when I read ‘sputtered and cried’. Beautifully told, Rochelle.
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Dear Magarisa,
Thank you for such a lovely comment. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My pleasure.
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Poor Dolly! And thank heaven for midwives. Such an interesting slice of history.
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Dear Sarah Ann,
Sometimes I think nurses and midwives are more practical than the almighty doctor. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love the pieces of history you find and the stories you write about them! 🙂
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Dear Jan,
I’m not sure when and how I fell, but I definitely am in love with history. Although it’s more the trivial nuggets that aren’t in the history book that attract me and make me want to share them. Nuff said. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I like how you visualized this 🙂
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Many thanks, Dahlia. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This is an amazing story on many different levels. Things like this are right up my Rat Pack loving geeky little alley. Thanks for turning me on to it
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Dear Lyneane,
I didn’t realize that’s been a year and half since I posted this one. Glad you enjoyed it. I love finding these bits of bio that are relatively unknown. Thanks for taking the time from Basil 😉 to read and comment. Meow to him.
Shalom,
Rukhelita
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