19 October 2018

Published October 17, 2018 by rochellewisoff

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As always, please be considerate of your fellow Fictioneers and keep your stories to 100 words. (Title is not included in the word count.)  Many thanks. 

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 © Jilly Funell

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Genre: Wish List

Word Count: 100

VANTAGE POINT

She pries my sweaty fingers off the railing, her face lit with a sinister glow. “Come on. Step to it.”

            My life, like a Roadrunner cartoon, flashes before me. Wile E. Coyote, eyes wide with terror, suspends in midair before plummeting 170 meters and landing in a distant poof.

            On the verge of unconsciousness, I croak. “I’m begging, Sarah. Don’t make me do this.”

            “We agreed to go sightseeing whilst you and Dale were here in Portsmouth and the view from Spinnaker Tower is magnificent.”

            Dale shakes her head. “When Rochelle says she’s afraid of heights, she isn’t kidding, eh?”

I hope one day to meet these two in person, but 170 meters in the air won’t be one of my choices of places to see. Sigh. For now I’m happy to meet with Sarah and Dale on Skype. It makes the world seem a bit smaller somehow.  (Yes. I really am afraid of heights.)

 

132 comments on “19 October 2018

  • I hope you do get to meet them, and with your feet firmly on the ground 😉

    I sometimes get a little funny with heights, unless I’m wearing skis, then nothing fazes me. Do think they’d let me wear skis if I visited Spinnaker Tower? And thanks for pointing out where the photo was taken ;).

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Trent,

      Somehow I don’t see skis being allowed at Spinnaker tower but you have put an image in my head. I’ve never had a desire to ski…for obvious reasons. By the same token, I do like to fly. I enjoy looking out the window of a plane. Perhaps because it’s enclosed I feel more secure.
      I, too, would love to meet Dale and Sarah in person…closer to the ground. 😀 Thank you.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Liked by 1 person

      • I hate flying, but I have to have a window seat. When I feel vertigo, seeing the ground calms me. I guess the thing with skiing is that my feet are on the ground. The scariest moment for me is when the chair lift stops with my feet dangling 30 feet above the ground… But I have done some extreme skiing, the type where an small avalanche starts with your first turn and you are skiing in the falling snow down an impossibly steep mountain….

        Liked by 1 person

  • I always rooted for Wile E. to get the best of RR. I share your wish to keep my feet on solid ground, but a few years ago i found myself along the Gulf Coast of Florida working with others to replace a roof on a church. Now I learn that the latest Mega Hurricane, Michael just wreaked incredible havoc in the same town. I fear the church may not have survived. So glad you got the chance to catch up with Sarah and Dale.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Joe,

      Wile E. always got the short end of the stick, didn’t he? I, too, rooted for him, but to no avail. Kudos to your for overcoming and helping replace a roof.
      Actually, my story is pure fiction. (aside from my fear of heights) and I’ve never met Dale and Sarah in the flesh. We’ve had a few 3-way Skype sessions, though. Thank you.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Like

  • Dear Rochelle,

    It would be most wonderful to have a meet-up in person, no doubt!
    While I don’t have a fear per se, I do get some major butterflies looking over. But I will look over 😉

    Lotsa love and wishes to meet!

    Dale

    Liked by 3 people

    • Dear Dale,

      I’m much better about heights than I used to be. I’ve even gone up to the observation deck in the Empire State Building and the St. Louis arch. (It’s enclosed. Sky diving and Ferris wheels are not anywhere near my bucket list…one day meeting up with you in person is. 😉
      Thank you.

      Shalom, hugs and wishes for the future.

      Rochelle

      Liked by 1 person

  • 170 meters is a lot of height. Not many can stand that altitude. I personally get vertigo looking down through glass while walking a skywalk. I can relate to your mental state.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Björn,

      Should I ever make it to Stockholm, I’ll hold you to that promise. 😉 It would be fun to meet. I’ve met a few FF’rs in person but not as many as I’d like. Thank you for your comments. There are a lot of us out there. 😀

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Like

  • I share your fear of heights. I’ve been known to circumnavigate a balcony on my hands and knees before now. I enjoyed your ‘lighter’ story this week, even if did have a dark side for some of us.

    Like

    • Dear Sandra,

      The novel I’m currently writing is incredibly dark. I think I needed a break. 😉 I can relate to the hands and knees. I’ve done that at the top of high staircases as well. Thank you.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Like

    • Dear Anonymous Husband,

      Shannon once told me that his favorite thing about Roadrunner cartoons was watching them with me. That poor coyote’s “oh shit” facial expressions were the best. Thanks for coming by.

      Like

  • Ha! I don’t think Dale will ever do this to you, right, Dale!? 🙂
    Meet ups in person sound like fun, though.
    A fun story to read, even if I realize not so fun to imagine … Thankfully I’m not afraid of heights (no worries, I would never make someone go where they are terrified of going, so you’re safe with me) and would probably enjoy the sight from above!
    You should’ve seen me zipping through the jungle in Thailand on ziplines high above the ground. I’m half-monkey, half-goat, so perhaps that explains some of it.
    🙂
    I left my link at the link-a-think, but here it is, copied as usual …

    Birthday Surprise


    Na’ama

    Liked by 1 person

    • Na’ama Y’karah,

      Nope. Ziplining is definitely NOT on my bucket list. I admire those who are that brave. On the other hand, water is one of my happy spots. I would love to scuba dive. Snorkeling in St. Thomas and Eilat are two of my fondest memories.
      I’ve met a few FF’rs face to face…great fun. Thank you for coming by. 😀

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Liked by 1 person

      • I think it doesn’t have to do with bravery as much as with how one is ‘wired’ — those who have no fear of heights aren’t braver than those who do. It’s just that we’re spared the experience of fear. Bravery is facing a fear, not the absence of it … At least in my book. Though, sure, I’m glad to be considered a little brave 😉
        I snorkeled in Thailand (Koh Samui Marina National Park at Ang Thong) this summer and It. Was. A-may-zing! I didn’t even know I loved snorkeling so much. 🙂 I am a bit of a fish, so there’s that, too, probably. Here’s to friends, of all kinds. 🙂 Na’ama

        Liked by 1 person

  • Great writing as usual, Rochelle. I was a huge fan of Wile E Coyote and the Roadrunner. I’m not afraid of heights but I would get a bit jittery when I see people rock climbing and there’s quite a bit of distance between them and the ground.

    Liked by 1 person

  • I’m not seeing the picture prompt… or the video. But, I can see you, terrified out of your skull while your hands white-knuckle the railing someplace high. I was never afraid of heights, nor danger until after the accident in ’96, now just a curb will throw me into a panic sometimes. Glad to hear you’re meeting on this thing called skype…hope it’s close to the ground.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Plaridel,

      A few years ago, with a tour group in Israel, I climbed the wall in Jerusalem. It was a long winding, open staircase. I kept looking up until the lady ahead of me starts reminding herself aloud, “Don’t look down.” The two of us still laugh about it. We’re both terrified of heights but we did live to tell about it. 😉

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Liked by 1 person

  • There are roadrunners who live down the lane and I can hear coyotes tonight, what a timely comment. I am afraid of heights as well and can identify! I can feel your fear and share it. Nice story!!!

    I finally got time to participate. A quickie but managed to submit a story! Will try to be back, see so many familiar faces!

    Take care,

    Deborah Ratliff

    Liked by 1 person

  • I love your story, Rochelle, and the reminder of Wile Coyote. I too am afraid of heights but I have been placed in training by my daughter for The Space Needle in Seattle (going there soon) and have now successfully completed a really horrific tower at Arundel Castle and The Spinnaker Tower, which was much less scarey. I don’t do glass floors though. Those people are another species imo. Thank you for using my picture and thanks for all you do, Jilly.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Jilly,

      Thank you for the lovely photo. It certainly inspired a variety of stories, didn’t it? I looked up Spinnaker Tower on YouTube. That’s as close as I’d want to get. Someone recorded their climb. No thanks on the glass floors. 😉 Thank you.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Liked by 1 person

      • It’s given me so much pleasure to read the stories inspired by the picture, what a wonderful bunch of writers. Thank you for all you do, Rochelle, and yes, I have a friend who abseiled down the Spinnaker. I mean. Why? Best of wishes, Jilly

        Like

  • Dear Rochelle,

    You’ll be glad to hear that I hate heights, too, so won’t be taking you up The Spinnaker Tower! Strangely, that tower features in one of my novels, although as an ancient monument that nobody would want to attempt climbing due to its deteriorated state. Of course, I also see that tower from the ferry every time I go to visit my daughter in the Isle of Wight.

    We have a legendary extra high cliff near where I live. I promise not to take you or Dale near the edge if we do a coastal walk when eventually you visit. Thanks for including me in your story this week, although of course I have a gentle glow about me, not a sinister one 😉

    I will now return to reclusive non-blogging mode to continue editing — not that I’m making as much progress as I’d hoped due to life exigencies. Oh well, the tortoise won the race ahead of the hare, so I might yet succeed.

    See you at the finishing line 🙂

    All best wishes,
    Sarah x

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Sarah,

      Perhaps when I mentioned the sinister glow I was channeling one of your more sinister characters. 😉 I know from our Skype sessions that I have nothing to fear from you. I hope one day to make at least part of this story a reality.

      I appreciate the non-blogging as I’m deeply into the current WIP. I’ve been spinning my wheels in grease trying to get around to all the FF stories and reply to comments. I hope this one reaches you. 😉

      Thank you for coming by. I hate to tell stories behind someone’s back.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Liked by 1 person

  • Dear Daisy “Granny” Moses W(T)F,

    I’m sure you pass out from fear of heights when climbing into a dentist’s chair. Perhaps you should try wearing a blindfold.

    I always felt sorry for Wile E., but if he’d caught the roadrunner the series would have ended. At least he kept the Acme Co. in business for many years–and he sure knew how to bounce back from a fall.

    Happy sightseeing,
    C. Butt McCracken

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear C. Butt McCracken,

      Ah yes, Acme Co. They made some high end explosives back in the day. 😉 My eldest son used to say he loved watching Roadrunner cartoons with me just to watch me laugh. Those expressions on poor Wile E’s face really did crack me up. (No reflection on you.)

      I do try to stay close to the ground.

      Shalom,

      Daisy “Granny” Moses W(T)F

      Like

  • That is high and scary even for someone who is not really afraid of heights – I hope you get your wish. I have met some of my online friends. It is so much fun and amazing how well we gel with each other despite never having met before.

    Liked by 1 person

  • Querida Rochelle,
    I’m on the same page as you with heights. I’ve never been a fan; although, in my mid 20’s I went skiing. DIdn’t stand for very long. I realized I wasn’t that type of athlete. LOL
    Wile E. Coyote is a cartoon character that would put a smile and a little laughter on anyones face. Ssooo … many comments above say a great deal of what I want to say … Pues entonces – yo digo lo mismo.
    Abrazos y Carino, mi amiga
    Isadora 😎

    Liked by 1 person

    • Querida Isadora,

      Perhaps this is why God made us short. 😉 I went through a phase where I enjoyed roller coasters. The worst part is the slow climb up the first hill. Skiing is something I’ve never had the slightest desire to do. Gracias para tus palabras amables.

      Shalom y abrazos,

      Rochelle

      Liked by 1 person

      • Querida Rochelle,
        Where has time gone? 🙄 I don’t seem to have enough time. Well … I do but am not getting much done including responding to this. 😳
        Well, I don’t know why I tried skiing. I think it was pressure from my bil. He’s like that. Vermont was beautiful though. But, I fell so many time I couldn’t walk the entire vacation.
        : (
        I definitely like being short. Now, that I lost another 1″ and am actually an even 5′ I believe my chances of growing are over. LOL
        I love FF. It’s my safety place. Thank you for hosting and keeping me going with your fun and informative stories.
        Abrazos y Carino, mi amiga ….
        Isadora 😎
        ps: I started my book then was in a fog and am just starting to gain focus. I will begin again soon. I will leave a review on Amazon when I’m done. 😍

        Like

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