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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.
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.
PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Genre: Historical Fiction circa 1955
Word Count: 100
DEATH OF A NATION
Catherine Sunrise and her friend Douglas gathered stones called Apache tears to honor Old Mrs. Coonie’s passing.
Catherine waded into the stream to search. The ripples sparkled in the afternoon light. “Grandfather says she spoke fluent English, but I never heard her utter a word, did you?”
“Nope.” Douglas picked up a shiny stone. “She fought alongside Geronimo but ratted him out to the Cavalry. They rewarded her with 27 years in prison.’”
“Maybe that’s why she clung to Apache ways when she came home.” Catherine raised her hands. “Farewell, Dahteste, Grandmother Warrior. Soar on the spirit of the wind.”
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Very evocative story. I like it tremendously when you write historical fiction. There is always so much to learn from you, dear Rochelle.
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Dear Neel,
Thank you so much for your lovely comment. It started my day off right. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
PS Sorry about my miss-scheduling of the link.
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An interesting story based on history, Rochelle. Good writing as always. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
I’m happy you found my story interesting. Thank you for taking the time to say so.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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‘Soar on the spirit of the wind’. How incredibly moving.
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Dear Someone,
Thank you for your moving comment. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Another historical jewel!
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Thank you so much, Neil.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I can so much understand that she turned her back to the European ways… great that she could be accepted back to her own society… I assume that there will be a lot of burials here with these stones…
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Dear Björn,
I can imagine a burial place with lots of stones, too. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love the idea of the stones being called Apache tears and being used to honour the dead.
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Thank you, Clare. Nice to see you back. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Cool story, m’lady, but why do they honour someone who betrayed her people?
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Dear C.E.
A very good question. Perhaps, because she had been betrayed by the white man, her people felt she had paid for her sins. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Apache tears brought a tear, especially when I saw the photograph. She was so beautiful. Thank you, Rochelle
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Dear Jilly,
Thank you for your lovely comments. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Loved this story – especially that closing phrase. And what a strong, vibrant looking woman she was.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Dear Susan,
I’m sure there’s even more to her than written history tells us. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great story. That whole set of genocidal chapters is usally left out of the high school history books.
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Dear Josh,
It’s appalling what was left out of the history books and even more is being removed. 😦 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Another great historic flash! So much courage remembered, honoured and shared with us. Thank you!
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Thank you, Luccia. Good to see you back amongst us. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you 💖
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Another great story based on an interesting if forgotten figure. I doubt if our country would be any better today handling the native population.
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Dear Trent,
Sad but true, I fear. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautiful story with the Native American photo. This country is hell bent to repeat its own history *sigh*
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Dear Kim-Courtney,
It would seem so. Those who forget history as the saying goes. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
It is amazing that they accepted her after “ratting out Geronimo” – then again, history is told by those who remember what they remember, right? Somehow, I feel there is way more to her story. I thank you for always finding such interesting characters in history and sharing them with us!
Lotsa love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
I’ve had similar thoughts. No doubt American historians didn’t dig very deeply into indigenous history. One need only read between the lines with stories surfacing today to know this is true. Thank you for your wonderful comments. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Always!!
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I love this story. As previously mentioned, she was a beautiful woman and looked strong and healthy. I also am surprised they accepted her back. I’ll bet it was because she was considered a wise, strong independent woman.
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Dear Jan,
I don’t know why the tribe accepted her back, I just know they did. Or at least it seems so. History doesn’t tell us much, does it? Thank you for reading and supporting, m’luv. ❤
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What a life story she had, and you brought it to life expertly as always Rochelle. There’s a longer story to be made out of her story for sure.
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Dear Iain,
No doubt there’s a much longer story. I, too, would love to know more about her. Thank you.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautifully written, as usual, dear. You give me so much knowledge about History.Thanks for the Link to know more about her. Shalom. Indira.
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Dear Indira,
Your words always warm me and make me smile. 😀 Thank you so much, my friend.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautiful story, Rochelle. I love history and learning about different people and their lives and contributions. Thanks for sharing this one. Shalom.
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Dear Adele,
I, too, love history and learning about different people. If only we’d focus on the uniqueness of races and faces, perhaps we’d have some peace in the world. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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One story among 100’s of thousands of injustice. Miigwetche, thank you, for the honor of reading about this woman. I have a small apache tear given me by an Apache Chief many years ago. I keep it tucked away special. Maybe I ought to pull it out and remember the story… Too too long for Friday fic.
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Dear Beautiful Bear,
So much to learn about a forgotten history. The more I delve into my novel and our Ruth Bear Starfire, the more I find myself wanting wail and retch. Thank you for your affirming words for my story that mean more than I can say.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The reality of history is often far more horrid than the history books present, ain’t it so. I’m really enjoying following your story and feel so thankful for the honor. 🙂 ❤
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I guess she had to do what she had to do, to survive. A powerful story from history.
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Dear Michael,
I think you’re spot on. She did what she had to do. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautifully told Rochelle, while acting as a reminder that successive governments have been happy to treat people as disposable goods, tossing them away when they’ve down what we wanted.
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Dear John,
You’ve said a lot in your comment. Disposable goods. This woman was definitely treated that way. Apparently she lived to redeem herself to her people. Thank you so much for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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History is often written by those who wish others to know what they wish them to know … and from the perspective of those who have the ability to write about it …Well done, Rochelle!
Added my contribution of what might be, and what had been, and what we hope will not be, to the link-a-think-thing, and adding it here, too:
https://naamayehuda.com/2018/11/14/relative-safety/
Na’ama
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Na’ama Y’karah,
As Thanksgiving approaches, my thoughts turn to the First Nations people. What do they feel on this white man’s holiday? Thank you for reading and for your comments. Always welcome.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yes, I think that we ought to separate the very appropriate aspect of giving thanks (which is universal, in my view) from the rather distorted history of the thanksgiving ‘feast’ and the realities that colonialism had brought upon the First Nations then … and now. We’d all do well to not white-wash history (pun and all, I suppose) even while we can still hold to gratitude and the many meanings of a holiday that can use some historical remodeling ….
Na’ama
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I agree. There’s nothing wrong with the idea of giving thanks. It’s the side dish of white-washed history we’ve been fed that sticks in my craw. Here’s a link to a story I posted three years ago. My thoughts and feelings haven’t changed. https://rochellewisoff.com/2015/11/25/27-november-2015/
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I agree, and I share your sentiments. In my circles, we say thanks on thanksgiving (and try to find gratitude in every day and every freedom we have and that wasn’t extended to — and sometimes still is not — to others, or only to our ilk only recently and partially at that). We also use the day for being grateful for truth and through it for telling the stories of those who had (and some who still have)no voice. Humans are complicated, but too many of us inflict far too much misery on fellow humans in the name of this or that (often selfish) agendas and then turn around and deny those harmed even the history of their own harming. The facts of what had taken place cannot be changed, and some distortions take hold, but it does not mean we cannot do all in our power to uphold truths and reclaim untold histories.
Thank you for this comment thread!
Na’ama
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She’s wearing a cross. Maybe the white man’s God betrayed her. Just a thought.
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Dear Tracey,
I really didn’t notice the cross until you mentioned it. Interesting thought. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Christianity and First Nations, that’s a whole other story. Thanks Rochelle for hosting. I always know that I can home to FF.
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You most definitely do, my friend. And I could go off on a tangent but will refrain. 😉
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I did a double take at the title because at first i thought I read Birth of a Nation, which is the name of a 1915 very very racist movie and I knew thers was no way you’d have anything to do with that!😅
Very interestingto learn of this Native woman, doubly erased from history, and brought back in all her human and fallible glory through this girl’s rituals.
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Dear Andrea,
I’m so pleased you noticed the title. Actually it is a deliberate reference to the racist movie. 😉 What a blot on our nation. Thank you for your comments. And a happy Thanksgiving.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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i’vw been watching the ‘native america’ series on pbs and this story fits right in. well done and timely.
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Thank you, Plaridel.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Some warrior Mrs. Coone! If she ratted out Geronimo, why did she still come back to Apache way? Why was she accepted?
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Dear Abhijit,
From what I’ve read, the tribe accepted her back. I think there was more to her “ratting” out Geronimo that we don’t know about. Apparently she was still honored as a warrior. So much we don’t know. Thank you for your comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely story. I read the link, I always find it weird that all this stuff happened in such recent times rather than hundreds of years ago.
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Dear Ali,
It is hard to imagine that these things have happened so recently during our “enlightened” times, isn’t it? Thank you re my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a haunted face that woman has. Heart-breaking story too.
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Dear Liz,
She was a beauty. Heart-breaking history, indeed. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A unique and informative take on the prompt, Rochelle. I enjoyed that.
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Many thanks, Sandra. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So often I leave one of your pieces wiser than when I arrived! You did it again Rochelle.
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What a lovely thing to say. Thank you, Keith.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rock Raccoon W(T)F,
What did Catherine wade into the stream to search for?
Old Coonie’s imprisonment is a classic example of the saying, “No good deed goes unpunished.” (Not that treason against your own people could be called a good deed.)
I see she’s wearing a cross. Perhaps she should have converted to Judaism instead.
See you tomorrow,
Dewayne
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Dear Dewayne,
Catherine and Douglas were collecting rocks for a class project. Duh. Too much birthday pie? So enjoyed celebrating with you and Connie this weekend. Did she score any good antiques Saturday? (Aside from the one she married.)
Shalom,
Ranger Rocky Raccoon W(T)F
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It’s learning time again, really interesting story, that lady was treated appallingly, Rochelle
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Dear Michael,
Quite the “thank you” she received from the government, wasn’t it? Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I so love the customs of the native people (Apache tears). She was a brave and beautiful woman. Another wonderful historical tale, Rochelle!
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Dear Brenda,
I’m fascinated by the First Nations. One of my main characters in the novel I’m writing, is Shawnee. My research of the Indian boarding schools has brought me to tears. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh man, I’m glad you included the wikipedia link. She had an incredible life. Surviving pneumonia and tuberculosis while in prison? Insane. Sad how she and her people were mistreated 😦
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Dear Jacob,
The genocide against the First Nations people should have Uncle Sam hanging his head in shame IMHO. Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment.
Shalom,’
Rochelle
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A lovely story. Thank you for introducing me to this great character. 🙂
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Thank you for you kind comments, Kristian. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’re welcome. 🙂
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27 years or what? This story is just the tip of the iceberg, I believe. Her beauty (that bone structure is amazing!), the rosary around her neck, this is a complicated woman, or at least your story hints at such.
Very intriguing!
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Dear Dawn,
I imagine we’ll never know the half of it. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love the story. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you, Jo. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love the idea of stones called ‘apache tears’ – and I had to click the link to find out more about Daheste. You sparked my interest with this one, fascinating.
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Dear EL,
PT Barnum is credited with the quote, “Always leave the audience wanting more.” I’m pleased you wanted to know more. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you Rochelle for sharing this vivid account of ‘ Old Mrs Coonie’. I appreciate learning about these pieces of history through reading you historical fiction.
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Dear Francine,
Thank you for your affirming and encouraging words. Sometimes I wonder if I overdo the historical pieces. But I so love researching and sharing. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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She looks like such a strong lady! I admire her just for being able to survive so many years in prison battling pneumonia and TB. Thank you for yet another history lesson and an inspiring photo prompt – I was finally able to overcome mind-block and finger-lock. Quality of course is another matter, which I leave to you 🙂
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Dear Dahlia,
She does look like a tour du force doesn’t she? I wonder about the history that hasn’t been written. At any rate, I’m glad you broke through this week. Thank you for your kind words. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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🙂
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This is a great photo Rochelle!! Thank you for sharing it, and thank you for hosting!!
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You’re welcome and thank you, Symanntha.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely, sad story and beautiful picture.
One small thing–I’m sure you meant to type Cavalry and not Calvary 🙂
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Dear Linda,
Thank you re the story, the picture, and the catch. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautifully touching.
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Thank you, Lisa.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Another post which leads me to google and wikipedia!! Thanks Rochelle, more stuff to learn!!
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Dear Shrawley,
Your comments and googling make me smile. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A sad story indeed. I love your snippets of history.
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Dear Laurie,
Thank you for your affirming words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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