15 March 2019

Published March 13, 2019 by rochellewisoff

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The following is a snippet from my books AS ONE MUST ONE CAN and A STONE FOR THE JOURNEY. Rachel is a favorite character of mine. Perhaps I’ll write a novel about her in the future. At the very least, a short story. 😉

Genre: Historical Fiction circa 1907

Word Count! 100

SHORTSIGHTED 

Miss Kline glanced at three-year-old Rachel and back at Havah. “She’s—”

            “Blind.” Rachel grinned. “I don’t have floppy nerves.”

            “Optic nerves,” said Havah.

            “May I play piano for Miss Kline, Mommy?”

            “Play something pretty.”

            Rachel’s dog led her to the upright piano and lay down next to it so Rachel could use her for a step stool.

            “Surely you don’t allow her to bang on that lovely instrument,” whispered Miss Kline.

            Havah smiled but said nothing. Rachel danced her tiny fingers across the keys.

            Miss Kline clapped her hand over her mouth. “Bless my soul, it’s… it’s… Bach’s ‘Musette’!”

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133 comments on “15 March 2019”

  • Little known fact , Stevland Hardaway Morris was told by his grammar school teacher given the fact that he was blind , he needed to learn to weave baskets or something. She stated he could never hope to amount to anything so it would be best if he learned a skill. Fortunately, he didn’t listen and that little boy went on to become none other than Stevie Wonder. I have always hoped that teacher lived long enough to see him amount to nothing. So in reality, which one was actually blind, Stevie or the teacher? Good bit you posted.

    Liked by 2 people

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  • Hello Rochelle, I had the same reaction to the image in that I instantly thought “lack of sight”. Your story is a delightful little morality tale and I love the detail of the dog. My beloved departed cats (seriously thinking about a new addition right now) were willing and happy footstools on cosy winter nights. Actually, the piano stool would be what mostly took Rachel’s weight, as my sofa took mine and assistance dogs are usually substantial chaps. Note to self: I do need to refill that space my cats left 🙂 Jilly

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    • Dear Jilly,

      How lovely to see you here after a bit of a hiatus.
      Rachel is one of my favorites in my books. No challenge puts her off. And the dog is her staunchest ally. Totally devoted to her mistress. Animals do have a certain sense about them and are more savvy than we give them credit for. Yes, time to refill the space. I’m missing my cats…and dogs. We’re just not in a position to refill/ Thank you for your lovely comments.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

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  • I’m glad the prompt encouraged you to write an encouraging story. As an amateur pianist myself, the sight of a once-fine instrument being maltreated evokes horror and rage in equal measure. Your story was an antidote to that! I love the matter-of-fact way that Rachel deals with her blindness.

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    • Dear Penny,

      I tried on my own to learn piano from a friend’s mother down the street. She graciously let me come and practice on their old upright they kept in the basement. However, we didn’t have a piano and my parents saw no need to buy one. I so admire musicians.

      As for Rachel, Havah is adamant from her daughter’s infancy that if she’s treated like a normal child she’ll see herself as a normal child. I see her as quite well adjusted and a great character to write. 😀
      Thank you.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

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  • Dear Rochelle,

    You know I have only good things to say about the whole trilogy and our beloved Rachel… How cool that we both used a Bach musical piece 😉
    Love that you added the video of the piece played by a child, thereby bringing Rachel to life all the more.

    Shalom and lotsa love,

    Dale

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Dear Dale,

      At the last minute it seemed the video needed to be there. Not everyone knows Bach’s Musette…at least not by name. 😉 “Aaah Bach.” I’m so glad you loved my trilogy and the characters. Thank you for your comments and your constant support and friendship. ❤

      Shalom and hugs,

      Rochelle

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      • I think it was a great addition. It’s one of those pieces that we may not know the name of or know the name of but don’t realise it is a piece we enjoy…
        Like happens to me often enough!

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  • What a sweet vignettes and of course I smiled at “floppy nerves” (so much what children do with terms, isn’t it?) – lovely!
    Added mine to the froggy (who still doesn’t like me in this reincarnation, remembers nothing I’d done before, and has me upload and crop a thumbnail every. single. time … but at least I know it’s quirks and have basically zero expectations … so the cranky-factor is on the decline …)
    Here’s mine:

    Out Played


    Na’ama

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  • That’s such a graphic scene, and I always loved that dog. People do tend to make sweeping assumptions on the basis of what they see, so it’s lovely when those preconceptions can be expertly dismantled. Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Dear Sandra,

      I did have a great time writing the dog. There are some animals who are natural born caretakers. Miss Kline learned a lot about the Gitterman family, didn’t she? One of those things was to look beyond what she saw on the surface. 😉 Thank you.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

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  • Wonderful scene, one of my favs. Considering the times, Rachel is one lucky and happy child. I guess she got that determination from her mother. Arel is making me angry in book 2. 😀 Love the video, too.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Dear Gabi,

      Arel was something of a jerk in the second book. Even though I wrote him, I found it odd that he reacted the way he did to having a blind daughter when he’d been raised by a blind father. Of course it was that same father who set him straight. 😉 And Havah, who let nothing stop her, made sure her daughter approached life the same way. 😀 Thank you.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

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  • You’ve got to love a story that knocks preconceptions on the head! ‘You don’t let her bang in that lovely instrument do you’ ha! It’s so sad that people like that do exist.
    Rachel is a lovely character – I phased by her difference and the idiocy of others. A lovely excerpt 😊

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    • Dear Francine,

      1907 was a tune long before dogs were trained to be guides. Nonetheless I believe that there are special ones who are natural born caretakers. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. 😉 Thank you.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

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  • Dear Liz “Twitchy Finger” W(T)F,

    Perhaps Rachel will give up that crazy “Classical” nonsense and follow in the footsteps of Ray Charles & Stevie Wonder. While I have been known to pluck the guitar, my best riffs usually come when I’m playing the nasal Jews-harp.

    I’m working up a few Beatles tunes for you in April.
    Snotty Scotty

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Dear Snotty Scotty,

      I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to the concert. I mean, I seriously can’t tell you. No doubt Rachel will find her way.

      Twangs for the Memory,

      Shalom,

      Liz “Twitchy Finger” W(T)F

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  • What lovely relationships you show here, Rochelle. Havah’s calm confidence in Rachel, Havah’s sweet bond with the family dog. In these few words, you feel the strength of family, the strength of love between them all. And what a wonderful way to confound Miss Kline’s expectations of a blind child! Lovely, tender story Rochelle

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  • Just lovely. Rachel is a wonderful character. I’m not surprised she’s a favourite of yours. We have a grandson who is blind, and musical. Until a couple of years ago he was learning piano and was very good at it. Then he turned into a pre-teen and decided he was bored with piano. He now plays ukulele of all things, but it’s something. We’re all still sad about his abandonment of piano. Your story sent me off to listen to some old videos I have of my grandson on the piano. Thanks for that, and for the story.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Dear Fatima,

      In the book prior to the one this is excerpted from, Havah took someone down for innocently calling Rachel “poor little thing.” Yep, Rachel is well adjusted because she’s been treated like a regular kid. 😀 Thank you.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

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