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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 © Sandra Crook
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Genre: Paranormal
Word Count: 100
BIRTHDAY
The swirling waves beckoned me. I imagined my obituary: ‘Sixteen-year-old Amy Weinberg Jumps to her Death… April 25, 1969.’
“He ain’t worth it,” said a voice behind me.
I whipped around. I’d seen those eyes somewhere before. “How’d you know?”
“I’m Marigold. My aunt committed suicide right here in 1937 over a dopey fella. She was our age. Guys can be such cement-mixers. Take my Charlie. He threw me over for some bimbo.
When I told Mom about my new friend, she gasped, “My sister,” and handed me a yellowed obituary:
“Sixteen-year-old Marigold Weiner Jumps to her Death…April 25, 1953”
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
A fantastic little story. So much info to unpack. Strong story structure (a challenge with flash fiction). A satisfying read.
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Dear Tanille,
I’m so glad the story came across as planned. Thank you for a wonderful compliment that starts my day with a smile.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Seems it runs in the family. Nice one, Rochelle
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Thank you, Neil. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That’s creepy, Rochelle. Good writing as always. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
I was aiming for creepy. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So glad she was warned at the right time.
It’s really not worth to take such decisions & commit suicide in a moment of madness.
The ‘aunt’ connection is such a twist. Well done, Rochelle!
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Dear Anita,
She did indeed have an encounter. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Sounds like Amy has her very own “Clarence”. Wonderfully done, my friend.
Shalom and lotsa love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
This one was a bit of a stretching for me. I hoped it would work. Thank you for the lovely comment. Ah Clarence…did you hear the bell ring? He got his wings. ❤ Thank you.
Shalom and lotsa hugs,
Rochelle
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It did indeed!
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Sad and a bit creepy but a great read. I hope Amy listens to Marigold and learns her lesson.
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Dear Gabi,
I think Amy will listen to her aunt’s ghost and, hopefully, break the familial curse. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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depressing but she really lucked out
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Dear Larry, I suppose you could call it depressing. Moreso, if she didn’t listen to her aunt’s ghost. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Being jerked around by idiot men seems to be a family curse – at least Amy seems to have ended the second half of the curse. Nice, ghostly write.
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Dear Trent,
Definitely a family curse. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I guess it can’t just be put down to coincidence, can it? Great little chiller Rochelle
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Dear Iain,
I’d say coincidence need not apply in this story. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Creepy story! I remember reading about an RAF pilot who got lost in a fog and saw an abandoned airbase below aswarm with aircraft and activity, but the planes were the wrong color (yellow). Years later, the base was activated and the planes were painted yellow. The pilot had flown into the future. I think Rod Serling read that same story and wrote a Twilight Zone episode about a similar occurrence.
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Dear Josh,
Pretty sure the theme appeared on the Twilight Zone more than once. These types of stories aren’t unique but I had to get mine in. 😉 Glad it worked for you. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A great story, Rochelle. I enjoyed reading it and I thoroughly enjoy your avatar pictures. Where in the world did you find that lollipop?
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Dear Lady C,
The lollipop is actually Styrofoam. I picked it up at Hobby Lobby a couple of years ago. 😉 Half the fun of the linkup is changing up the photos. 😀 Thank you re my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I feel your joy between those lines. 🙂
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😀 😀 😀
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Very ghostly, but who’s complaining when the queen bee herself has taken to it. Lovely write, but then…
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Dear Neel,
Not sure why this picture inspired me to write a ghost story. It just came to me. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Bit of a flaky collection of young ladies in that family, m’lady, surely time they learnt that guys ain’t worth it!
Nicely built, nicely told.
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Dear CE,
Flaky women? Perhaps. I prefer to think of them as unfortunate victims of men ruled by their…erm…members. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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How very sinister. An unusual turn from you this week, but I enjoyed it. Well done.
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Dear Sandra,
I have to keep people on their toes. 😉 Thank you for your kind words. Glad to see you back on the Hollywood Squares.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love your ghost story, Rochelle. A lot of good things in there. Love the line about guys being cement mixers.
This prompt is not doing it for me, however, the munchkin in the water is prompting one. Oh well, I’ve been in trouble before here.
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Dear Ted,
The munchkin in the water? Are you possibly referring to my avatar from last week’s link up?
I love using the slang for the periods. 😀 Thank you. I’m sure Ethel and Cheryl will have something to say. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh duh! THAT munchkin in the water. Have at it. 😀 😀 😀
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I like the way your main character imagines her own obituary; just the sort of thing kids do. I’m glad she didn’t jump!
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Dear Penny,
I can remember being that age and writing things like that in my head. Fortunately, I never came close to suicide, at least not back then. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I liked your story Rochelle. Neat ending.
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Thank you so much, Di. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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😀
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A rare realm for you on this ghostly story. But like all, well done.
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Dear Jan,
One has to step away from the comfort zone every so often to flex the writing muscle.
Thanks, m’luv. Glad you liked.
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This is great, there has to be a moment when bad habits are changed… Love the way ghosts can be benign…
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Dear Björn,
Why do ghosts always have to be bad or spooky? 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Excellent Rochelle – Eerie feeling and nicely done!
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Thank you, Nan. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I hope that Marigold can leave now.
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Dear Michael,
Yes, I think Marigold’s task is accomplished and she can rest in peace. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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If you have to hang around the same place even after death, what is the point of killing oneself. There is no freedom, after all! Might as well, find a different boy friend.
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Dear Abhijit,
It might not be an option after death. At least Amy has a chance. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Nice of her to hang around after death to dissuade others. I like the description of some men as “cement-mixers” 🙂
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Dear Ali,
Marigold felt the obligation to her family. 😉 Thank you
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great story. What a shame Marigold isn’t around to warn everyone.
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Thank you, Liz. Glad you enjoyed. .
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I believe our relatives do try to speak to us, sometimes we hear them, sometimes we don’t. I’m glad Marigold was there to save her. I wonder if her own aunt tried the same, and perhaps it was in vain?
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Dear Fatima,
You ask an interesting question. 😉 I don’t profess to understand everything that happens in the spirit world. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, what a way to go… glad the ghost stopped her.
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Dear Bear,
I like the way this story wrote itself. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Gotta love when the story writes itself! 🙂 ❤
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Oh my. What an interesting take on this pic.
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Many thanks, Shirley. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wonderfully clever and creepy – I like the way your plot is woven together.
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Dear Francine,
Thank you for such a lovely comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Interesting story. Am happy she didn’t go through with it and broke the cycle.
Sorry for the two submissions. Please disregard the one entitled, Not in the Mood.
Shalom,
Adele
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Dear Adele,
Nice to have a ghost aunt who cares. ) Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
PS Your blank submission was easy to delete. For minute I thought it was double submission week. 😉 I did it and so did Subroto.
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Good one! Thanks for sharing it.
Shalom,
Ronda
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Dear Ronda,
I’m pleased you enjoyed my short foray into your territory. Thank you. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Well then, at least no one can say that Marigold isn’t doing her bit to warn future jumpers from a certain fate. Cement-mixers, eh? That bit made me laugh! (must admit some ghosts do that, you know … make one laugh …).
Nicely done, my friend!
Happy Pesach,
Na’ama
PS sorry to have missed a bit of the fun last week (and perhaps the one before, as well) — was away teaching and attending some family stuff and life did not lend itself to blogging for a bit. Back now with … um … some vengeance…! 🙂
https://naamayehuda.com/2019/04/25/fury/
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Na’ama Y’Karah,
Marigold is a ghost with mission. 😉 Glad to make you laugh. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Well, if you gotta be a ghost, you best at least have you a mission … 😉 Otherwise I bet eternity can feel like … well … eternity …
😉
Na’ama
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🤣🤣🤣
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Dear Jessie Chisholm W(T)F,
Marigold wasn’t a mime, was she? I hear they are a terrible thing to waste.
Suicide in the family is a hard thing to deal with. I have a couple of friends who lost family members that way. Even years later, it weighs heavily on their hearts and minds.
Personally, I’m having so much fun harassing people I like to even consider it. After all, who would inherit my whoopee cushion and buzzer?
Get it Wrong the 1st Time,
Cletus Hardway
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Dear Cletus Hardway,
I’ve heard suicide described as the most selfish act, if not a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Glad you’re having a good time cause some of like having you around…even with the joy buzzer and the whoopee cushion.
Great spending time with you this past weekend.
Shalom,
Jessie Chisholm W(T)F
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Marigold is the best kind of ghost to have around. I’m glad she saved the day. Good story, Rochelle.
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Dear Margaret,
I suppose Marigold was as much of a guardian angel as she was a ghost. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi Rochelle!
That’s a sad story with a positive ending. I’m glad her aunt was on time to stop Amy from jumping.
I wonder what Alice would make of this story? Perhaps I can figure something out…
Have a wonderful weekend.
All the best,
Lucy.
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Thank you, Lucy. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thats lovely stuff Rochelle, I adore a ghost story!!
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Thank you most kindly for your adoration, Shrawley. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, I like your take on the ghost story. Great story, as always. I hope spring has come to KC. It’s getting there, here in Iowa.
-David
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Dear David,
Spring has come to KC. This week it’s supposed to rain and storm all week. Better than snow I suppose. 😉 Glad you enjoyed my story…a little out of my comfort zone. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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“Guys can be such cement-mixers!” This will definitely become a part of my vocabulary 🙂
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Dear Linda,
Happy to add to your vocabulary. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I was inspired by your haunting story. isaiah46ministries.com/2019/04/26/choosing-life-friday-fictioneers/
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Thank you, Regina.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I got a little shiver up my spine with this one.
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Dear Dawn,
Your shivers, my compliment. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A haunting story. Hanging around with a ghostly aunt does have it’s benefits.
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Dear Subroto,
Aunt Marigold to the rescue. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thankfully in this case history was revealed instead of left to repeat itself. Excellent write, Rochelle.
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Thank you for your thoughtful and affirming comment, Violet. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Cracking story as usual, Rochelle. I like to think we all have someone looking over us, unfortunately it seems some don’t.
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Dear Michael,
I do believe in guardian angels, maybe not in this particular form, but on the other hand…;) Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This ghost isn’t creepy at all… Amy is lucky to have her as a guardian angel. Great twist at the end, Rochelle!
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Dear Magarisa,
I like the sound of guardian angel. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My pleasure.
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Oh, that gave me the chills. Excellent as always!
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Thank you so much, Brenda.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love that story! The symmetry to it – the girl being saved by her auntie, the date, the same death notice chiming from past reality to present imagination – spot on. I love the phrase about men being such ‘cement mixers’ too. Not heard that before, but it really fits! Loved your spooky take, Rochelle
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Dear Lynn,
Not only are you an awesome writer you make this author feel like she’s won a Pulitzer. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My absolutely pleasure – and thank you! 🙂
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I’m late this week, but made it! What a “haunting” story, Rochelle. So many interesting details in 100 words… hopefully this is the end of that legacy! Nice job!
Once can only wonder about your lollipop picture! 😉
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Dear Dawn,
It’s my hope that Amy heeds her aunt’s words about men and breaks the familial curse. 😉 Thank you.
As for the lollipop, the picture was taken of our Hanukkah play. I’ve had fun resurrecting Baby Snooks, a character created by the late great Fanny Brice. In fact, half the kids at my synagogue call me Snooks in or out of costume.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ahhh! That’s adorable! 🙂
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Ooooo shivers! Great piece, Rochelle.
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Thank you so much, Laurie.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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