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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 © Randy Mazie
Some of you may recognize this photo and may even think you’ve written a story for it. If you were part of Friday Fictioneers the week of December 6, 2013, you’re probably right. 😉 I’m off to visit my brother in North Carolina this week so I’m taking the liberty of posting a retread. To see the original post and who the Fictioneers were click here.
Do it! Do it! Click the frog!
Genre: Fiction
Word Count: 100
CLOSE ENCOUNTER
Darlene rescued the tiny, squalling creature from a smelly garbage can. He squirmed and squeaked as she cuddled him on the way home.
“It’s E.T., Mommy. Can I keep him?”
“He needs special care, honey.” Mom gently wrapped him in a blanket and picked up the phone.
To Darlene’s delight, after months of social workers’ visits, Mom said, “He’s ours, sweetie, but we can’t call him E.T. What shall we name your new brother?”
“Elliott!”
Five years later, when Elliott scribbled green flying saucers all over her math homework, Darlene screamed, “You little monster! You really are from outer space.”
***
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Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Love it! Have a super break x
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Dear Liz,
It has been a lovely holiday with my brother…sunburn and all. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom
Rochelle
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One of these days your retreads will catch up with the time I joined FF. But so far they’re still delightful surprises
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Dear Neil,
Thank you so much for a lovely compliment. After 7 years of Friday Fictioneers, I have quite a few of them. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The journey from E.T. to Elliott has been pretty eventful. Have a good one, Rochelle.
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Dear Neel,
Finding a baby brother in a trash can is no small thing, is it? Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Still engaging, still fresh. Take care with that sun now.
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Thank you for your kind comment, Sandra. 😀 Sigh…back home and missing my NC family with the effects of the sun peeling off my shoulders.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Nothing provokes so many complaints as familiarity. Now that Elliott’s a part of their everyday lfe, he’s no longer someone to gush over and to dote upon constantly
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Dear Larry,
Often with siblings the novelty of the new baby wears off, doesn’t it?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This is so cute!
Enjoy your holiday Rochelle. Thanks for organising the prompt.
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Dear Tanille,
Thank you and you’re welcome. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I laughed out loud at the end Rochelle. Good one!
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Dear Colline,
I couldn’t ask for a better comment. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I have often heard that little brothers are space aliens. Of course most of the time those words came from my older siblings 😉 Nicely done, even if a repeat (that I didn’t see). Have a good visit.
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Dear Trent,
I was the little sister. No doubt my brother wanted to send me to the moon. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think this photo is from right before I started, so I didn’t recognize it. I’m off to have a breakfast of Reese’s Pieces underneath my blanket. 😉
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Dear Josh,
Bon apetit. Don’t forget to phone home. You and your friend have been with FF quite a while and it’s much appreciated. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What an original way of gaining a new brother! And how very typical that we should occasionally find even the people dearest to us irritating beyond measure!
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Dear Penny,
I’m the little sister in our family. I’m sure my brother thought I was some kind of alien and should be sent back where I came from. 😉 Having just spent a delightful week with him and his wife, I’m still basking in the afterglow. We’ve come to cherish each other, but we often clashed as children. 😉 Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I loved the story, Rochelle. I doubt it was an alien or more than the social workers would have been visiting. I remember what happened with E.T. Good writing as always. I’m glad you had a good trip. My son and his family live in North Carolina and we moved to India from there. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
It was a lovely time in North Carolina. I wasn’t quite ready to come back to the landlocked Midwest.
To a young child a tiny baby in a trash can might look more like E.T. which is where I was going with it. 😉 Glad you enjoyed. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wow! It’s been a very, very long time since I’ve seen this pic. Have we really been at this that long??? I’ll have to go off and think on this one a little… Writing from “paradise” on New Earth… hehe! Have a great week on holiday! ~Shalom, Bear
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Dear Bear,
I started with this challenge in 2012. Seven years! Who knew when I submitted my first story to Friday Fictioneers that I’d end up facilitating? Not what I signed on for, but no regrets. 😀 Home from my holiday…sigh…missing my brother and the ocean. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think this might have been the first one, for me.
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Dear Rochelle,
It’s new to me! And such a sweet story! Enjoy the beach and your brother!
Shalom and lotsa love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
So many have come and gone in Friday Fictioneers. I’m so glad you joined. Of course you know how much I enjoyed the beach with my brother. 😉
Shalom and lotsa hugs,
Rochelle
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I can well imagine. There have been many who have since I joined.
And yes… I think you shall have to make the pilgrimage more often 😉
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This is simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming. I can’t imagine putting a baby in a garbage can, but it happens. You squeezed a lot of emotion, humor, and a pop culture reference into a very small space. Well done as always.
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Dear Nobbin,
I can’t imagine disposing of an infant like that either, but it does happen. Your comment gave cause for smiles. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a fun story, Rochelle. It put a smile on my face. Enjoy your time with your brother 🙂
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Dear Adele,
Back home now missing my brother something awful. It was a great vacation, but a week wasn’t long enough. Thank you re my story. Glad it made you smile. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I laughed when I read this. Cute and endearing story. Have a fun visit in North Carolina.
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Dear Deborah,
I’m happy to make you laugh. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I KNEW IT!!! Funny how I can remember every prompt photo you did. Boy, my story came quickly this week. 🙂
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And, I do remember your story!!!
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Dear Ted,
You started with FF when Madison ran the show, so we’ve been in this together for a long time. I’m pretty happy about that. 😀 Thanks for the memories.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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We sure have.
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I loved this, Rochelle. Very endearing and hits home for many siblings.
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Dear Maria,
Siblings can test our patience, can’t they? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Considering my sister’s reactions to me while growing up, they probably thought I was alien too. And now I’m pretty sure my daughter got the same gene… Fun one, Rochelle!
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‘probably thought’ is an understatement, pal!
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Dear Eric,
I’m pretty sure my brother felt that way about his little sister. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I must have missed it the first time around because the reveal that it was a baby got me.
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Dear Alice,
It’s been 6 years. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, such a charming tale, and sounds about right. If Elliott’s finger starts to light up at some point, things could get interesting.
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Dear Lisa,
I don’t think this Elliott’s finger will light up unless he sets something on fire. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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🙂
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Awwww…. Little siblings CAN be quite alien, can’t they? 😉
Lovely little story!
Here’s mine, of a very different ‘vibe’…
Na’ama
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Na’ama Y’karah,
Still running to catch up with Friday Fictioneers as you can tell by the tardiness of my reply. Oy. I’ve no doubt my brother thought I was a little alien. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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🙂 Like one little one had asked me just the other week “when is mama going to put baby back in her belly?” 😉
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Yes. And I know he would’ve wanted that. He told me once that as far as he was concerned, he was an only child even after I was born. 😀
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Well, he WAS the only BOY child, perhaps, eh? Then you were the only GIRL child, no?
(wouldn’t have worked so well in my family — by the time I came around as No.5, I think my sisters were generally used to the fact that once in a while another wriggling baby girl joins the family. Two more arrived after me … 🙂
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Wow! Big family. My parents were pushing 40 when I came along and figured they had their boy and their girl. 🙂
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Well, I think someplace maybe my parents were looking to get one of them XY things … but all they kept getting were XX’s 😉
Seven of ’em.
I’m grateful, because even with all the mesuha’as, the seven of us have fun whenever we’re together these days and some of us are very close.
As for brothers — some of my brothers in law are like brothers to me. So it’s a win-win.
🙂
Na’ama
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I get that. I have three sons and adore my daughters-in-law. Tevye had seven daughters in the original stories…hm.
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Yeah … though … the similarities end there. Sort of … 😉
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Awww, that was so cute, and full of heart. Hope you are having fun with family Rochelle. Shalom.
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Dear Anurag,
Thank you for such a sweet comment. I had a wonderful time with my brother and his wife. Very hard to come back.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’ve said it before (in 2013!) and I’ll say it again – that was a lovely heart-warming story :-).
Hope you have a lovely time on your little holiday!
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Dear Ali,
Glad you enjoyed it both times. It’s fun to revisit the oldies, isn’t it? I can’t believe it’s been 6 years since that one. I’m pleased you’ve been along for the ride that long. 😉 I did have a wonderful time. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Not quite the fascinating novelty any more! A lovely story.
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Dear Clare,
The novelty definitely wore off. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
PS Nice to see you back. 😀
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A tale with a heartwarming start and a hilarious end. My first read and I loved it!
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Dear Keith,
Glad you enjoyed my story. It was fun to write and still one of my favorites. And I’m glad you’ve joined this merry band of flash fiction writers. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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this is hilarious. i truly enjoyed reading it. one of your best. 🙂
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Thank you for such high praise, Plaridel. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Charming perspective on what could have been a grim outcome. What that baby must have looked like, for her to think he was ET. All huge eyes and a bag of bones, I suspect! You are always ripping Joy from the arms of Disaster, Rochelle! PS Im in NC at the moment too!
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Dear Andrea,
Who knows what the baby looked like but to a young child finding it in a trash can he probably did appear to be an alien. Thank you for such a lovely comment. Hope you’ve enjoyed your time in NC, I know I thoroughly enjoyed mine.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s been bittersweet. Still caring for my father who seems to be on the mend, hooray! But beautiful, so beautiful in the mountains, it sucks the breath right out of you. Glad your trip was restorative!
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Lovely. That’s brothers for you, they are always thinking about the future.
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Dear James,
Yep, brothers can be a challenge. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You made me laugh again Rochelle! You are funny and entertaining – cute story!
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Dear Nan,
I’m pleased to know I made you laugh. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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ET indeed. Funny and scary at the same time.
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Many thanks for a lovely comment, Jo. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Enjoy your vacation. 🙂
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Thanks, Bernadette.
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Most of my junior school teachers must have thought that I was a little monster, due to the countless ink splatters all over my exercise books. Regards to North Carolina
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Dear Michael,
I wonder how some of my teachers remembered me. 😉 Back from North Carolina trying to catch up. Thanks for coming by. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Cool story, thanks!
Shalom,
Ronda
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Thank you, Ronda. 😀 You’re welcome.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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From joy to disgust and anger–sounds like normal human life to me 🙂
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Dear Linda,
Anyone with a sibling knows the feeling. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Still a great story. However, he wasn’t really a monster. He was too cute and friendly. Lol.
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Dear Jan,
True E.T. was cute as he could be. I’m sure after 5 years Darlene didn’t think her E.T. was all that cute. 😉 Thanks, m’luv.
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Great write. Enjoy your holiday! 🙂
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Haha..perfect!
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😀 Thank you, Dawn.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely tale, Rochelle.
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Thank you, Kitty.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Welcome, Rochelle.
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Made me smile, Rochelle. See it’s all very fine having an extra terrestrial living with you as long as you understand it’s not going to always be cuteness and flying bicycles.
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Dear Michael,
The novelty does wear off, doesn’t it? 😉 Thank you for the read and the comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Elmyra “Babs” W(T)F,
Maybe they should have named him Alf. What’s next, a baby sasquatch? Sure, they’re a little hairy and have big feet, but I’m sure they’d make a fine sibling for Darlene.
Should I baptize the baby into the faith? I’m sure you had him circumsized on the 8th day.
Pope John Paul Gayer
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Dear Pope JPG,
(What a picture that name makes.) Who knows what Darlene will bring home next but after finding a baby brother I’m guessing the next critter she brings home will be a puppy. Since Darlene’s family’s faith is unspecified, perhaps they’ll baptize and circumcise. All bases covered.
Hm Alf would’ve been a good name. I guess I had Reese’s Pieces on my mind at the time.
Nanu Nanu,
Elmyra “Babs” W(T)F
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Oh this is lovely. Glad they found him. Sweet story with a lot of heart ❤
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Dear Laurie,
Still on of my favorites after 6 years. Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I really did 😊
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