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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 © Dale Rogerson
Genre: Romance
Word Count: 100
JILTED AND SCORNED
The four-tiered cake, a culinary masterpiece dripping with elegant flowers graced the table—untouched.
Gretchen stared out the window. “It’s not supposed to be like this.”
What happened to Jared? Why would he abandon her?
Outside a man banged on the door. Dripping hair hung in his dirty face.
Perfect ending to a perfectly horrid day. Damned vagrant.
“Go away!” She hollered.
“Gretchen, please.”
Her stomach flipflopped. He stumbled through the doorway, spattering her Gucci gown.
“Engine blew—” he sputtered between muddy kisses “—nearly drowned—hiked from—Good God, I love you.”
“Shut up and marry me now.”
*
*
*
Thanks to Dale for permission to render her beautiful photo. Prints and note cards available. 😉
***
Not four tiered but one of my favorite cakes from my decorating days.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
An empty stage, awaiting action,the parts known. And a mistaken identity. Almost Shakespearean
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Thank you, Neil. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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He owes her a designer gown 😊. All’s well that ends well.
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Dear Tanille,
It seems the gown is the farthest thing from her mind. 😉 Hopefully it can be cleaned. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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She just needed patience and a little faith, m’lady.
Women, huh?
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Dear CE,
When the groom doesn’t show for the ceremony and she’s alone at the reception it goes beyond “patience required” . Women, huh, indeed. Men!
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Match making might be much harder when we are all wearing masks. I can see an opportunity to design and make dress masks for so many differing occasions
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He’s earned it certainly, and a good story to tell the grandkids 🙂
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Dear Iain,
He most definitely earned total forgiveness. And, no doubt, a story they’ll tell over and over again. A memorable day indeed. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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He came. And that’s all that matters 🙂
And they lived happily ever after, I hope.
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Dear Anita,
A memorable beginning for sure. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ooops. Well, alls well that ends well….. I like your painted version of the photo.
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Dear Trent,
They will have a story to tell, won’t they? Thank you re my story and my painting. 😀 It was a challenge and I’m really pleased it turned out the way it did.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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He was going to get there, one way or another, it seems. Just another little bump in the highway of life. But he got there on this trip, and that’s what mattered. Good story.
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Dear Jan,
Just think of the stories they’ll have to tell. Could make Inside Edition. Thanks, m’luv.
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I do like happy endings. Even messy ones, lol
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Dear Anthony,
The mud was only icing on the cake. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love it! So happy the story had a happy ending. At least we hope it will be a happy ending!
Shalom,
Ronda
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Dear Ronda,
In the eyes of the author it’s a happy ending. 😉 And think of the stories they’ll have to tell for years to come. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Amazing photo, amazing story, amazing cake! All, just beautiful 🙂
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Dear Linda,
Thank you for your amazing comment. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great ending. Hark! a Vagrant! Love it.
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Dear Josh,
All in the eyes of the beholder. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh yes! Loved this with all the unanswered questions, Rochelle.
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Thank you, Susan. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
I love how you misdirect us by giving us a happy ending after leading us to believe she’d been stood up at the altar. Wonderfully done!
Shalom and lotsa forever after love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
I just write what the voices tell me. 😉 It seems the muse wanted a happy ever after ending. 😉 Thank you for your kind words and for the beautiful photo.
Shalom and lotsa lasting hugs,
Rochelle
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🙂
So glad you listened to your muse!
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I can imagine the grandchildren looking at their wedding pictures. “Grandma married a homeless guy?”
Look at you sneaking your triple-threat talents into one post. Well done with your trifecta.
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Dear Nobbin,
I hadn’t thought about wedding pictures, but I’m sure they would be priceless. 😀 Thank you for your encouraging comments and compliments.
It’s my blog page where better to share..other things. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautifully done Rochelle, lovely drawing too, you are some talent!
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Thank you more than once, Shrawley. 😀 😀 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, I adore your happy ending ❤ Your painting is so elegantly done. And the cake flips the season switch to summer. Beautiful!
Shalom,
Lisa
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Dear Lisa,
The cake was a long time ago but one of the most memorable. The bride cried and hugged me when she saw it. 😀 Thank you re the painting and my story. Seems we need a happy ending right about now. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, you are so right, indeed we do.
Shalom,
Lisa
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Oh, I really needed a happy ending today. I just realized that these days this story would be almost impossible to tell without someone saying.
“Why didn’t he just text her explaining the situation? “
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Dear Björn,
Any number of things could’ve happened to his cell phone. He was in the middle of nowhere and couldn’t get a signal. It fell out of his pocket in the water. He ran over it. Any more questions?
Happy to supply the happy ending in any event. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Björn,
I can think of a few reasons he didn’t text her. For one, he said he almost drowned. I think his cell phone did. Sounds like a rough night for him and his cell phone probably didn’t survive it.
I felt the need for a happy ending. 😀 Glad you did, too.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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30 years ago this would not have been a question though,,,
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That’s beautiful. I love the way you took us in one direction and then made a hard left at the end. This really made me smile.
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Awww… I KNEW he was going to make it … 😉
This was delightfully done.
Now about that cake … 😉
Na’ama
Mine took a bit of a different angle … in a way …
https://naamayehuda.com/2020/04/29/no-shoveling/
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That Gretchen was still at the reception is a minor miracle. This marriage was obviously meant to be! Nice to have a happy ending, Rochelle.
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probably happened before smartphones, but better late than never. 🙂
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Dear Plaridel,
Not necessarily. The phone could very well have ended up in the water when he nearly drowned. At least he made it. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A wonderful, charming story! It would definitely make the wedding memorable.
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Dear Joshua,
I’m sure this wedding story will be told for years to come 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love this!! A perfect ending to a great tale ❤
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Many thanks, Maria. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Aw, I feared the worst, but a happy ending 🙂
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Dear Ali
Happy to allay your fears. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A great romance story, Rochelle. Thank goodness he finally made it, mud and all. Once again good writing. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
Thank you for your affirming comments. We all need a happy ending from time to time, don’t we?
Shalom and stay safe,
Rochelle
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He is a persistent fellow, and determined to make it to his wedding day! They should be happy together if she is as dedicated as he.
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Dear Russell,
Here’s hoping she is. I mean she did stick around for the reception 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I could not help but think, what is she complaining about? She gets the whole cake to herself! 😊 So romantic, Austen-style, with a good dose of acerbic wit!
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Dear Andrea,
A four-tiered cake is a bit much for one person. 😉 Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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At least they got to eat the cake. Have you decorated a single one since you gave up work?
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Dear Liz,
They did indeed have their cake and a lotta memories. As for me, In five years I’ve decorated twice…rose cupcakes for my son’s wedding and a cake for my sister-in-law’s 70th birthday a couple of years ago.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a delightful ending! Thanks. I think they are truly a match made in heaven.
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Dear Lish,
I foresee years of laughter ahead for these two. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That cake was going to be a big ask just for one person. I’m glad it all worked out in the end. And I loved yur water colour.
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Dear Sandra,
The pictured cake is one of my favourites that I decorated in all my years working in the bakery. Mainly because of the story behind it. A happy ending just seemed to be in order. 😀 Thank you re my story and my painting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love the misdirect and the perfect ending! Also, a lovely rendition of the photo, Rochelle. Your painting has an air of “dreaminess.” It’s beautiful. =)
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Dear Brenda,
I love it when I painting turns out. It’s a lot like writing…I let the watercolor muse take over and tell me what to do. Thank you re both my story and my painting. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh I love this. Such a romantic if icky moment. I needed a smile. And gorgeous picture.
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Dear Laurie,
It seemed the right time for a happy ending. Glad you enjoyed. Thank you re my story and the picture. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Then, the dad sees him for the first time and says, “I was right. He IS a bum.” A scene from That Girl where Ann’s dad, Lew, meets Donald for the first time — all covered in mud with one contact missing. Fun story!
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Dear Kent,
I’d forgotten about that scene. Loved That Girl. Thanks.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That was pretty hilarious.
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Your bride turned out better than mine (we hope). Very happy writing. Funny that we both saw something to do with a marriage.
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Dear Genia,
Perhaps it’s the lovely venue that just said wedding reception. Glad you enjoyed my story and took the time to say so. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Aww I’m glad he rocked up in the end.xx
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Thank you, Cathryn. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thhings didn’t go to plan, but it was a great test of his comitment and he came through with flying colours. Great piece, Rochelle.
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Dear Michael,
Plans did seem to go awry didn’t they? Jared did come through. Poor guy. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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MUCH better late than never! Such a whirlwind of emotions in such a short piece. Love the fact that both the cake and his hair were dripping, the former with elegant flowers and the latter with cold, muddy water.
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Dear Mags,
Oh my! Two ‘dripping’s’ in one piece. Totally unintentional. I guess it does work.–oh wait! I meant for that to happen. 😉 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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At least he arrived! And they’ll have a great story to tell their grandkids. Love it. X
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Dear Louise,
Indeed they will have a great story. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Awww. so romantic! I love happy endings 🙂
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Dear Joy,
Happy to oblige. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wonderfully dramatic and full of energy. Love the last line, a happy ending for them.
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Glad you enjoyed, Francine. Thank you for your lovely comment. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love her reaction. I believe that this is true love! 💖
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Dear Sascha,
I agree with you. They will look back on this day for years to come with laughter. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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His ordeal could be a book by itself! Tenacity is the key for the day! Nice story with a happy ending!
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Those moments which make us realize what is truly important….
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Dear Joseph,
Most definitely, it was a realization for them I think. Certainly for the bride. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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🙂
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