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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 © Jan Wayne Fields
Click the Frog to Join the Party
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Word Count: 100
TROPICAL VACATION
As a journalist, I’ve looked forward to my assignment in the island paradise of Tonga—interview deportees.
Uhila sets aside his machete. Sun through the palm trees beats down on his bare back littered with tattoos. “My dad was God. I couldn’t fight God, so I fought everyone else.”
Taking notes, I ache for the hurting child inside the man until he says, “I shot a guy for looking at me wrong—four times in the stomach. Now I’m the trash California State threw away.” He mops his brow with his forearm. “Here I don’t know shit about nothing.”
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
I loved the line ““My dad was God. I couldn’t fight God, so I fought everyone else.”
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Thank you, Neil. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wow! This is chilling. We start with an island paradise and end in murder. So much going on here – the voice feels so truthful, a man who can’t control his anger against his father, the anger he aims at other people. That last line speaks volumes about how worthless he feels. And you wonder if he has any future of worth at all. Absolutely gut-wrenching, Rochelle.
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Dear Lynn,
The story is based on interviews I caught on YouTube. Uhila is a melding of four such men who’ve been deported by 3 or four different countries. They had never been to Tonga, even though it’s where their families came from. They really felt like misfits. Thank you so much for your wonderful comment which made this piece worthwhile for me.
Shalom,
Rochelle
PS, the man who had committed the murder, was remorseful and trying to better himself. However the circumstances don’t do much to help. 😦
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You seem to have captured something of those men and their dreadful lives here. Sometimes it’s impossible for people to change the trajectory of their lives, no matter how much they might want to. Heartbreaking
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Always a pleasure, Rochelle. This is really interesting, this composite of tragic lives. Not always possible for any of us to change the trajectory of our existence but particularly awful under such circumstances. The hopelessness in itself must be terrifically destructive. So well written, Rochelle
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Dear Lynn,
How frustrating. Both of your replies ended up in my trash folder. Not sure why this keeps happening. You’re not the only one so it’s nothing personal. It is aggravating. At any rate, thank you again.
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Ha! Wondered what happened to the first one – thought I’d messed things up somehow 😀
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And this reply ended up in the trash, too. For now I’m being diligent about checking those folders and retrieving. SMH.
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The cycle continues. One of the saddest things in life is parents destroying children. They are often destroyed children in adult bodies.
Solid story here.
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Dear Tanille,
That’s the worst part of child abuse. It gets handed down from generation to generation. Unless the pattern is stopped the ‘inheritance’ will continue. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
The emotion is spot on as is the despair. YKILYR?
Cheers,
Doug
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Nice surgery, Doc. Cheers, D.
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❤️😘🖖🏻😎
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It seems the journalist got an interview he wasn’t counting on. He better make sure he continues to look at the man the “right” way. Excellent writing, Rochelle. —- Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
There were definitely some surprises in the interview. 😉 Many thanks for you lovely comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such a powerful, well written story, Rochelle. Well done.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thank you very much, Susan.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
This one hundred words is packed with so much story. Oh my goodness, ya done good!
Shalom and lotsa powerful hittin’ love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
I’m a bit overwhelmed by some of the comments. This story came quickly, it didn’t occur to me it was “more” than usual. 😉 Thank you, my friend.
Shalom and lotsa whamming hugs,
Rochelle
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No matter how much we want to make everyone out to be a victim, well… Nicely captured. There really are emotionless killers out there.
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Dear Trent,
Sadly, victims victimize others, don’t they? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wow! Great entry.
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תודה רבה מיכל
שלום
רחל 😀
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Not much of a tropical vacation after all. Behind the headlines lie the individuals each with a tragic story to tell – how often we forget that.
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Dear Iain,
True story. This flash fiction is the result of my watching a video called aptly, Gangsters in Paradise. Certainly not a a vacation for them.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So much in this. A tragic tale expertly narrated.
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Many thanks for such an affirming comment, Tony. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Well, m’lady, this is a big departure for you, and a terrific piece of writing.
I wonder in what dark corner of your mind you found it lurking…
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Dear CE,
Right now I have a novel being shopped that’s been turned down by four publishers because it’s “dark”. So it’s there. 😉 Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great story. Reminds me of the Jamaican workers we saw in the Bahamas. We stood next to each other on the docks, but we lived in wholly different worlds. Vivid stuff, Rochelle.
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Dear Josh,
Different worlds indeed. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Quite a twist there going from Tropical vacation to killer interview. It sounds like the interview subject still blames someone/something else for his actions & hasn’t come to terms with it yet. If I were interviewing him, I think I would tread cautiously and watch what I say to him very carefully. Good story & a bit different from your usual subjects.
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Dear Jan,
Actually “he” was actually “they”. Sorry it didn’t come across, but each of them did take responsibility for their own actions on the YouTube interview I watched. Hard to convey everything in 100 words. I did use their own words. Yes, you do want to tread cautiously when interviewing a large man with a machete at his disposal. Mission accomplished. Twist was what I was going for. Thanks, m’luv.
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I honestly did not know anything about the deportees. This is an intriguing story. Good as usual
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Dear Lyneane,
For what ever reason I found both of your comments in my trash folder. At any rate, I didn’t know this either, but ran across a video interview while looking for things about Tonga. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This is a different style for you. Welcome to the Dark Side. Excellent imagery with “My dad was God. I couldn’t fight God, so I fought everyone else.” With the implication that his father had a wrath comparable to the deity of the Tanakh (Tanach?). All too often children are cursed to carry on certain “family traditions.”
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Dear Nobbin,
When I find them…this one found me as I was looking for Tonga in YouTube. I came across a video called Gangsters in Paradise. Uhila a bit of each of the men interviewed. As for the Dark Side, I’ve a novel being shopped that’s been turned down by a couple of publisher’s because it’s ‘darker than they would normally publish.’ 😉 Tanakh/Tanach…both are transliterations of the Hebrew. I agree…curses are passed from generation to generation.
Thank you for your encouraging comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great read, Rochelle. Our country (Australia) now engages in this dubious practice, slipped through the back door of deporting terrorists legislation. (Damn your eyes, though, because I’ve now got a Johnny Cash earworm stuck in my head – ‘I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die’.) 😉
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My great great grandparents had a ranch near Folsom Prison. It was the second pony express stop from Sacramento. A prisoner escaped and cut off the chain attaching the ball to his ankle. I have that ball. That would be a good photo prompt I think. Now you have me singing that song, Doug. Thanks a lot.
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Rochelle started it 🙂
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Dear Doug,
“Damn your eyes.” Love it. Thanks for the ear worm. 😉 (You can blame me for starting it, but I didn’t mention the song).
The video that inspired my story is called Gangsters in Paradise. Those interviewed included Tongans who had been born elsewhere and deported from the US, Australia and New Zealand. One can only say just so much in 100 words.
Thank you for reading and commenting. “When I hear that whistle blowing, I hang my head and cry.” (you’re welome.)
Shalom,
Rohelle
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Interesting where you went with this, Rochelle. Which hat did Jan choose. I have invited a new blogger to join FF, she lives in England her name is Polly Cullen.
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Dear Ted,
The more the merrier. Haven’t seen Polly yet. Jan didn’t actually choose one of those hats which is good since he has enough of them already. 😉 Thank you for coming by. “I hear that train a-comin'”
Shalom,
Rochelle
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haha, would you like to see that prison ball?
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Wow. This is an amazing story. Powerful and tragic.
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Many thanks, Josh. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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“My dad was God. I couldn’t fight God, so I fought everyone else.”…wow! what a powerful line. Quite different from your usual syruppy fare. Nevertheless, a welcome diversion! Is more on anvil!?
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Dear Neel,
Syruppy? At any rate I’m glad you found merit in this piece. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This took a turn that left me stunned! I shouldn’t have been so shocked–the clue was in the second sentence! Really good, Rochelle.
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Dear Linda,
I’ll take leaving you stunned as a compliment. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A bit of nostalgia from me (totally unrelated really but it came to mind!)
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yes, it was.
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Rochelle
Whoa!!!
All THAT for an image of hats?
This is how it’s done, boys and girls . . so pay attention!
Marco
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Dear Marco,
I rarely use the prompt as an illustration, rather some element of it as an inspiration. In this case the name of the Island Tonga. 😉 Thank you, thank you for such a magnificent compliment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Well, you just so happen to be inspired when you get your clutches on an idea.
You are most welcome, Ms Rochelle
Shalom
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Wow. I love the way you phrased that, Marco. Thanks for the grins. 😀
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🙂
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Great stuff Rochelle, despite killing a man I can not help but feel sorry for the guy, going back to his homeland and yet knowing nothing about it, a fish out of water yet totally surrounded by it.
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Dear Shrawley,
Therein lies the tragedy. These gangsters, deported to a ‘homeland’ they’ve never known. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yep, a fish out of water
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Family trauma can have such devastating after effects. It stands out especially in such a seemingly idyllic environment
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Dear Larry,
Sad but true. Those childhood traumas are passed from generation to generation, aren’t they?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yes and other people, outside the family, are always unfairly forced to suffer too
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Gosh, that’s powerful. How well you capture the anger. How much damage parents can do unintentionally. Very thought-provoking.
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Dear Penny,
A wise man once told me, “Hurt people hurt people.” Simple, but truer words were never spoken. Thanks so much for your encouraging words.
Shalom,
Rohelle
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Intergenerational pain is real! If you do the work and heal, you can break the cycle.
Gut-wrenching story there, Rochelle. I was saying to my husband just the other day, ‘for any job, you need qualifications and some experience, but for the one with the most responsibility, you need neither.’
You wove some many strands together so skillfully in so few words.
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Dear Joy,
Breaking that cycle is difficult. Been there, done that. (Not quite to the degree of the character. 😉 ) But always a battle. Thank you for your kind and affirming comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I am getting there too. Meditation helps and also sending love and forgiveness to one’s ancestors helps too. As well as cutting energetic chords. Take care ♥
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OMG this is so sad!
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Sad indeed, Lilac. Thank you for coming by. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’ve packed a lot of story into 100 words, Rochelle. And such beautiful writing too. This is my favorite of the week so far. Great job. I hope you’re doing well and staying healthy. It’s a crazy world out there these days, eh?
-David
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Dear David,
Such a wonderful comment. Thank so much. We’re staying safe and healthy. I’ve spent a lot of the time with a paintbrush in hand…when I’m not writing I’m rendering watercolors. It is crazy out there and it doesn’t look like sanity’s anywhere on the horizon, does it? Thanks again. Hope you’re safe where you are and can soon be reunited with family.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wow, Rochelle. This was fabulously heartrending. Wow.
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Na’ama Y’karah,
Wow? I’ll take wow any day. Todah rabbah m’ohd.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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🙂 Yep, that was wow. 🙂
Well earned!
Shabbat Shalom 🙂
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he’s got machete. i’m afraid the journalist could be the next victim. 🙂
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Dear Plaridel,
She is taking a chance, isn’t she. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Truly full up story, this one, Rochelle. Great characterisation, I love the brutal honesty of the man and his despair showing through.
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Dear Michael,
Mission accomplished. Thank you for such an affirming comment. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I struggled to find some empathy with him, but I just about succeeded at the end. Well done with that.
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Dear Sandra,
Kind of hard to sympathize with a murderer, isn’t it? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think you capture the illogical sense of injustice here, and where the criminal doesn’t understand he is not the victim. Well told.
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Thanks for the affirming comment, James. Happy to know my story worked.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A life-changing interview for the journalist I imagine.
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Dear Keith,
No doubt it was. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It appears the interviewer is in for a real roller coaster of a time. Should he have been deported to a country he’s never known? Should he have been allowed to stay after what he did? Can we blame his childhood? Those who fall through the cracks…
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Dear Ali,
I know this viewer received a roller coaster of an education watching the You Tube video. This was something I was totally unaware of.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a traumatic life. This is a lost soul who never found a place for himself in the world. So sad!
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Dear Eric,
There are many lost souls like this one on Tonga. Very sad. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Ralphetta Kramden W(T)F,
I’ll be sure to wear my sunglasses and mask if I run into Uhila. The machete sounds even more painful than the 4 gun shots. Makes you wonder how he’d react to a mime, doesn’t it?
BTW – someone hocked a loogie on one of the seats in the bus.
Colton
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Dear Colton,
I’ll make a wide berth around Uhila. I don’t mind cutting up, but would prefer not to be cut to ribbons…or do not remove tags and stored in an invisible box.
At the rate you’re going, you’ll never get your whoopie cushion or joy buzzer back. Find another seat. Nobody likes a tattletale.
Shalom,
Ralphetta Kramden W(T)F
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I’m not naming names, but his intials are Theo Updyke.
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🤪🤣😜
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Taking notes, I ache for the hurting child inside the man This! It’s so interesting that the journalist hears what the man has done and shows such empathy. VERY well done.
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Dear Lish,
There’s no doubt in my mind this journalist is a woman. 😉 Thank you so much for your kind comments. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Gees, I see others have commented on that brilliant line, “My dad was God I couldn’t fight God, so I fought everyone else.” Very powerful!
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Thank you, Laurie.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Probably not going to be a happy interview I think.
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Dear Russell,
I’d say the interview will be a solemn, but informative one. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
What a gut-wrenching tale. And every sentence is packed in a punch.
It’s a pity how for generations parents end up scarring their children for life. This has got to change.
Thank you for your words and for hosting. I’m back after many, many moons. 🙂
Take care and stay safe.
Natasha
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Dear Natasha,
Thank you for your affirming comments. Welcome back. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks dear Rochelle. So happy to be back, and I do hope I can stick it out this time.
Take good care.
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There are multiple layers like father-son relationship or the lack of it, lack of self-esteem, violence being narrated in a matter of fact way that denotes the life Uhila had lived, his punishment and his repentance, within these 100 words and that’s the hallmark of a fantastic writer. Great little tale, Rochelle.
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Dear Varad,
After a comment like that I’m going to have to stick a pin in my swelled head. 😉 Thank you so much.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I never did understand how governments justified deporting their own trash to toher countries – half of Austraian immigrants were convicts at one time.
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Dear Liz,
It is ironic that Australia started as a penal colony and is now deporting criminals. What goes around comes around, I guess.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You took a macabre turn this week, my friend! Good story.
Shalom
Ronda
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Dear Ronda,
Sometimes a person has to step out of the comfort zone. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Querida Rochelle,
Muy bien escrito. Su cuento es uno que mi esposo me decía muchas veces.
Powerful writing, mi amiga. I love the line “I ache for the hurting child inside, etc.” WOW …
that grabs the reader and shakes him to the core. GREAT story this week …
Have a wonderfully loving weekend … 😍 😍
Abrazos y carino,
Isadora 😎
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Querida Isadora,
No doubt your husband knows many stories like this. Gracias par sus palabras afirmandas.
Shalom y abrazos,
Rochelle 😀
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This was so vivid, a powerful piece of writing Rochelle
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Many thanks, Mike.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Geez…this was dark
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Dark subject, Dawn. Thanks for reading.
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This was a great story Rochelle! It is amazing what you can capture in a hundred words. The comments resonate the nerve you hit.
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Thank you for such a magnificent comment, Joe.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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🙂
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A powerful and astute insight into this man and why he’s become so. Well written Rochelle.
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Thank you for a lovely comment, Francine. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Uhila knows exactly why he has become the way he is, but is stuck where he is without knowing how to go forward. Powerful writing, Rochelle.
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Dear Mags,
A pretty fair assessment I’d say. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’re welcome, Rochelle.
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This was very different from what I expect from you but so well done. I loved the quote about the dad–excellent!
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Dear Sascha,
One has to step outside the box and do the unexpected sometimes. 😉 I’m glad it worked. Thank you so much.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very succinctly done
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Thank you, Polly. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love the lines, “It is not what you look at that matters, it is what you see.” Thanks for sharing these sayings.
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