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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 © Ronda Del Boccio
CLICK ON THE FROG
Genre: Memoir
Word Count: 100
ANGEL UNAWARE
I worked in a grocery store with a gregarious black woman named Rochelle.
Every morning, we’d greet each other with a cheerful, “Good morning, Rochelle.”
One day as we chatted at her register, a customer with a small boy rolls through her line. She tells him, “Both of us are Rochelle. We’re twins.”
He scrutinizes us and shakes his head. Pointing to her hands he says, “No you’re not. You gots fancy fingernails and she don’t.”
American poet William Edgar Stafford said, “Kids: they dance before they learn there is anything that isn’t music”
I don’t want to grow up.
*How does my story connect to the prompt? It’s all about colour. 😉
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Used with Permission from the Photographer
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
If that wasn’t such a pertinent story for the current moment, I’d say you were cheating. But damn! That’s good
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Dear Neil,
There’s no cheating in Friday Fictioneers. 😉 At any rate, thank you!
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I loved your tale, your writing style is so crisp. And this week’s prompt is crisp but interesting.
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Dear DW,
I try to keep followers on their toes with the prompts. 😉 Thank you for your lovely comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That’s really nice of you (:
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Clever and apposite, m’lady.
And the other Rochelle deserves a m’lady too.
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Dear CE,
Thank you for the lovely comment. I plan to take a copy of the story to the other Rochelle who still works at that store. Thank you again, sir.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I have a rare name so it always feels odd when I encounter a person with the same name because it seldom happens. Not sure common named folks feel.
Nicely written. A connection between women.
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Dear Tannille,
I’m sure you can relate. Were your parents The Captain and Tennille fans? I like the name. Frankly, I hated my name growing up. Amid a sea of Nancy’s, Jennifer’s, Karen’s and Sharon’s, I was the only Rochelle in my grade school. My mother got the name from Rochelle Hudson, a B-movie actress in the 1930’s. Actually, I’ve grown fond of my name. 😉
Thank you re my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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No, my mum never liked the music, just the name and then she altered the spelling so no one can spell it. Thanks Mum. 😀. I think many of us grow into our names, never liked mine as a kid and as an adult I couldn’t imagine being called anything else.
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Oh! To be a child again and colour-blind. So much unlearning to do.
Very topical and heart-warming story, Rochelle 🙂
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Dear Joy,
Originally the title of the story was Color Blind. 😉 The event happened over 20 years ago but I’ve never forgotten. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You never forget wisdom out of the mouth of babes. It’s like God speaking.
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How wonderful! I have a similar memory of children seeing what’s there, not what they’ve been taught to see. Maybe I can make it a story someday.
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Dear Genia,
It’s a memory that I’ve always cherished. Rochelle and I mused about it for some time to come. All the child saw was her manicure. I was just recounting the story to a friend last week and decided to share it as a flash. Sometimes truth is more fun than fiction. 😉 Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great story. And I can see it happening. Kids are great.
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Dear Trent,
It is one of my fondest memories. I wish we could all see things from that little boy’s perspective. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This is so true. Young children see difference but they aren’t naturally prejudiced about colour. It’s definitely something that’s taught them, along with many other things, both good and bad.
A very sweet tale Rochelle, told with your usual warmth and empathy. I do hope you send the other Rochelle the story – I’m sure she’ll love it.
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Dear Lynn,
There’s a story that’s gone around of two little boys who got their heads shaved so their teacher wouldn’t be able to tell them apart. One was black and the other white. The little boy in my story had the same color blindness, didn’t he? Rochelle and I were both delighted and amazed at his response. We spoke of it for a while to come.
On occasion I do drop into that store and say hello to the smattering of friends, including Rochelle, who still work there. I plan to hand deliver a printed copy to her. We still get a kick out of greeting each other with “Hi, Rochelle.”
Thank you for your sweet comments. It’s a 20 year old memory I’ll always cherish.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That’s so nice that you still pop in to say hello – so very sweet. If I was Rochelle I’d be delighted to be featured in your lovely story. Always a pleasure to read your stories
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A great story of how the world should see each other. Through the eyes of children. What a great World we would have if everyone were taught Love, peace & acceptance from the beginning.
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Dear Jan,
Wouldn’t it, though? I think…hope…we taught our children to see race and color with appreciation. Thank you, m’luv.
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Others have already said it – let’s hope that small boy still views the world in the same way. A much needed optimistic story Rochelle.
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Dear Iain,
He would be in his 20’s now. I hope he still has the same views, too. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Right with you there, Rochelle. I believe that we can overcome racism because we never pay attention to eye color, a much more reliable window into genetic heritage than pigmentation. We never even notice it. I want to live in a world where differences matter less than similarities.
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Dear Josh,
Are you familiar with Jane Elliott? In the 1968 after MLK’s assassination, to teach her all white 3rd grade class in Iowa about discrimination, she divided them according to eye color. Brown-eyed kids became the outcasts. Apparently the backlash was intense. I want to live in that world, too.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wish everyone was like the sweet innocent kid at your store…
Stay safe, Rochelle.
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Dear Anita,
I wish it were so also. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Innocence is a beautiful thing. It’s mindboggling to realize prejudice is a learned behavior. It’s not just blatant parent to child training. There are many prejudices small and large that have seeped into society’s subconscious. Once learned, how does one break that conditioning? How does society turn that around?
Your story is heartwarming and hopeful. It’s what we need in these times.
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Dear Nobbin,
Those learned behaviours are so hard to unlearn. I wonder if society will ever truly turn around. At any rate, I’m glad you liked my story. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This one is pure genius, Rochelle. Kids put things in such basic, inarguable ways 🙂
The quote from William Edgar Stafford put me in mind of my two oldest boys, one about 3, the other just one year old. They loved listening to our recording of Winnie the Pooh. The older boy would sing along with the words, and both of them bopped around to the music. Completely unself-conscious, and cute as the dickens :). Music,dancing–THEN words.
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Dear Linda,
It’s so sad we outgrow that childlike acceptance isn’t it? Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle,
Wonderful Stafford quote and story to mesh with it.
Shalom,
Lisa
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Dear Lisa,
I first read that quote when I was in high school. It never left me. Thank you for your kind comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, you are welcome.
Shalom,
Lisa
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I love it… there are so many differences. so why only focus on one. Of course, in Sweden blacks were very rare, and I remember the first black man I ever saw… I probably stared.
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Dear Björn,
Funny how children don’t focus on what adults might. The other Rochelle and I just laughed over what the boy saw as different about us. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Amen. And may all learn. From children.
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Na’ama Y’karah,
Out of the mouths of babes. It would serve us well to listen with our hearts.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Indeed. Listen with our hearts. I like that. Best advice!
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I like this a lot for many reasons. Great stuff.
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Thank you, Peter. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Totally with you, Rochelle. If growing up means becoming judgemental about people, then count me out!
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Dear Eric,
Let’s run away to NeverNeverLand. Shall we? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Excellently done, and it hits right home.
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Dear Tony,
It seemed the right time to share. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love this, your take on the prompt and the kid’s take on life. Yep, there’s two kinds of people. Fancy nailed or not, and even that doesn’t really matter. I wonder if you’ve kept up with your twin.
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Dear D.,
I do still drop into the store to say hello to former coworkers, including m twin. 😉 I’ve never forgotten that little boy’s delightful perception. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love the little boy’s answer. I also like the happy atmosphere you have created.
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Dear Gabriella,
This memory is among my fondest. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautifully said Rochelle, so true in these wretched times. #blacklivesmatter
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Dear Shrawley,
These are wretched times indeed. Good to look for the positives. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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If only the police could all see as children do. I remember being stopped and being taunted in the nineteen sixties. It takes just a few police officers give the whole force a bad name
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Dear Mike,
I’m sorry that happened to you. Sadly, there are many good officers who don’t get recognized or appreciated. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
I love how children focus on important things… like add-ons such as nails all done up. We work so hard to take this out of children, don’t we?
Perfectly done!
Shalom and lotsa colourful love
Dale
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Dear Dale,
We urge our little ones to grow up too fast and then wonder how we lost our innocence, don’t we? Thank you for your lovely comments.
Shalom and lotsa rainbow hugs,
Rochelle
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That is so true. We really need to learn to slow down, encourage and reconnect with our inner child…
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Experience and others’ views affect us as we make our way through life. As you say in your story, that’s not always a good thing.
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Dear Ali,
We’re definitely shaped and molded by society. Sometimes that’s a good thing and other times it’s not.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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we’re all related in some way. we came from the same mother called ‘eve’. 🙂
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Dear Plaridel,
Too bad we don’t act like it. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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If only we could turn our minds back to that of a child for a short while. What a different place we’d see.
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Dear Keith,
True story. In some ways. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Years ago I became a foster mother to a little Ugandan boy, and more than one person stroked his hair ‘for luck’. I foundit offensive and always said so. I got some very snappy replies.
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Dear Liz,
Good for you. Another person’s child is never community property.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Good one!
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Thank you, Ted! 😀
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Beautiful story. Children truely show an understanding about the world that everyone should listen too. A perfect tale for the current time.
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Dear Laurie,
That child is forever etched in my memory. His response anyway. I honestly can’t remember if he was black or white either. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle,
How true is this?! From the mouths of babes comes the education, IF we listen to it that is . . .
Problem is, we grow up and we get umm . . . smarter? Okay, not the word I was looking for but you got the point with this one.
Shalom
Marco
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Dear Marco,
The trouble is that children learn by example. We do grow older, but wiser is the question. Thank you for letting me noodge you. 😉 My story seemed to go with your Heroes post today.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle
This is problematic, isn’t it. Sad to say.
You’re such the lovely noodger. 🙂
Your story is beautiful, it speaks to the best in all of us. It’s the example we all should be looking to.
Shalom
Marco
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What a delightful slice of life! Your colleague sounds like a lovely person to have as a friend.
Shalom
Penny
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Dear Penny,
It’s been a while since I’ve seen my friend. I don’t remember ever seeing her without a smile. I have to go see her soon. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such a lovely and timely story! It is so true. Out of the mouths of babes. We need more wisdom like that in the world. 🙂
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Dear Anne,
There’s a lot we can learn from children, isn’t there? Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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When a child points put the truth – it doesn’t hurt.
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Dear James,
Amazing how that works! Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Periwinkle Gnat W(T)F,
Maybe the next time Olive visits you can get her to paint your fingernails.
Did your twin also share your addiction to the color purple? If so, maybe we could book a room with two beds at the rehab/treatment center.
Well, I gotta go. The “White Shadow” is whining, wanting me to retreive a tennis bath from beneath the couch.
Liza Jane’s Daddy
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Dear Liza Jane’s Daddy,
I can’t wait to meet the ‘White Shadow’ in the dog flesh. Kinda looking forward to seeing her humans, too.
I don’t know if my twin likes purple. It’s been a while since I’ve seen her. I’ll have to rectify that situation. As for fingernails, I gave up on those a long time ago. 😉
See you soon,
Shalom,
Periwinkle Gnat W(T)F
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Love this story. Thanks for using my balloon pic!
Shalom,
Ronda
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Dear Ronda,
Glad you enjoyed the story and thanks so much for the photo. Lots of fun with it this week. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
I enjoyed reading your story. A very timely piece. We can learn some much from children. Sometimes being older doesn’t necessarily make us wiser. An adult would have most likely have remarked on the difference in color.
Shalom,
Adele
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Such an uplifting story Rochelle, I can feel the positivity beaming out of it. Love the poet’s quote. A joy to read.
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Awww…that was beautiful!
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Thank you, Dawn. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Delightful! Did this really happen?
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Dear Mags,
Yes, this story is 100% true. One of these days I want to drop into the store and say hello to my twin and give her a copy of our story. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle,
One of the things that tickled me most about you using my photo is that for once, most of the sighted people had no idea what they were looking at. That is me many weeks with the photos!
Shalom,
Ronda
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