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 © Na’ama Yehuda
Genre: Fiction/Novel Excerpt
Word Count: 100
I’m not sure you can call this a whole story, rather it is a snippet from my upcoming novel LAST DANCE WITH ANNIE. I’ve been so busy with edits that I just didn’t have the headspace for something new. Maybe next week.
SPIN CYCLE
After her parents died, within three years of each other, victims of their own bad habits—smoking and overeating—Elise ramped up her exercise routines. She took pride in achieving sixteen percent body fat.
Tony, obsessed with his personal workout program, never seemed to notice his wife had a problem. In fact, he praised her new slender form and stamina.
Elise’s flashbacks of childhood abuse surfaced in her mid-thirties. Each memory took her appetite, exacerbating her hatred for her body. When she sought help from a professional, Tony fumed and said she had no right to air their dirty laundry.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
For how long will voices be suppressed in the name of family honor?
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Dear Reena,
In this case the family honor will be redeemed. But I don’t want to give away the book. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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👍☺️
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A cycle perpetuating. Great character portrait, Rochelle
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Thank you, Neil. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Well, Tony sounds like a charmer. She might be better off without him?
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Dear Tanille,
Well, this is Elise’s POV at a very difficult time. 😉 But then I don’t want to give too much of the novel away. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Eating disorders are so hard to diagnose and treat because it’s one thing we cannot live without.
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Dear Sadje,
The best way I’ve heard recovery described is that the alcoholic can lock her tiger in a cage and throw away the key. The anorexic/bulimic has to take her tiger for a walk three times a day.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh yes, and so do those addicted to food. It’s the most complex issue
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It is a complex issue. Like people…no two are alike. Addicts cannot be painted with a wide brush, can they?
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Indeed that’s true.
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A heart-rending read with a clever link to the image, well done.
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Thank you for your encouraging words, Mason.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’re most welcome.
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How easy is to hide and even easier to ignore…again, masterfully done.
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Dear Loré,
Welcome back to the FFFold! Yes, it’s easy to hide, at least for a time. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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How supportive he is… NOT! Makes me wonder if he has something to hide. Nicely done.
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Dear Sandra,
Tony just might have something to hide 😉 This is only a snippet of the whole story. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Airing the family laundry for public entertainment and consumption seems to be the latest celebrity past time. Ask the Royal family.
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Dear James,
There’s definitely some dirty laundry airing in the Royal family. So sad. And whom does one believe? Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Perfect retrofit of the photo prompt!
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Thank you, Clare. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hope she gets her peace of mind.
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Dear Anita,
Time will tell. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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No one really knows what goes on inside someone’s skin except the person wearing it. Perhaps Tony was fighting his own demons. It is so easy for people to judge but so hard to sometimes forgive. Your teaser will undoubtably end up as a great novel. As are your previous ones.
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Dear Jan,
You are spot on in your assessment. Tony does indeed have his own demons, which of course the author brings to light. 😉 This scene is pretty early in the novel. Thanks for your encouragement m’luv. ❤
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Elise is smarter than most to realize she needs help. Perhaps the best advice for her would be to get rid of all of that laundry and dump Tony… Too true to life story.
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Dear Trent,
Go easy on Tony. He just might be battling his own demons. He is, after all, a Vietnam vet. But you can’t tell that from this snippet. 😉 And it is based on a very true story…my own. I thank you. Elise thanks you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yes, with a little more of the story I will go easy on him 🙂
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A timely tale with all the new year’s resolutions for weight loss. I think this happens far more than is realized. The struggle is real for so many. Great story!
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Dear Bear,
It is a struggle for many of all ages. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So hard to judge the characters from a snippet (maybe that’s a lesson for life, eh?), but I feel I would find Elsie as hard to live with as Tony – and hopefully both have a chance at redemption in the novel-length version.
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Dear Jen,
I think you’re spot on about Elise. Both of them have their issues. Things will definitely be explained and worked through in the novel version. Meanwhile it’s interesting to read the different perceptions. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Tony’s little outburst leaves me wanting to know a little more about him, but I guess that’s something we can only speculate upon – for now at least!
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Dear Keith,
Tony has his issues to work though. Yes. More will be revealed…in my book, at least 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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An enticing snippet Rochelle, will look out for the novel when it arrives!
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Thank you, Iain. I’m in the midst of some tough edits at the moment. Exciting, too. Of course everyone will know. 😉 I wouldn’t look for it before autumn at this point.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A powerful snippet from a powerful novel, Rochelle.
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Tony needs to get his head out of the sand. Well done.
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Tony is wrong, I hope he comes to understand that
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Tony needs help as much as she does, even if only to be educated on eating disorders. If Tony can’t with the program, maybe it is time they part ways. Good story about a real situation with victims who want to recover but can’t get loved ones to give appropriate support.
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Trauma, especially in our formative years, is a hard thing to overcome. Even subtle things we don’t realize are traumatic can profoundly affect us. We are far more fragile than we care to accept or admit.
I hope your edits go well. I’m also immersed in the rabbit hole of editing and rewriting my adult novel. I realized I had lost a character in the middle of a chapter. Where’d she go? I don’t know. The rabbit hole? It took less time to write the damn thing.
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Oh my…what a supportive husband…not!
I love what you did with this prompt.
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Well done. How sad that her husband is so unaware.
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I kept my own – thankfully mild – abuse quiet because he was my parents’ friend. That’s what such people rely on.
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Oh, Rochelle,
An all too familiar story wrapped in the human condition. “Every form of refuge has its price.” Well done.
Peace,
Bill
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There is NO reason, ever, for body shaming. Nicely told.
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Dear Lish,
The fashion industry has done a lot to make women feel ashamed of their bodies. Twiggy made my life a nightmare. I know she didn’t mean to. 😉 What we don’t realize is that if Barbie was a living being, with her measurements she’d be a French poodle. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Naturally I HAD To participate, given that Pinkish was starring as the photo prompt!
🙂
Love the excerpt, and you know I think the books is fab!
And … may bodies be allowed to be what they are, and may health and beauty not be tied into the fallacies of size and pseudo perfection. Amen.
xoxo
Na’ama
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Na’ama Y’karah,
I have my ways of luring peeps back to the FFFold. 😉
As for the book, it’s going through multiple changes. But Elise’s story remains in tact. So far the editors’ (plural) suggestions have been good ones. Still it’s leaving me cross-eyed.
As we were told in one of our support groups, if Barbie were a living, breathing being, with her proportions, she’d be a French poodle. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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No offense to French Poodles … 😉
Poor Barbie. I’ve always had sympathy for her.
🙂
Happy (soon!) uncrossing eyes!
xx
Na’ama
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Fantastic surprise play around with great ending.
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Dear Oneta,
I’m not sure what you mean by “surprise play around” but thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, I shouldn’t have had the “surprise” in that location. The “play around” was referring to your set up by leading us/me down such an unexpected path. Is that still confusing? Probably so. All in all the story was A-One, well-done. 😀
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Thank you for the explanation, Oneta. ❤
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Same excuse is given when it is discovered that spiritual leaders have been abusing both girls and boys. Shhh. Don’t ruin the reputation of the church.
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Dear Linda,
Sad but true. Thank you for weighing in.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
A hard-hitting glimpse in to your character’s life–her struggles and her husband not seeming to notice that anything is amiss.
It’s great when women and others speak out against body shaming and to see more modeling agencies have curve and plus size models. Sometimes, we are our own worse critics when it comes to our bodies.
Shalom,
Adele
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Dear Adele,
Here it is Wednesday morning and I’m still catching up.
Confession, this story is based on my own. The names and some things have been changed to protect the innocent.
The modeling industry is among the worst offenders. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
I think this snippet does read as a whole and is the perfect one for the photo supplied, to boot!
Shalom and lotsa love whilst airing out…
Dale
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Dear Dale,
Thank you for your encouragement. Gotta love the photo. 😉
Shalom and lotsa tardy hugs,
Rochelle
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You know I’m here for ya! And I do love that photo!
Puh-leeze.
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Great character shining through this Rochelle 🙂
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Thank you, Angela.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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the first step is always the hardest. hope both find the courage to do the required wash and rinse and let the past hang out to dry.
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Dear Plaridel,
Thank you for the perfect freshly laundered comment. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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We learn lessons that push us to learn more even more lessons .
Class never ends
Great story.
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Dear Chioma,
May we never stop learning. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Gosh, so much pain and not being seen by the one you love in this short piece. Great snippet.
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Dear Laurie,
Sadly, it’s the ones closest to us who see the least, isn’t it? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Nicely done. Dirty laundry… tut, tut. He had no right not supporting her need for professional help. 😑
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Dear Brit,
Tony has a lot to learn, doesn’t he? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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