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 © Roger Bultot
Genre: Fiction
Word Count: 100
DEFENSE MECHANISM
Elise hated it when her parents fought. Daddy would say the most horrible things to Mommy.
Elise would hide. Shutting her eyes tight, she would make up stories in her head.
When she was seven, she would imagine herself in lead roles in her favorite TV shows like Bonanza or Dr. Kildare.
Elise grew up. Mom and Dad continued to shout at each other. Elise no longer felt the need to crawl under her bed. She became quite adept at hiding within the confines of her own mind.
Elise moved out.
Her parents passed away.
Today Elise is an author.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Good for her that she managed such a stressful childhood
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Thank you, Sadje. Yes, Elise is well and doing fine.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’re most welcome! Good to know 😍
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Sad when kids have to go through such.
Great that she could transform her trauma to create & not destroy.
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Dear Anita,
Often hard times develope character. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Kids find a way to deal with it, but it usually doesn’t end up quite as well as this. Then again, who knows what is at the root of some people’s creativity?
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Dear Trent,
At some point we all hace choices to make, don’t we? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Parents fighting is hard. Great fodder for a writer though.
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Dear Tannille,
It’s not the greatest way to find one’s creative side, is it? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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When the world you inhabit is this stressful, there is nothing for it but to create another… and another. Beautifully told.
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Thank you for fighting WP to leave such a lovely comment, Sandra.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m so glad that Elise survived and grew into becoming what she is today. A fantastic author/artist.
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Dear Anonymous Husband,
I’m glad you’re glad. 😉 Thanks for all the love and support, m’luv.
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I watched Bonanza but never got into Dr. Kildare as a kid. Fortunately. Mom and Dad never fought (at least around me).
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Dear James,
Lucky you. Bonanza was always a favorite. I still watch the reruns from time to time. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Elise, I think, is more than an author. She has learned to use her artistic gifts in more ways than one. Good for her 🙂
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Dear Linda,
Elise and I say thank you. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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How serendipitous – the week I return to FF, your MC is Elise – the same name of one of the MC in the novel I’ve just finished writing! Hopefully her final fate here is a good omen for my book too. I’m glad she was able to take her childhood experiences and turn them into something positive.
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Dear Iain,
Elise is the main character of my upcoming novel. She’s near and dear to the heart of this author whose middle name is Elise. 😉
Thank you and cheers to MC’s named Elise. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
PS Happy to see you back. I’ve missed you.
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I can relate to this character.
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Dear Reena,
Hugs. I think many of us relate to Elise.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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😂😂
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I had to check back to see if the genre here was fiction, it has a realistic ring to it. Elise is an interesting heroine, I’m sure it would be nice to see more of her.
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Dear Anonymous,
I guess changing the name didn’t protect the “innocent”? Elise is the MC of my upcoming novel entitled, Last Dance with Annie. 😉 thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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At least her parents’ ranting and raving had a positive effect on her, it could easily have had the opposite effect.
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Dear Keith,
It took Elise years to come to that point and see it all in a positive light. All’s well that end’s well. Yes? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I wonder if any author had a “normal” childhood? Seems that creativity is often smelted in adversity. Name-calling and other forms of verbal assault are as harmful as any physical assault and the healing takes just as long, from what I’ve seen. If the MC is you, I’m sorry you had to go through the vicarious traumatization of it ❤
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I agree with you and well said.
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Dear Lisa,
I confess. Most of the time when I write about Elise (my middle name) she is me. 😉 I used that form of detachment on into my adult years when I didn’t feel I could deal with things. Then in my 50’s I started going off into my head with stories when times were good. My first “published” story was fan fiction. When I discovered I could tell a story that others would read, it changed my life forever.
As for “normal” I was told that’s a setting on a washing machine. Thank you so much for your kind words. ❤
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, thank you very much for your thoughtful comment. You are very welcome, my friend.
Shalom,
Lisa
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Glad she managed so well. Well done.
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Thank you, Connie.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s nice that Elise took her difficult life experience and turned it into a talent! Your story is so relatable…maybe parents yelling not always the catalyst for imagination to flourish but close enough!
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Dear Anonymous,
I think Elise could have done without their fighting. 😉 No doubt many creative people can relate to my story. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think some of the best writers come from dysfunctional homes, it certainly broadens our views.
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Dear Dawn,
Be it ever so dysfunctional there’s no place like ohme. 😉 I think it makes us more interesting as artists. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, this was one of my favourites, despite it’s dark and traumatic nature. There’s a delicacy of character in it and psychological insights which really appeal. It is not psychologically healthy for anyone to create or retreat into a separate or imaginary world to cope. That someone becomes a creative of some sort as a result is good in a way and better than some of the alternatives but still a questionable path in my mind. I had similar experienced growing up with undiagnosed hydrocephalus and having a swag of quirky symptoms with made me different in ways we didn’t understand until my mid 20’s when I was finally diagnosed. I used to zone out and I still write poetry to express my difficult emotions instead of talking to someone. This is where you can get some difficult psychological territory where people think you’re fine but you’re not.
ANyway, very well written and I’m sorry if there’s an auto-biographical element to it.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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Dear Rowena,
I confess, this is autobiographical. I’m sorry for your experience. Thank you for sharing it. And thank you for your kind comments/compliments on my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That’s one way to fire a child’s imagination. Moving for my father’s work at important times in my life drove me inwards.
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Thank you for your comments, whoever you are.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Querida Rochelle,
A very dire childhood changed her into a success in her desired field.
Artists can be more creative through pain. A powerful story for us this week. Bien excrito …
Abrazos y Carino,
Izzy 😎 🤗 ❤️
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Querida Izzy,
I’m not sure I’d call her childhood dire. But probably more than she’d care to admit. 😉 Gracias para tus palabras amables, mi amiga.
Shalom y abrazos,
Rochelle
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It’s difficult for kids to see negative things and what’s goes on while growing up. Hopefully, inner strength is built up for a brighter future. Happy Thanksgiving 🦃
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good for her. she found writing liberating.
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Liberating indeed, Plaridel. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi Rochelle, yes I remember watching Bonanza and others. Although success came to your character, it is still a shame about her unhappy childhood.
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Dear James,
We take the bitter with the sweet, don’t we? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Scared me for a minute there. I was afraid you were going to say Elise became a mime.
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Dear Detective Lowry,
I’ll neither confirm nor deny Elise’s other endeavors. It’s all invisible evidence anyway.
Shalom,
Shelley W(T)F
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A difficult start in life will leave scars, no matter who we are. I guess the key to achieving a healthy adult life, and finding satisfaction and peace, is what one does to deal with those scars. Becoming an author is a very good strategy, I believe. Well told, Rochelle. Three cheers for ‘Ellise’.
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Dear Margaret,
Life is a journey that few of us escape unscathed. 😉 To have come out on the “other side” as a victor is ‘Elise’s’ greatest achievement. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great that she decided to use her experience for something good.
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Dear Bernadette,
What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A difficult childhood is not easily overcome, but some find a way, like you said, to build character and to channel the bad into something good. Creativity is a good outlet for trauma. A beautiful story of hope.
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Dear Brenda,
Each of us plays the hand life deals, don’t we? It took “Ellise” years to figure it out. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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There is something in your piece, Rochelle, that each one of us can relate to …. whether it be the constant distress of arguing parents, the escape through our imaginations, our love of writing or staring into Dr. Kildare’s beautiful eyes …. there is a universal appeal in your marvelous story!
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Dear Nancy,
Thank you for such a marvelous comment. I start my day with a smile.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh. This is heartbreaking. I’m glad she is ok now but what a terribly sad upbringing. That would negatively affect anyone.
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Dear Laurie,
Elise is indeed okay now. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You hit me in the soul with this one. Ow! Well done, Rochelle.
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Dear Nobbin,
Sorry I’m late to reply, but I couldn’t have asked for higher praise. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I was late. I waited until the last minute, hoping WordPress would fix the issue some of us have been having posting comments on various pages. Fortunately, it posted on your page.
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Dear Rochelle,
Sorry for missing this (as you know, I had good reason 😉 ) but I’m here now, trying to catch up on my favourite bloggers.
Elise not only became an author, she battled so many demons successfully. Nicely told, my friend.
Shalom and lotsa frictionless love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
What could be so important you missed FF? 😉 😉
Funny how quickly I dashed this one off and it seems to be one of my better stories. Go figure. Of course, you’re quite familiar with Elise. Thank you for stopping by. Much appreciated.
Shalom and lotsa plain ol’ hugs,
Rochelle
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I dunno….
Don’t you love when that happens?
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