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 © Ted Strutz
Genre: Historical Ficton
Word Count: 100
CALL THE MIDWIFE
We couldn’t afford for Mama to have her baby at the white clinic, so Daddy hired Miss Coley.
“I ain’t lettin’ no dirty colored woman touch me,” said Mama.
Daddy shrugged. “Ain’t no choice, Maybelle.”
When Miss Mary came, she patted my head. “Look at them purty blue eyes.”
She arranged her birthing tools on newspapers. Then she scrubbed her hands. “Everything gotsta be extra clean.”
Miss Mary sat with Mama all night until my baby brother was born. Two years later, even though times was better, Mama wouldn’t trust nobody else to bring my baby sister into the world.
I couldn’t resist using the title. It just seemed to fit. You can read more about Miss Mary HERE
You can watch the 1952 documentary about Miss Mary HERE
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Last Dance With Annie will be available June 4th in paperback, hardcover, and ebook. Preorder on Amazon, Nook, Kobo, and more! (click “more” for four more places to preorder. :D)
Here’s an installment of an interview I did for Ozark Hollow Press:
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Such a wonderful story. Kindness can heal the most bigoted hearts.
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Dear Joy,
If only people realized that we’re more the same than we are different. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely, Rochelle. Bigotry is learned, so it can be unlearned too
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Dear Neil,
May the world unlearn. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Kindness can change people’s minds
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Dear Sadje,
May kindness become a pandemic. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Amen.
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Great story. I read the article – Mary Coley was a wonderful woman who made a difference in many lives. I hope she continues to inspire.
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Dear Trent,
Honestly, there was so much about her that I wanted to say. It was a challenge to distil it to 100 words. Thank you for your encouraging words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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How do you distill an entire life into 100 words? Impossible, but those tiny fragments you come up with are great 🙂
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Dear Rochelle,
I just love where you went with this one. Especially as we are discussing “Call the Midwife” as we “speak”, so to speak 😉
Funny how Mama changed her tune…
Shalom and lotsa love in all colours,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
It was said in all the articles about Mary Coley that she served both black and white women, but I couldn’t find any stories…so I made one up. 😉 I watched the film and the interview with the film’s producer/director George Stoney. A little long and boring but he gives some insights.
At any rate, thank you for your comment and putting up with my rambling reply.
Shalom and lotsa living hugs,
Rochelle
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Well, of course you did. And it was probably a situation she experienced on the regular, let’s face it. So, you gave us the feel for the time and place. As you are excellent at doing 🙂
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I love this real-life story of a changed heart. I will look at the video later!
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Dear Linda,
When we take the time to know someone it changes things, doesn’t it? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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If only there was more trust in each other’s humanity and more openness to seeing that hate gets us nowhere, while true compassion can build and repair all bridges.
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Na’ama Y’karah,
No truer words were ever spoken. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So happy when all is well & there is trust & kindness.
“To be trusted is even greater than to be loved”.
Great story, Rochelle.
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Thank you, Anita.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Awesome story Richelle! I loved it!
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Thank you, Carol Anne.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A beautiful story
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Thank you, Christine.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank goodness there are those angels in the world who help others despite the ignorance, stupidity, and/or maliciousness of the recipients.
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Dear Lisa,
Would that there were more Miss Mary’s in the world, indeed. Stupidity does walk among us, doesn’t it? Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, you’re very welcome. It’s easy to be nice to nice people but not so easy to stay nice with the more difficult ones.
Shalom,
Lisa
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Such a wonderful story and a wonderful lady.
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Dear Connie,
She sounds like someone I’d like to have known. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I could hear this in my head even before I hit play. Nicely done Rochelle.
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Dear Mr. B,
Thank you for listening and for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hooray for Miss Mary. Good story. If people only took the time to know each other, they would be shocked at how much we have in common.
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Dear Jan,
I think when push comes to shove, we’re more alike than we are different. Thanks for reading, m’luv.
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Such a lovely story about Miss Mary and all her babies.
A testament to looking beyond someone’s skin and into their soul.
Thank you for this beautiful share, Rochelle.
Peace.
🕊️
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Dear Nancy,
It does seem that Miss Mary was the kind of person who saw past skin. Thank you for a lovely comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi Rochelle,
This is a wonderful story that turns prejudice on its head. A story of newly found trust and respect.
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Thank you for such a lovely comment, whoever you are. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Mama was forced into a situation where she had no choice but to discover the humanity she shared with the previously hated ‘other’. Miss Mary’s wonderful heart and her skill come through so well in your story.
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Dear Margaret,
I’d like to think this story has some truth. Thank you so much your generous comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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we need more stories like this in a society becoming more polarized. thank you for sharing.
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Dear Plaridel,
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone looked past each other’s differences to see how much alike we really are. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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i totally agree. 👍
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Dear Rubber Duckie W(T)F,
I bet you just love it when a pregnant woman’s water breaks. It made quite a mess when Connie’s broke, but fortunately there wasn’t a little duckie anywhere nearby to gleefully splash in it.
Too bad I didn’t think to grab one of Greta’s crayons for the ride to the hospital so Connie could clutch onto it for emotional support.
May you get several bottles of whine and chocolates for Mother’s Day.
Whinny Van Gogh
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Dear Whinny Van Gogh,
This duckie prefers her water in a big square hole with chlorinated water.
My water never broke on its own BTW. Everyone should have a purple support crayon. Tnank you for the Mother’s Day Wishes. Treat Connie nice.
Shalom,
Rubber Duckie W(T)F
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This is a great story. I hope for a world where people’s skills are not ignored or limited for meaningless reasons. Miss Mary seems like a wonderful person!
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I agree. Thank you for a lovely comment/compliment, whoever you are.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
An excellent example of truth in fiction. Nicely done.
Peace,
Bill
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Dear Bill.
Thank you for the kind of comment every author loves to read. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A lovely story, Rochelle.
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Many thanks, Keith.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love this story 🙂
Ive just finished watching an article on TV about a young couple who have now got Quads after IVF. Wow. Busy times!
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Dear Fleur,
I took fertility pills to conceive my second son. I’ve always been grateful there was only one. 😉 Glad you liked my story and took the time to say so.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi Rochele, it’s taken me this long to reply because the WP app has mucked things up on my phone. I now have to search my comment in order to reply.
But anyway, you are welcome! 🙂
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Loved this.
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Thank you, Dawn!
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A profound story, which needs telling.
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Thank you so much for the validating comment, whoever you are. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This is beautiful. I love the ending. What a woman that midwife was!
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Dear Laurie,
I agree. She sounds like a great lady. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I wouldn’t want anybody dirty, regardless of color, creed, or political affiliation, delivering my babies. I’ve said it before, I think most prejudice is based in ignorance. Experience teaches us that we’re all just people. Our similarities are atronger than our differences. Of course, some people are dirty. That’s just nasty.
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Dear Nobbin,
Of course Mama’s use of the “dirty” had nothing to do with Miss Mary’s true condition but rather ignorance and bigotry. If anything the midwife was fastidious to the max in her practice. And Mama came to know this as true. Thank you for your comments. I agree with every word.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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