20 March 2015

Published March 18, 2015 by rochellewisoff

The following photo is the PHOTO PROMPT. What story does it tell you? Share it in one hundred words or less.

PHOTO PROMPT – © Copyright – Rachel Bjerke

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Word Count: 99

GULF

On fragrant spring afternoons, on the mossy stone patio in Arlene’s backyard, we shared sandwiches, secrets and giggles as only little girls can. In summer we waded in the creek that ran behind her house and tried to catch tadpoles that tickled our bare toes.

When we entered junior high, Arlene withdrew and when I tried to talk to her about it, she turned away as if I no longer existed. I never knew why or whether I had done something dreadful to offend her.

The questions, answered by silence, scarred my heart. Fifty years later, the ache remains.

***

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” –E. E. Cummings

There’s no time like the present to get over the past and get on with the future.

CLICK HERE

13 February 2015

Published February 11, 2015 by rochellewisoff

😀 In case you missed it we were mentioned in WordPress’s Daily Post 10 February 2015 https://dailypost.wordpress.com/2015/02/10/highlighted-blogging-events/

***

The next photo is the PROMPT. Where does it take you? Tell me in a hundred words or less.

My story follows the prompt and the Blue InLinkz frog. I appreciate honest comments and constructive criticism.

PHOTO PROMPT –Copyright Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

get the InLinkz code

Genre: Historical Fiction

Word Count: 100

VICISSITUDES

When Sarah and I were five, Grandma sold Jack. Mama took to her bed for a month.

“Why she sell my daddy?” asked Sarah.

I dried Sarah’s tears with my lace petticoat.

“Stop that, Emma.” Grandma snapped. “She’s a servant.”

Six years later the old biddy sold my best friend. I haven’t seen her since.

On my seventeenth birthday I was married off to a plantation owner near Charleston.

This morning I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl who bears no resemblance to either her blond father or me. In fact, she’s the spitting image of her Aunt Sarah.

.

Real life twins. It can and does happen.

23 January 2015

Published January 21, 2015 by rochellewisoff

The photo below is from our lady in Italy. What does it say to you? I dare you step outside the boat and walk on water.

My story follows the prompt and the elusive blue frog.

PHOTO PROMPT – Copyright – Georgia Koch

get the InLinkz code

Genre: Historical Fiction

Word Count: 100

IN ISMAY’S PLACE

Logan hunched his shoulders against the icy North Atlantic wind.

“Me wee Patrick’s one tomorrow.”

“Dinnae fash yersel,” said John, the coxswain. “The morrow’ll be the cold start of May and there’ll be eight more months of 1912 to play with the boy.”

“Two points starboard, John,” said Logan from the bow as he readied the boat hook.

Four months later the memories of the baby they pulled from the water tormented Logan. Patrick’s cries woke him from a nightmare. He gathered the child into his arms and whispered.

“Let fly, lad. ‘Tis a hard life, but a good sign.”

12 December 2014

Published December 10, 2014 by rochellewisoff

The following photo is this week’s PROMPT. What stands out? What type of story does it tell you? Tell us in a hundred words or less.

My story comes after the prompt and the blue inLinkz frog. I appreciate honest comments and crit. The artwork afterward is original and used for the sole purpose of illustrating my story. Permission required to use it. Thank you and shalom.

PHOTO PROMPT – Copyright – Sandra Crook

get the InLinkz code

Genre: Memoir

Word Count: 100

GRACE

In the midst of running, swimming and daily calisthenics, all at a frenetic pace, I fantasized about onion rings and fried chicken. Low numbers were all that mattered. One hundred calories per meal. Twenty pink pills to purge them. The scale hovered between eighty-five and eighty-four.

“You like my new jeans?” I asked my friend Linda. “I can’t believe they fit.”

“What size?” Her ice-blue gaze met mine.

“Zero.”

“You’ll look nice in your child-size coffin.”

__________

Now I run and swim at a comfortable pace and not a day goes by that I don’t thank Linda for my life.

Author’s Note: After I made the difficult decision to move on, Linda and I tossed those skinny jeans down the trash compactor in the backroom of our store. I don’t tell this to garner sympathy. It’s something I went through and have conquered with the help of excellent therapy and good friends. Life is all grist for the mill, isn’t it?

5 December 2014

Published December 3, 2014 by rochellewisoff

The next photo is the PHOTO PROMPT. What does it say to you? Tell us in one hundred words or less. And remember to

MAKE. EVERY. WORD. COUNT.

My story follows the prompt. I appreciate honest comments. Thank you.

PHOTO PROMPT – Copyright Janet Webb

get the InLinkz code

Genre: Historical Fiction

Word Count: 100

IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER, LONG AGO

“It’s so cold!” Marybeth shivered by the fireplace.

“This ain’t nothing.” Grandma Hattie’s wizened cheeks glistened in the flickering light. “1697, the year I turned twelve, winter commenced mid-November and by the last of March there was no sign of spring. The good Christians of Leonardtown blamed my teacher and friend Moll Dyer.”

“You knew her?”

“To this day I see them with their torches and tankards hollering, ‘witch! witch!’ as they set her hut ablaze.”

“They say she put a hex on the village, Grandma.”

“If anyone cursed them it was their precious God for slaying an innocent lamb.”

And

7 November 2014

Published November 5, 2014 by rochellewisoff

Remember…

*IMPORTANT NOTE -Please use the photo prompt in some way shape or form. Printing “Friday Fictioneers” in your tags doesn’t necessarily make it so.

The next photo is the PHOTO PROMPT. Study it and let it speak to you. My story follows the blue inLinkz frog .

.

PHOTO PROMPT – Copyright – Jean L. Hays

get the InLinkz code

Genre: Historical Fiction

Word Count: 100

IN AN EARLIER LIFE

“Too much studying will ruin you. Carpe Diem. Let’s play catch.” Ted grabbed Douglas’ notebook and pressed a pie tin into his hand.

“Catch? With this?”

“From the Frisbie Pie Company. It’s all the rage on campus.”

For the next hour Douglas forgot about Yale, final examinations and commencement. Tension from late nights hunched over text books lifted off his shoulders and a sense of euphoria filled him as he and Ted flung the whirling dish back and forth.

“This is bound to become a national sport,” cried Douglas.

“Tin Tossing Tournaments?”

“Why not?”

“School’s finally driven you mad, MacIlroy.”

LOGICAL CONCLUSION

Have I gone too far off the beaten path with this one?

Scout’s Honor, I started with the pictured Ford Edsels. In fact, I spent a whole day researching Edsel Bryant Ford, the only son of Henry Ford. While I learned a lot, I just couldn’t eke out a story.

However, the Edsel made its debut on my fourth birthday, 4 September 1957. What else happened in 1957? An online timeline showed that before Buddy Holly and the Crickets went to the top of the charts with “That’ll be the Day” in February, Wham-O introduced the first Frisbee 13 January. For some reason, this piqued my interest.

If you’d like to know more now, click here for the History of the Frisbee.

Aloha!

24 October 2014

Published October 22, 2014 by rochellewisoff

The next photo is this week’s PROMPT. What kind of a story does it tell you? Tell the rest of us in a hundred words or less.

My story follows the prompt and the blue inLinkz frog. I appreciate honest comments.

😀 This week marks my second anniversary as your fearful leader. My first story as facilitator can be found here. Thanks to all who write, submit photos and support me week after week. I’m looking forward to a third great year. 😀

Shalom,

Rochelle

PHOTO PROMPT Copyright- The Reclining Gentleman

*Note: There is only ONE PHOTO PROMPT. Any photos or artwork following my story are meant to go with my story. Period!

get the InLinkz code

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Word Count: 100

THE OCEAN OF THE LORD

A winter wind blew across the pond. Trina huddled close to Brian on the bridge as a flock of ducks fought for the breadcrumbs he threw.

“Remember our wedding?” he asked. “Flowers in your hair. This same park.”

“Forty-five years ago.” She shivered. “In June.”

“I read where a pair of swans in England divorced.”

“I thought they mated for life. What happened?”

“Failure to breed.”

“Are you saying you want a divorce because we couldn’t…?” She held her breath.

He smiled and took her hand. “Let’s go home, my beautiful swan…”

With love and affection, Trina whispered, “…and practice.”

ORIGINAL ARTWORK. Copyright- Rochelle Wisoff-Fileds. Use by express permission only. Thank you.

19 September 2014

Published September 17, 2014 by rochellewisoff

The following photo is the PHOTO PROMPT. Where does it take you? Tell me your story. 😉

NOTE: All are welcome to participate but please tell the story on your blog page not in my comment section.

Copyright – Dawn Q. Landau

get the InLinkz code

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Word Count: 100

BY WAY OF JERICHO

“They say the minerals are curative.” My sister pointed to a picture of the Dead Sea. “Come with me.”

“You want salt?” I said. “I’ll buy you a box of Morton’s.”

“You know what I mean.”

“I’d rather visit Australia.”

“Be a pal. Think about it.”

___________

“I knew it wasn’t a cure,” my sister whispered from her hospice bed. “I just wanted to visit the Holy Land before I died.”

____________

The water’s buoyancy made it fun for us to swim but I’ll always prefer the Hebrew name Yam HaMelach, Sea of Salt, to Dead Sea.

I swim with her still.

.

“We have returned to the cisterns
To the market and to the market-place
A ram’s horn calls out on the Temple Mount
In the Old City.

And in the caves in the mountain
Thousands of suns shine –
We will once again descend to the Dead Sea
By way of Jericho! “

-from the song “Jerusalem of Gold.”

22 August 2014

Published August 20, 2014 by rochellewisoff

The following photo is the PHOTO PROMPT. Does it speak to you? Do you see only a vehicle? Tell me in one hundred words or less. 😉

PHOTO PROMPT -Copyright-Roger Bultot

get the InLinkz code

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Word count: 100

HAFIZ’S SOLUTION

“You’re unbelievable, Trisha,” said Joe. “We’re stuck in the middle of nowhere and you’re reading poetry?”

“The tow truck’s on its way. Nothing we can do but wait.” She grinned at him from the passenger seat, her feet propped on the dashboard. “Relax. Enjoy the breeze.”

“The repair bill’s gonna be astronomical.”

“Could just be the battery.”

“Or the transmission.”

Joe’s mind raced from one awful conclusion to another as he paced back and forth in front of the stalled minivan.

Trisha giggled.

“What’s so funny?”

“Listen.” She read, “‘O someone should start laughing! Someone should start wildly laughing. Now!’”

To read over Trisha’s shoulder click here.