10 November 2023

Published November 8, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © David Stewart

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November 9 marks the 85th anniversary of the pogrom known as Kristallnacht or Night of Broken Glass. It’s hard to capture the horror of it in a mere one hundred words. Could it happen again?

Genre: Hysterical Fiction
Word Count: 100

WASH. RINSE. REPEAT.

“Tomorrow is November 10^th, and I will be six.” Shifra kissed Papa as he tucked her in. “And all my friends will bring presents to my party.”

“Sweet dreams, my birthday princess,” said Mama.

Without warning a brick crashed through the window. Mama shielded her from shattering glass. Trembling in terror, Shifra clung to her.

Papa looked outside, tears streaming. “They’ve set the synagogue on fire!”

****

October 7^th. A month shy of her ninety-first birthday, Shifra clung to her great-grandson. Outside she heard the screams all over the Kibbutz. Trembling, she bowed her head and braced herself for another Kristallnacht.

27 October2023

Published October 25, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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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 © Lisa Fox

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Good news! I finished the recent round of edits for my upcoming novel, LAST DANCE WITH ANNIE. Not so good news. I really couldn’t come up with anything new this week. So, as not to leave a blank spot on my blog, I repeated a story from 2017. Thank you for your understanding. 😉 BTWm this week marks my eleventh year as FFFacillitator. 😀

Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

DREAM A LITTLE DREAM OF ME

“No, Poppa, don’t fence me-e-e-e i-i-in,” sang Ellen Cohen, her pudgy hands on her swaying hips.

Bess marveled at her seven-year-old daughter who looked at home under the bright lights. “Imagine, Phillip, our little girl at the Hippodrome.”

“Kate Smith couldn’t sing it better.” He grinned. “Today Baltimore, tomorrow Hollywood.”

After the show, anger drilled Bess when a stranger pinched Ellen’s cheek and said, “What a voice. Too bad she’s,” the woman lowered her voice, “on the zoftig side.”

The future Cass Elliot stuck out her tongue. “Someday I’m going to be the most famous fat girl in the world.”

*****************

Ellen Naomi Cohen aka Cass Elliott
September 19, 1941-July 29, 1974

22 September 2023

Published September 20, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

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Once more my Google journey took to a story I didn’t expect. 😀 I started off with Jewish Austrian immigrant, Leo Hirschfeld the candy maker who named his invention after his daughter Clara “Tootsie” Hirschfeld. There were too many conflicting facts and not enough to write a satisfying story. Happily, the muse took me in a different direction.

Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

FROZEN CHOSIN

“Tell me the Tootsie Roll in Korea story,” I begged Grandpa as he tucked me in.

With a faraway look in his faded blue eyes, he grinned. “It was 1950. Us Marines was freezing our butts off and losing the battle. We radioed the Air Force for 60mm mortar ammo, codenamed ‘Tootsie Roll.’”

“They sent you real Tootsie Rolls, right, Grandpa?”

“Kept us from starving.” He unwrapped a Tootsie Roll and squished it between his fingers. ‘Warmed, “Tootsie Roll putty’ plugged the holes in our fuel lines long enough for a hundred-and-twenty-thousand of us to make it to safety. Oorah!”

*

15 September 2023

Published September 13, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook

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This weekend is Rosh HaShanah, the beginning of the Jewish New Year. So it seemed the time to remember.

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Word Count: 100

SURVIVAL

Risa kissed her slice of bread before slathering it with butter and taking a bite. She ate slowly, savoring every morsel.

Ten-year-old Aaron’s gaze held her, his brown eyes wide. “Bubbe, why do you kiss your bread like you would kiss a holy book if you had dropped it?”

“Bread is holy and precious. In the camp, a slice of bread could buy a bag of gold. A slice of bread stood between life and death.”

Aaron kissed his toast. “Blessed are You, Adonai our God Who brings forth bread from the earth and saved my dear grandma with it.”

*******

Remembering Food in the Concentration Camps: Interviews with Holocaust Survivors

4 August 2023

Published August 2, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Liz Young

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

THE WRIGHT WAY

“Do you really think you’re going to fly like a bird?” Fifteen-year-old Katharine giggled as she set steaming bowls of soup on the table.

“Someday you’ll eat those words, Kate,” said nineteen-year-old Orv.

The years zipped by. While her brothers never let go of their dream, Katharine kept their books and managed their bicycle shop. She became their staunchest supporter and spokesperson.

Katharine’s heart fluttered as the Wright brothers’ Model A Flyer left the ground. Who would have dreamt she would see France, let alone soar over it?

“Kate,” Wilbur squeezed her hand. “You are the wind beneath our wings.”

CLICK here to know more about this lesser known Wright sibling.

28 July 2023

Published July 26, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Jennifer Pendergast

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

A NICE JEWISH GIRL FROM BROOKLYN

“Daddy, listen my new song.” Four-year-old Carol’s blue eyes twinkled.

Firefighter, Sid Klein sank down beside her on the piano bench, weary from extinguishing one blaze after another.

He marveled. “I see Mommy’s making sure you practice your lessons.”

“Far from it.” His wife Genie shook her head. “Our baby girl has a rare gift.”

____________

Nearly seventy years and numerous compositions later, Sid Klein’s daughter, singer- songwriter Carole King thrilled as Aretha Franklin belted out “Natural Woman” at the Kennedy Center Honors.

“I’ve had a remarkable life,” Carole told an interviewer “I sum it all up in one word—gratitude.”

Inductee Carole King performs onstage during the 36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 30, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio.

1 July 2023

Published June 28, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

TO BOLDLY GO

“Shma Yisra’el, Adonai Eloheynu, Adonai echad.” Standing beside his father in the synagogue, Billy sang the familiar words from the Torah “Hear oh Israel, Adonai is our God, Adonai is One.”

He rubbed his throbbing cheek. In Europe, the war against Nazi Germany raged. Reports of the death camps gave him nightmares. His grandparents had come to Montreal to escape such things. Why did the other kids pick fights with him just for being Jewish?

Papa leaned over and whispered, “Does the other boy have a black eye like yours?”

Billy Shatner grinned. “They don’t call me Toughie for nothing.”

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2 June 2023

Published May 31, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

RHINESTONE COWBOY

Nuta Kotlvarenko loved cowboy movies, particularly ones starring his hero Tom Mix.

One evening in 1913, Mama handed a passport to Nuta’s older brother Julius. “Ukraine is not safe for Jewish boys. We’re sending you to America where the streets are paved with gold.”

“I don’t want to go.” Nuta’s eyes stung.

***

Following years of odd jobs, Nuta, now Nudie Cohn, found his niche as the rodeo tailor. Stars from Roy Rogers to Elvis Presley paid thousands for rhinestone-studded Nudie suits.

“Nudie,” asked a fan. “Why don’t your boots ever match?”

“To remind me that golden streets have a price.”

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19 May 2023

Published May 17, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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As of this Wednesday morning I will only be back in the country a day or so. In anticipation of jet lag I’m sharing a snippet of my the last book of Havah’s trilogy. AS ONE MUST, ONE CAN. I’ve reworked it a bit to fit into the stand-alone (which I hope it does) 100 word format.

When I was writing this novel, set in Kansas City, Missouri in 1908, I was thrilled to find that this Chinese restaurant my family frequented during the 1950’s was in existence way back when. I thought Havah should enjoy it, too. 😉

A GOOD JEWISH MEAL

Havah marveled at the glossy woodwork that adorned the dining room of the King Joy Lo restaurant. She drank in unfamiliar aromas.

Picking up a pair of ivory sticks beside her plate, she studied the elegant calligraphy etched into them. “These are beautiful, but what are they for?”

“Chopsticks. For eating.” The waiter took them and lifted a piece of chicken between them. “Easy. Even babies in China use. Now you.”

Try as she might, they slipped between her fingers and fell amid the noodles on her plate.

“How on earth do they do it?”

“Like American babies. Very messy.”

CLICK to find out more about Havah’s Journey

Here are a few pictures of King Joy Lo through the years:

12 May 2023

Published May 10, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

A COLORFUL HISTORY

Edwin brought eleven-year-old Mary and four-year-old Edwin Jr. the fruits of his labor. “Look what Papa has for you!”

Mary rolled a wax stick in her hand. “We already have crayons. The violet color is pretty, though.”

Edwin Jr. took one. “Yellow! It’s like sunshine.”

Their mother gave each of the children a coloring book. “Let’s see what they do on paper, shall we?” She smiled. “These crayons need a special name. Let’s see. Craie is French for chalk and ola is Latin for oily. What about Crayola?”

Edwin Binney kissed his wife Alice’s cheek. “My dear. You’re a genius.”