9 June 2023

Published June 7, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Lisa Fox

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Genre: Hysterical Faction
Word Count: 100

CHILD’S PLAY

The TV shows I loved as a kid are now retro footage on YouTube.

When did Paul McCartney, the cute Beatle, become an eighty-year-old, albeit nice-looking, grandfather? Man from U.N.C.L.E.’s heart throb David McCallum is pushing ninety.

My favorite toys such as Chatty Cathy and the little red spinning wheel are considered vintage and are available on eBay for three times the original price.

Somewhere along the line I stepped through Alice’s looking glass. Help me! I’m a child trapped inside an old woman’s body.

“Age is only a number.” I shrug. “Growing older is inevitable. Growing up is optional.”

I had the blonde version. My mom once sat down with her and wrote down all eleven of her sayings. 😀

2 June 2023

Published May 31, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz

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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.”

CLICK for all things NUDIE

19 May 2023

Published May 17, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Liz Young

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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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PHOTO PROMPT © Jennifer Pendergast

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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.”

5 May 2023

Published May 3, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

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May already? As this is being posted, I’m preparing a trip out of country, so for the next couple of weeks, Friday Fictioneers will be on “auto pilot.” I will try to read and comment on your stories when I get a chance.

Meanwhile…

Genre: Colorful Faction
Word Count: 100

DIFFERENT STROKES

Clara looked up from her canvas. “Why do you do watercolor, Elise? It’s so hard to control.”

With a wide brush Elise swept cerulean onto the wet paper. Then she sprinkled coarse salt into the pigment. Color splayed into fascinating patterns. “Watercolor is fluid. It makes its own path.”

“Fine for you. I prefer my acrylics.”

When the background dried, Elise took a smaller brush and added stamens to purple flowers in the foreground. “It’s all about knowing when to pay attention to the details and when to take a risk and let go.”

“Sounds a lot like life.”

“Exactly.”

I love watercolor. 😀

28 April 2023

Published April 26, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Brenda Cox

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count:100

LIKE A BAND-AID HELPS A CORPSE

The little wooden boat floated along the Galilee. JoAnna breathed in the fresh air.

Tears trickled down her cheek. She hugged her granddaughter, Rachel. “We’re the lucky ones. I took a boat ride on the St. Louis, from Germany with my family to seek freedom.”

“You found it in England and then here in Israel. Doesn’t that make you happy?”

“Cuba, America and Canada—all turned away—allowing only a handful of us refuge. The rest, including my parents, went back to face the Beast.”

“The US State Department offered an official apology.”

“After seventy-three years? Too little too late.”

Holocaust Remembrance Day was April 14 this year. But any time of year is a good time to remember.

To know more CLICK HERE

7 April 2023

Published April 5, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

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To many this is Holy Week. Not only is the Christian celebration of the Resurrection coming up this Sunday, the Jewish observance of Passover begins Wednesday night at sundown. Here’s my own little glimpse into what one family scene might have been like.

Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

L’DOR V’DOR*

Before Yosi could open the door, his mother whisked him into her arms. “No, my son! The Angel of Death lurks out there!”

Dafna sat him on the floor beside the infant who slumbered in her basket. “Watch your sister while I prepare for our journey.”

“Where are we going? Why is this night so different?”

“So many questions, Yosi, my firstborn.” Oriel dripped lamb’s blood on the doorpost. “Someday you’ll understand and teach your own children.”

***

Forty years later, Yosi prepared the Passover in the Promised Land.

“Abba,” Yosi’s son asked, “Why is this night different from all others?”

*From Generation to Generation

Although not reflected in the following video, the questions mentioned are preceded by the youngest child at the seder asking, “Why is this night different from all other nights?” TRADITION!

And just for fun…

31 March 2023

Published March 29, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

THE LANGUAGE OF EMOTIONS

“Mrs. Powell, I’ve never seen such a gift in a child so young,” said Mr. Lewis. “But your daughter is bound to encounter difficulties in the music world.”

Cradling her violin, ten-year-old Maud poised the bow over the strings. As she played, a lilting melody filled her ears and blotted out the grownups’ conversation.

In that moment there was only Tchaikovsky.

Eight years later, in 1885, eighteen-year-old Maud boldly interrupted a rehearsal of the all-male New York Philharmonic and demanded a hearing with America’s foremost conductor Theodore Thomas.

He hired her on the spot and dubbed her his “musical grandchild.”

CLICK to learn more about Maud Powell

24 March 2023

Published March 22, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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Anyone remember playing solitaire with real cards you held in your hand? Those who don’t will probably never know the “joy” of playing 52 Card Pickup. 😉 I still remember the colorful backs of my parents’ plastic coated playing cards. I learned early how to shuffle them and became adept at making a tunnel. A playing card turned your plain old bicycle into a motorcycle like magic. All it took was a clothespin to clip the cards to your wheel spokes.

I could go on about the joys of playing cards. Instead I’ll leave you to your own memories and musings and present my story for the week.

Genre: Fiction-ish
Word Count: 100

SOLITAIRE

“Two of hearts joins the ace of hearts.” Ten-year-old Elise arranged the four suits in neat rows on her beach towel. “King of clubs marries his queen.”

Elise’s mom, who worked full time, had found the perfect summer babysitter when she joined the pool. Leave childcare to the lifeguards.

Hot sun beat down on Elise’s bare back. She stacked and shuffled the cards. “I win,” she said to no one. “Time for a swim.”

Diving under the waves she imagined herself to be a mermaid with iridescent fins. The water caressed her. Immersed in her chlorinated haven, who needed playmates?

17 March 2023

Published March 15, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Pure Fiction
Word Count: 100

YOU CAN GET ANYTHING YOU WANT

After fifty-five years Alice still missed Johnny who’d been drafted and died in Vietnam. Their daughter Sunshine, a successful lawyer in Manhattan had little time for Alice.

One day, Alice texted Sunshine. “Leaving for Australia. Going to open a restaurant.”

“Mom, are you smoking weed again?”

***

Pushing a lock of long white hair from her forehead, Alice flipped veggie burgers on the grill in her thriving café. She gazed at the mountains kissing the cerulean sky outside the window. Her town—peaceful Alice Springs—three hours or less from anywhere in Australia and thousands of miles from the Divided States.