19 January 2024

Published January 17, 2024 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Jennifer Pendergast

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Yet another heroic pair of sisters. 😀

Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

NUMBER 3 TATARSKA STREET

Eight-year-old Helena clung to her seventeen-year-old sister’s hand. “Fusia,” she whispered, “what if they…?”

“Hush!” Stefania squeezed Helena’s hand. “It will be all right. The Blessed Holy Mother has told me so.”

Helena bit her lip. Having heard a noise from the attic, the Gestapo climbed the ladder to where thirteen Jews hid. It had been Helena’s job to carry off their excrement and bring them food and water. Would they all be put to death?

Moments later, the officer descended the ladder, shaking his head. “It was only a rat.” He glared at the girls and muttered. “Filthy Poles.”

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12 January 2024

Published January 10, 2024 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Susan Rouchard

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So far this month, I shine my spotlight on influential sisters.

Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

IN PLAIN SIGHT

Ida’s heart thumped like a runaway racehorse as the Austrian inspector interrogated Louise.

“Why so much jewelry for such a brief visit to the opera?”

Louise batted her eyelashes. “Why not? If we leave it at home, our family in London will rob us blind.”

Ida twittered and giggled. “It’s a good job we have it all with us, isn’t it sister dear?”

“You may go, Frauleins.” Shaking his head, the inspector returned Ida’s passport. “Verrükte schwestern.”

As they boarded the ocean liner, Louise whispered, “These diamonds and pearls should help finance our dear Jewish friends escape this Nazi madness.”

*verrükte schwestern – crazy sisters

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29 December 2023

Published December 27, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

HAPPY NEW YEAR! CLICK HERE!

Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

TIME BALL

Sitting on Pop’s shoulders, seven-year-old Charlotte shivered, both with cold and excitement. She rubbed her eyes and yawned. Her bedtime was hours ago.

“This is a special occasion,” Mama had said. “New Years Eve in Times Square.”

Electricity charged the air and the crowd hushed in anticipation. Brighter than their Hanukkah candles had been, poised for its descent, the ball dazzled the night sky. The countdown began.

“Ten, nine, eight…” The crowd chanted. “Seven, six, five, four…”

“Three, two, one!” cried Charlotte.

Taking her in his arms, Poppa whispered, “May 1908 be the grandest year ever in our new country!”

****

If you want to know more about the history of the New Years Eve ball drop that began December 31, 1907 CLICK HERE.

“WHAT THE HELL IS A PENTIMENTO?”

Published December 21, 2023 by rochellewisoff

PHOTO PROMPT © Rowena Curtin

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Oh the crazy thoughts that come to me in the wee early morning hours. Looking at this prompt, I decided to plug my new novel LAST DANCE WITH ANNIE, due out sometime next year. I vascillate between excitement and apprehension as much of Elise’s story is my own. The following is a slightly edited excerpt.

Genre: Realistic Fiction/Excerpt
Word Count: 100

“WHAT THE HELL IS A PENTIMENTO?”

Elise hugged her legs tightly to her chest and answered her husband’s question. “A pentimento’s a painting hidden under a painting. For whatever reason, say the artist wasn’t happy with the first painting but doesn’t want to waste the canvas, he paints over the first picture.”

“Or because he has something to hide.” Her psychiatrist raised an eyebrow. “Let me put this into perspective. When you were small, you went somewhere else when the abuse happened. In a sense, you painted over the ugly images. This became more difficult as you grew older, although you were still adept at revision.”

https://www.ozarkhollowpress.com/

15 December 2023

Published December 13, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Susan Rouchard

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Sandra Crook@ 😀 She ‘s the one who shows us how it’s done and was a Friday Fictioneer before I joined.

Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

DON’T LET THE LIGHT GO OUT

Mom stuck a candle in each of the nine holes she’d made in a potato. “We’re ready to kindle the lights.”

Ranit rolled her eyes. “Why can’t we get a pretty hanukkiah like Tali’s family?”

At the stove, Savtah stirred potato soup. “Even in the camp, Hanukkah came. We girls stole a potato and some machine oil. From threads in our sheets, we made the wick. We lit it where the guards wouldn’t see and for a while, we were happy.”

Swallowing her tears, Ranit lit the candles and whispered, “Isn’t it the most beautiful hanukkiah in the whole world?”

24 November 2023

Published November 22, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

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This week in the USA we celebrate the holiday known as Thanksgiving, which is usually characterized by watching parades, football and eating oneself into a coma. On that note, I want you all to know how thankful I am for you who participate in Friday Fictioneers. Some of you were part of the challenge before I joined. Some of you are newbies and others fall somewhere in between. A hearty THANK YOU, MUCHAS GRACIAS, DANKE SCHÖN, MERCI, MARAMING SALAMAT, TODAH RABBAH to all of you.

Genre: Anecdotal Fiction
Word Count: 100

DAUGHTER OF VOICE

For two years I saved to travel to the Holy Land where I dreamt of walking in the footsteps of the great Bible prophets.

After five days of touring ancient ruins and being dragged into schlock shops, I’d had no transcendent revelations and didn’t feel any closer to heaven.

On the sixth day I encountered the violinist. No crowds gathered around her, yet she performed with captivating passion that would’ve humbled Paganini. I dropped several coins into her open case. And there…

…in Jerusalem’s Cardo, amid patrons and peddlers, I came face to face with the unpretentious countenance of God.

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.

3 November 2023

Published November 1, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Anecdote
Word Count: 100

PHOTO PHINISH

Like so much of the population these days, I spend more time on Facebook than I should. To my defense, it’s how I’ve managed to ~~steal~~ find some great pictures to use as Friday Fictioneers prompts.

Fictioneers, David Stewart, Sandra Crook, and Dale Rogerson are talented photographers, so I often peruse their pages. I promise that I will always ask permission. Well, almost always.

Last week Dale posted this beautifully lit photo. Stunning, isn’t it? In fact, I thought it would make a nice painting—if I could pull it off.

This is my story and I’m sticking to it.

27 October2023

Published October 25, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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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

20 October 2023

Published October 18, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Realistic Fiction
Word Count: 100

HATIKVAH

Hoping for safety in the bomb shelter, Adeena closed her eyes and prayed while missiles exploded overhead.

Stories of butchery filled the airwaves. Whole families had been murdered in their homes.

Adeena’s thoughts turned to her Savta who had come to this land as a young woman after surviving Ravensbrück and Bergen Belson. She and Saba had risen above the horror and made a life for themselves and their children on a Kibbutz.

Murmuring the words of the Kaddish, Adeena’s heart ached for her grandmother, slaughtered only yesterday while cradling her newborn great-grandchild.

“Never again,” Adeena whispered, “is happening now.”

Hatikvah means “The Hope” and is the title of Israel’s national anthem.