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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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 © 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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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 © Dale Rogerson

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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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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

20 October 2023

Published October 18, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Liz Young

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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.

13 October 2023

Published October 11, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Rowena Curtin

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Genre: Non-Fiction
Word Count: 100

ON THE EDGE

She stands on the edge of the pool, her head filled with the events of the weekend. Terrorism. Rage. How long can her world exist?

Securing her goggles, she calculates the distance. Twenty-five yards each way. Fifty yards is one lap. Thirty-six laps equal one mile.

Earlier this morning she messaged her cousin who has been in and out of bomb shelters, sleeping in her street clothes.

Reports of atrocities bombard the internet and fill the swimmer’s head. Life goes on as planned on this side of the planet.

She dives in, and for a while, she’s immersed in peace.

29 September 2023

Published September 27, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Fiction
Word Count: 100

SCHOOL DAYS

Alice chewed her pencil until it looked like it had been attacked by woodpeckers. She groaned. “I detest homework. Why do I have to do it.”

“To learn,” said Jacob. “To develop your brain.”

“My brain’s already worn out from school.” She jutted out her lower lip. “Whose bright idea was this anyway. Homework. Blecch.”

“You could blame the German philosopher, Johann Gottleib Fichte. Or more recently, American politician Horace Mann. After a visit to Prussia, so impressed with their educational system, he brought homework to America.”

“Whoa. How’d you learn all that?”

“Easy.” Jacob shrugged. “I did my homework.”

22 September 2023

Published September 20, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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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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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.”

*******