18 September 2020

Published September 16, 2020 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Historical Fiction

Word Count: 100

BIG RASCALS

“I was a baby when Mr. Roach hired me,” says George McFarland. “They still call me Spanky.”

Ernie grins. “I was one of the first back in the days before talkies. Sunshine Sammy, that was me.”

“I was Butch. The bully in the gang.” Tommy Bond adds with a twinkle in his eye, “Guess I had the scowl for it.”

Matthew Beard strokes his bald head, looking very much like little Stymie. “We was just kids. We went to school and played together. Black or white didn’t matter. Hal Roach loved kids.”

“Great times,” says Ernie. “I’d do it again.”

***

Tommy “Butch” Bond

Matthew “Stymie” Beard

Ernest “Sunshine Sammy” Morrison

Hal Roach

*Some may remember the “Our Gang Comedy” or, as it later became known in syndication “The Little Rascals.” Some may not. For a bit of a lengthy history CLICK HERE.

Weekend Writing Prompt – Rectify

Published September 12, 2020 by rochellewisoff

A word prompt to get your creativity flowing this weekend. How you use the prompt is up to you. Write a piece of flash fiction, a poem, a chapter for your novel…anything you like. Or take the challenge below – there are no prizes – it’s not a competition but rather a fun writing exercise. If you want to share what you come up with, please leave a link to it in Sammi’s Comment Section.

This seems to be a recurring theme for me. In fourth grade my teacher nicknamed me “Messy Bessy.” My mother kept my bedroom door shut. I envy those neat-nicks who have a place for everything and everything in its place.

Is it the artist in me?

Or is it the writer?

Organization

Mission Impossible.

Try as I might I can’t line up all my ducks

They scatter in all directions

Can this situation be rectified?

11 September 2020

Published September 9, 2020 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

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Before continuing I have to share my happy news. My novel “Last Dance with Annie” is now under contract with literary agent Diane Nine! www.ninespeakers.com

Genre: Historical Fiction

Word Count: 100

COUP D’ETAT 1898

Easter and me’s both six years old. Her daddy owns a shoe shop in Wilmington. He made my Sunday shoes. He’s really nice.

Easter’s funny and she draws real good. Her skin is pretty. It’s as brown as chocolate so she don’t get sunburns like me.

Day before yesterday, Easter’s daddy went to vote in the ‘lection. Someone said white men in red shirts shot him in the street. Easter cried and cried. I cried, too.

Easter, her mama and lotsa other black folks moved away sudden like. I don’t understand why people are so mean. I miss my friend.

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4 September 2020

Published September 2, 2020 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © CEAyr

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Genre: Historical Fiction

Word Count: 100

THE WOMAN WITH THE TORCH

March 1887

Dear Father,

The sun has long set on Glasgow. My eyes are weary from study and my heart is heavy with longing for you and my sisters.

My mind swirls with new knowledge of the human body. How fearfully and wonderfully made are we. My cup overflows.

Precious Father. Had it not been for your encouragement, becoming a physician would be an impossibility for a wee lass in this man’s world. As God is my witness, it shall not always be so. I promise to do my best to make you proud.

Your loving daughter,

Elsie Maude Inglis

With her many accomplishments, it was difficult to squeeze the magnitude of her influence into 100 words. So I chose a small but important piece of her life. To quote Elsie Inglis

“If I have been able to do anything—whatever I am, whatever I have done—
I owe it all to my Father.”

Dr. Elsie Inglis

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Weekend Writing Prompt – Endless

Published August 29, 2020 by rochellewisoff

A word prompt to get your creativity flowing this weekend. How you use the prompt is up to you. Write a piece of flash fiction, a poem, a chapter for your novel…anything you like. Or take the challenge below – there are no prizes – it’s not a competition but rather a fun writing exercise. If you want to share what you come up with, please leave a link to it in Sammi’s Comment Section.

Remember when we had all the time in the world?

Endless waiting.

Excitement mounting

Cake shopping.

Dress fittings.

When did time slip almost fifty years

Into the future?

28 August 2020

Published August 26, 2020 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © J Hardy Carroll

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Genre: Historical Fiction

Word Count: 100

LOST IN THE BRONX

“Oy the pain.” Jonathan Charasuchin would moan when his mother gave boarders his room, relegating him to sleep on dining room chairs.

“Quit your kvetching,” his mother would say. “We need the money.”

His sympathetic father introduced him to opera on the radio and took him to Yiddish theater productions.

The boy fell in love with the stage and dreamed of someday becoming an actor. Diligently he worked on losing his thick Bronx accent, imitating British film stars.

Forty years later, Jonathan Harris delighted Lost in Space fans with quips like “You bobble-headed booby” and “Oh the pain. The pain.”

***

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21 August 2020

Published August 19, 2020 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz

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Genre: Speculative Fiction

Word Count: 100

VISITANT

Lucinda rocked her son. “I should go downstairs and help Marion with breakfast.

She listened to the clatter of pots and pans and hugged the baby. “How clever of your auntie to open our home to boarders when your papa didn’t return from the war.”

A nightgown-clad child with huge brown eyes stood in the doorway. “Who are you?”

“The lady of the house. Who are you?”

“Lucinda, after my great-great grandmother.”

***

Lucinda pointed to a tintype of a woman with huge dark eyes. “I met her this morning.”

“Nonsense,” said Mom. “She died in childbirth a hundred years ago.

Weekend Writing Prompt – Jostle

Published August 16, 2020 by rochellewisoff

A word prompt to get your creativity flowing this weekend. How you use the prompt is up to you. Write a piece of flash fiction, a poem, a chapter for your novel…anything you like. Or take the challenge below – there are no prizes – it’s not a competition but rather a fun writing exercise. If you want to share what you come up with, please leave a link to it in Sammi’s Comment Section.

Once upon a time

Three boys,

Two dogs,

One cat,

And

Two frazzled parents

Crowded into a tiny three-bedroom house.

To the

Chagrin of their parents,

The kids wrestled and teased.

Today those boys are men.

And silence jostles my longing ears.

14 August 2020

Published August 12, 2020 by rochellewisoff

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 -Copyright-Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

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Welcome to another week of SUMMER RERUNS. This week the story and prompt are from 14 November 2014. If you were with us that week, feel free to take a break and post your own rerun. 😀

Genre: Historical Fiction

Word Count: 100

FIRST DRAFT

“Can’t you imagine little Harry trying to climb the fig trees?” Ida’s eyes glittered. “He would’ve been three this year.”

“I miss him, too,” Harvey whispered.

Although his heart ached with loss, Harvey still counted his blessings. What could such a vibrant woman possibly see in him, a wheelchair bound invalid thirty years her senior?

“Maybe we’ll have another son. For now we have one hundred twenty acres of prime, undeveloped California land to subdivide.” He brushed a tear from her cheek with a kiss. “What shall we call our little town? Harryville?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Let’s call it Hollywood.”

.

Daeida Hartell Wilcox Beveridge “The Mother of Hollywood”

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Harvey Henderson Wilcox

Weekend Writing Prompt – Misanthrope

Published August 9, 2020 by rochellewisoff

A word prompt to get your creativity flowing this weekend. How you use the prompt is up to you. Write a piece of flash fiction, a poem, a chapter for your novel…anything you like. Or take the challenge below – there are no prizes – it’s not a competition but rather a fun writing exercise. If you want to share what you come up with, please leave a link to it in Sammi’s comment section.

I’m out of my comfort zone this week, sightseeing, swimming in the ocean and enjoying some sibling revelry with my brother Jeffrey Wisoff. 😀

SELF EXAMINATION

Me? Antisocial? Surely you jest. I interact with people all day long—online. Okay. I’m a little reclusive, perhaps. A cockeyed introvert, for certain. But a misanthrope? Nay I say. I’m merely comfortable with my own company.

Swimming laps gives me immeasurable pleasure. Water, as opposed to nattering human voices, whispers serenity to my soul.

Granted, I enjoy an occasional day out with the girls. Human contact is essential—in limited installments. Nothing pleases me more, after a day of shopping, than to sequester with my paintbrush

My office –slash-studio is my happy place where I control my reality.