22 April 2022

Published April 20, 2022 by rochellewisoff

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Género: Ficción Histórical
El recuento de palabras: 100

SINFONÍA VISUAL

Carlos hunched over the piano, hands over his ears, tears stinging his eyes. “No puedo oír la música. Mi vida se acabó.”

“Mi hijo, you’re only fifteen. So you cannot hear so well. Your life isn’t over. It is just beginning.” Papa opened a case containing tubes of color and various-sized brushes. “Your art teacher says you show gran potential.”

Carlos rolled a brush between his fingers. “I will paint—everything!”

___

51 years later, in 1958, Delilah Mérida beamed when the Guatemalan government honored Carlos’ artistic achievement with the Order of the Quetzal. “My husband makes music for the eyes.”

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15 April 2022

Published April 13, 2022 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Plain Ole Fiction
Word Count: 100

SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Ted set up a row of chairs in the reception hall. Jessica plopped down on one and pouted. “This is all-kinds-of wrong.”

“Hey sis, ever hear of John Cram?”

“No.”

“Lemme educate you. John Cram patented the folding chair in 1855. Then in 1947 Fred Arnold created the first aluminum one and by 1957 his company was manufacturing—”

“Ooh, cram your history, Mr. Wikipedia.” Jessica gritted her teeth. Tears stung her eyes. “It’s just not fair.”

Ted hugged her. “You’re going to be a gorgeous bride tomorrow.”

“What about my garden wedding? It’s not supposed to snow in May.”

8 April 2022

Published April 6, 2022 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Historical Friction
Word Count: 100

TRASH 80

“Isn’t it beautiful?” Jan showed off his latest acquisition from Radio Shack.

I fumed. “Our electric typewriter works just fine. A computer will end up being another dust collector like your precious Polaroid SX-70.”

“How was I supposed to know the film would cost a fortune?”

***

Several years have passed since that day. I’ve acquired my own desktop, scanner-printer combo, a laptop for travel and Jan takes sharp pictures with his iPad.

He reads the screen over my shoulder and says with a sly smile, “Lemme get you a rag.”

“Why?”

“You’ve been at it for hours. You’re collecting dust.”

*Note: Radio Shack’s computer was actually named TRS 80 but became widely known as Trash 80. From there we went to the Commodore 64 and Jan had a Kaypro, a portable computer that I refer to as the Commodore in a Can. All cutting edge technology in the latter part of the 20th Century.

1 April 2022

Published March 30, 2022 by rochellewisoff

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SLAM DUNK

Marquis skimmed his ledger and smiled. Sales for his rubber-soled canvas shoes were on the rise. Mentally, he patted himself on the back. No one would have to slip on wet stairs and injure themselves as he had.

His secretary entered. “There’s a young man here to see you, sir. Says it’s a matter of great importance. He looks like a kid.”

“Send him in.”

A tall lanky youth hobbled toward the desk. Marquis rose and offered his hand. “What can I do for you, Mr.—”

“Taylor. Chuck Taylor. Please, Mr. Converse, could you design a comfortable basketball shoe?”

25 March 2022

Published March 23, 2022 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

RECLAMATION

I am Uzit, a warrior beside Yehuda Maccabee, the Hammer.

I shall never forget how Antiochus’ men defiled our sacred altar with a pig. They slaughtered my baby brother Ezra and made my mother carry his body around her neck.

A soldier cast his lethal eyes on me. “What a pretty little Judean creature.”

I replied with my sword.

We resisted the Greeks, and we prevailed.

***

Uzit Rabinowitz skimmed her fingers over the rough stones of an ancient building. “1949 in the Promised Land.” She caressed her infant son Ezra. “Antiochus couldn’t destroy us. Nor could the Führer. We prevailed.”

11 March 2022

Published March 9, 2022 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
A tribute to all the “Uncles and Aunts” who risked their own lives to save others.

SAFEKEEPING

Shira slipped a worn photo of a smiling two-year-old from her pocket that, like she, had managed to survive hell. Had Hans kept his promise? Trembling, she knocked on the cottage door.

It opened. “Danke Gott!” A stout man with ruddy cheeks embraced her. “Ilsa, who is this lady?”

A five-year-old clung to his leg. “I don’t know, Uncle Hans.”

Shira knelt. “Don’t you remember me?”

Ilsa shook her head and stared at the numbers on Shira’s forearm.

Shira’s heart sank. “Oy, meyn kleyn ketzl.”

“Momma katz?” Ilsa threw her arms around Shira’s neck. “I knew you’d come for me.”

*Oy meyn kleyn ketzl – Oh, my little kitten”

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4 March 2022

Published March 2, 2022 by rochellewisoff

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Last week the photo leaned. Sorry for all the stiff necks and vertigo this might have caused. 😉 This week this famous structure really is leaning. Study the prompt and come out writing. 😀

Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

LAW OF CONSTANT ACCELERATION

“What do you think, Signor Viviani?” Galileo’s eyes twinkled. “The ball in my right hand weighs less than the one in my left. Which will hit the ground first?”

Vincenzo looked over the railing to the street below. The lean of the tower made him dizzy. “I believe the heavier ball.”

“It’s one thing to believe something is true. But has anyone proved it?”

Careful not to strike an unsuspecting pedestrian; Galileo released the balls. Vincenzo marveled. “They hit simultaneously, Maestro.”

Galileo flashed a triumphant smile. “As I suspected. Another question, my young discepolo—what shall we eat for lunch?”

25 February 2022

Published February 23, 2022 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Historical Fiction (Based on a true story)
Word Count: 100

VIGILANCE

“What do you plan to do about Reverend Ahlwardt, sir?”

“What can I do? It’s America.” Theodore Roosevelt gazed at people on the crowded sidewalk below. “As police commissioner I’m dutybound to protect this German hatemongering windbag’s freedom of speech.”

“The whole Lower East Side is likely to protest.”

Imagining the violence the so-called minister’s antisemitic lecture could cause in his city, Theodore grimaced. “Yes, it’s liable to get ugly. Sergeant Levine. I’m trusting you to put your best men on security detail. Might I suggest Officers Cohen, Weinberg, Kaminsky, Horowitz, and Levy?”

With a grin, Sergeant Levine saluted. “Yessir!”

There’s a reason I wrote him into my novels. 😉

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18 February 2022

Published February 16, 2022 by rochellewisoff

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February is Black History Month in the States. It amazes me how many noteworthy people history has shamefully glossed over. I recently learned of this lady.

Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

WRINKLE IN TIME

Sarah scanned the words in her McGuffey’s Reader. For most of her life they’d meant nothing to her. Literacy was a privilege reserved for white folks.

She lifted the book to her nose and breathed in its aroma. Like cloth for a new dress, it thrilled her. It smelled of freedom.

Now she would be able to understand her clients’ written instructions and fill out receipts.

More importantly, she could read to her babies.

“Mrs. Boone, would you like to read the next sentence?”

“Yes sir!” She grinned at the teacher and read haltingly, “‘Come, kitty, my own little kitty…’”

***

Sarah Boone – One of the first African American women to be awarded a patent.

To read more about this highly motivated woman CLICK HERE

11 February 2021

Published February 9, 2022 by rochellewisoff

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A little preface for my story this week. I am an American and proud to be one. However, our history isn’t always pretty and erasing it won’t change it. It only makes it easier to repeat it. Nuff said. I give you:

Genre: Historical Fact
Word Count: 100

AMERICAN ICON

My father dubbed my VW Beetle the Nazi-mobile. How could I, a Jew, drive a German car? But, what about the automobile named for its inventor—fine, upstanding American Henry Ford?

From 1918 to 1926, in his newspaper the Dearborn Independent he blamed the Jews for the ills of the world. His prolific comments, targeting Jews and “inferior” blacks earned him the honor of being mentioned in Mein Kampf.

“You can tell Herr Ford that I am a great admirer of his,” said Hitler. “I shall do my best to put his theories into practice in Germany.”

God bless America.