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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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.

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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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.

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

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.

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.

Henry Ford published an English version in 1920

A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON

4 February 2022

Published February 2, 2022 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Hysterical Faction
Word Count: 100

CUSTOMER DISSERVICE

As a small business owner, Missouri sales taxes I’ve collected the prior year are due 31 January. For five years I’ve sent in a paper form and a handwritten check. No problem.

This year the Department of Revenue introduced the “more efficient” electronic submission.

Determined to master the system, I kept banging my head and phoned for help five times. Call waits took 45 minutes–minimum. Emails were answered with breakneck-turtle-speed.

Storm clouds of frustration mounted

“Look. I’ve got thirty others waiting,” said one DOR representative.

Two days ago, I sent the paper form and a handwritten check. No problem.

*
*
*

I’m pretty amazed at our growing small business. Loving “retirement.”

28 January 2022

Published January 26, 2022 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Anecdote
Word Count: 100

THE BRIGHT SIDE

Our junior high art teacher, Mrs. Spears introduced Taffy and me saying, “You two need to know each other.”

We became fast friends. Comparing our latest projects, the highest praise we gave each other was, “I hate you.”

After graduation we went our separate ways.

Forty years later I gave her a call. Since that night ten years ago, we’ve spoken or texted nearly every day as if no time has passed.

A gifted stained-glass designer, she amazes me. My favorites are her handmade butterflies.

When asked the key to her craft she says, “Band-aids. Lots and lots of Band-aids.”

You’re welcome, Taffy. He he. 😉

21 January 2022

Published January 19, 2022 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.

Genre: Memoir
Word Count: 100
WORLD OF HER OWN

Her fourth-grade teacher dubbed her “Messy Bessy.” Each time the frustrated child attempted to organize her desk chaos quickly returned.

Mrs. Smith moved the girl’s desk to the front of the room. Perhaps sitting beside the teacher would encourage her to mend her slovenly ways.

The kid didn’t mean to misbehave. Reading or illustrating stories she wrote in her head took priority over neatness. She’d simply lose herself in her latest adventure.

One morning, Mrs. Smith jolted Rochelle from the Ingalls’ cabin on the prairie with, “Miss Wisoff, would you care to join the class for our daily spelling test?”

My granddaughter Olive and her faithful companion Poppy

14 January 2022

Published January 12, 2022 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.

A few years ago I shared this story for a now defunct blog challenge called What Pegman Saw. It seems the appropriate time to share it again (in a shorter form 😉 ) RIP Mr. Poitier, you were a trailblazer, a great actor and an elegant human being.

Genre: Biographical Fiction
Word Count: 100

THE VIRTUES OF SIMPLICITY

“Tell me a story, Great-Grandpa.”

“Shall I tell you the story of Cinderella.”

“Tell me about when you were a boy in the Bahamas.”

He gathered the child onto his lap. “We were poor. Didn’t have a telephone or electricity. But we had the bluest skies at our temples and the ocean at our feet.”

“What did you do for fun?”

“Climbed trees and went swimming almost every day. Why I didn’t even see a movie until I was twelve.”

“And now you’re a movie star like Denzel Washington.”

Sidney Poitier kissed his great-granddaughter. “Nah, I’m just an ordinary guy.”

***

7 January 2022

Published January 5, 2022 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.

Genre: Fiction
Word Count: 100
FLOWER AND WILLOW WORLD

A thousand butterflies swirl in my stomach as I peer out the window, watching for the car that will bring my Hoshi-chan, my shining star, for a brief visit.

After we left her at the Okiya in Kyoto, six months ago, I cried for a week.

At her Misedashi my heart swelled with pride. In exquisite silk kimono, painted face and elegant jeweled hair, Hoshi, renamed Kikuyu, was welcomed into the secret society of Geisha.

She glided to me on lacquered getas and uttered those words I will forever cherish. “Okaasan, when I come home, please cook me a hamburger.”