2 February 2024

Published January 31, 2024 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Susan Rouchard

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

THE FREEDOM OF LITERACY

Miss Mathilda swiveled her head to the right and then the left before shutting the door to the makeshift classroom. Her dark eyes shone as she turned to the children.

“Open your readers to page twelve. Cicely, please read the first paragraph.”

Ten-year-old Cicely’s heart thumped. Taking a deep breath, she read, “‘The fly—says, I fly in—the air…’ What good do it do us to read? It’s agin’ the law.”

“Some laws are meant to be broken.” A tear glistened on the teacher’s bronze cheek. “Mr. Douglass says, ‘Once you learn to read you will forever be free.’”

Black History Month is upon us and there are so many untold stories to be shared. This story is loosely based on unsung hero Mother Mathilda Beasely. To read her story CLICK HERE. And to learn a little more about the Anti-Literacy Laws CLICK HERE

26 January 2024

Published January 24, 2024 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

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This Saturday is Annual Holocaust Remembrance. It has been seventy-nine years since the liberation of Auschwitz. And in that span of a lifetime, while a few survivors are still among us, many school children know nothing about this dark time in history. Others deny that the genocide ever happened. (How clever of the Jewish people to stage such a thing…even before photo shop.)

Even as we shout “Never again”, Antisemitism rears its evil head once more. Not that it ever went away. So I will step off my soap box long enough to share a fictitious story based on facts.

Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

MEMORY’S HARVEST

In 1947 six-year-old Lyudmila moved from Poland with Father to her uncle’s dairy farm in upstate New York. She milked cows and gathered eggs. Every morning the Catskills kissed the sky. A bright, happy place for a child.

“So young she won’t remember,” whispered Aunt Dora one night over dinner.

Weeks later Lyudmila twisted her ankle on a tree root.

“Just a sprain,” said Dr. Meinenger. “You will be sehr gut as new, Liebling.”

His gentle touch and familiar accent stirred sleeping memories.

Dr. Mengele’s gloved fingers.

Her twin sister’s severed limbs on the operating table.

Lyudmila would never forget.

If you have fifteen minutes to spare and want to know more about the Angel of Death CLICK HERE.

A handfull of you might remember this story from the first time I posted it in 2013. It’s interesting to see how many FFrs have come and gone and some have returned. Thanks to all for reading and commenting. Shalom, Rochelle

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

CLICK for more on the Cook Sisters.

5 January 2024

Published January 3, 2024 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

ROUGH RIDERS

“Oh Gussie,” said Mother with a moan. “I fear you’re a terrible influence on your little sister. And you’ve ruined your frocks. Just look at you two covered in mud.”

Ten-year-old Agusta laughed. “Addie’s a better wrestler than me.”

“I’m this many.” Adeline held up five fingers.

Twenty-two years later, backs aching, Gussie and Addie wrestled their Indian motorcycles through miles of mud.

September 2^nd, 1916, the Van Buren sisters completed their treacherous journey from New York to San Francisco.

Addie chuckled. “What would Mother say now?”

Agusta grinned. “She just might say something like, ‘woman can, if she will.’”

To learn more about these remarkable women 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/

22 December 2023

Published December 20, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

Ken McElroy was pure-D meanness.

Hundreds of stories circulated in Skidmore, Missouri. All true. He packed a shotgun. You didn’t say no to him, or he’d burn down your house or kill your dog.

Marshall Dunbar was so scared of McElroy he quit and got a job at a cable company.

One summer night, Daddy told Mama, “That town bully needs killin’.”

On a July afternoon in 1981, some folks crowded around McElroy’s truck outside a tavern. Two gunshots. Blam! Goodbye, Bully.

For forty years, the FBI has tried to solve his murder but so far, ain’t nobody seen nothin’.

When I say “historical fiction”, I’m talking about the narrator. The rest is chillingly true. For more info CLICK HERE.

15 December 2023

Published December 13, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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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?”

8 December 2023

Published December 6, 2023 by rochellewisoff

Dear Friday Fictioneers,
Our Word Press woes continue to challenge us. Some report not being able to comment on some posts at all. If you think you might be missing someone’s comments, check your spam or trash folders. I’ve found quite a few in mine. Also, many of my commentors are showing up as “Anonymous” or “Someone.” If there’s a doubt, please identify yourself. Sorry I can’t be of more help in these situations. I’m merely a user, not a tech. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle

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Genre: Realistic Fiction
Word Count: 100

SOLE OF A WOMAN

Growing up in the Amish community, Rebecca had adhered to the strict dress code without question. During the warmest months she and her fourteen older siblings went barefoot.

She learned to eschew the worldly clothing of the English.

“Their ways are evil,” Papa intoned as he slipped his hand under twelve-year-old Rebecca’s skirt.

At sixteen, she left home with nothing but the simple cotton frock on her back, plain black oxfords on her feet and recurring nightmares in her head.

Today Becki’s a fashion designer. Her flamboyant wardrobe boasts every color, and her favorite shoes are red-sequined high heel pumps.

1 December 2023

Published November 29, 2023 by rochellewisoff

Dear Friday Fictioneers,
Our Word Press woes continue to challenge us. Some report not being able to comment on some posts at all. If you think you might be missing someone’s comments, check your spam or trash folders. I’ve found quite a few in mine. Also, many of my commentors are showing up as “Anonymous” or “Someone.” If there’s a doubt, please identify yourself. Sorry I can’t be of more help in these situations. I’m merely a user, not a tech. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle

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Genre: Speculative Fiction
Word Count: 100

ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSE

Couched in complacency, we never saw it coming.

The first few hours weren’t bad. We figured the electric company would remedy the problem while we enjoyed sandwiches by candlelight. Breaking from social media to actually communicate was nice.

After a month we were still in darkness and the grocery shelves were bare.

My car with its solid-state circuit for a brain is a useless hunk of metal.

Local doctors are at a loss to treat the simplest ailments.

Real books are in demand.

We’re learning to live off the land, but the internet is dead and silence is deafening.