10 April 2015

Published April 8, 2015 by rochellewisoff

The following PHOTO is the PROMPT. Where does your mind travel? Take us there in a hundred words or less.

My story follows the prompt and the link frog. I welcome honest comments and crit.

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Dear Friday Fictioneers,

Some of you may have noticed a lack of my comments and replies last week. My editor and I have been up to our eyeballs in novel edits. I hope to catch up soon. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

A heartfelt thanks to my editor and friend for sacrificing his time to help me untwist, un-hyphenate and smooth out the rough edges of the soon-to-be published PLEASE SAY KADDISH FOR ME.

Shalom,

Rochelle

PHOTO PROMPT – © Jennifer Pendergast

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Gere: Historical Fiction

Word Count: 100

ONLY THE MOUNTAIN REMAINS

My dearest Zhilan,

This night my thoughts turn toward home and you. I cherish the times we invited the moon to join us as we shared rice wine. Remember how we dreamed I would find Gold Mountain?

Now my journey is hard and my days are filled with the pickaxe and train tracks. Never will I see you again, my fragrant orchid, nor our precious son…

***

“Fever musta took him.” Levi knelt beside the body and pried a piece of crumpled paper from its stiff hand. “Whatcha make a this?”

Orville squinted and shrugged. “Jest some ignorant Chinee scribbles.”

.

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3 April 2015

Published April 1, 2015 by rochellewisoff

The following photo is the PHOTO PROMPT and comes from Lauren Moscato by way of Amy Reese. What does it say to you? Watch your step and tell us a story in one hundred words or less.

PHOTO PROMPT © Lauren Moscato

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Genre: Realistic Fiction

Word Count: 100

MOVING UP

Bevy was a splash of color on God’s palette. When it came to interior design and giving parties, she was an artist without equal.

Every Monday we met for dinner with Bevy and George. On one such night we compared house-hunting woes.

“You should see the monstrosity George liked,” she said with a pained grimace. “Metal walls and a window air conditioner in every room.”

“Hey,” he said with a shrug, “it’s big enough for entertaining.”

A week later we learned she’d been keeping a secret.

Today heaven’s awash with color and celebration while my world’s become a dingier place.

27 March 2015

Published March 25, 2015 by rochellewisoff

The following photo is the PHOTO PROMPT. Does it ignite a song in your heart? Sing it in one hundred words or less.

PHOTO PROMPT ©David Stewart

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Genre: Historical Fiction

Word Count: 100

CURTAIN CALL

“What’s to become of me?” whispered Minnie as she sat beside the hospital bed and gazed at her wrinkled hands that used to make the piano sing.

“Mama?” Maud opened her eyes. “The concert…the audience…I let them down…”

“You have a little gastritis. You’ll be well enough for your concert on January 8th.”

“Do you love me, Mama?”

“Who made sure you practiced your violin twice a day?”

“You did.”

“Who sacrificed everything so you could study in Europe and become the famous Madame Powell?”

“You did.”

“And don’t you forget it. I did it all for you.”

“Did you?”

For more about Maud Powell

20 March 2015

Published March 18, 2015 by rochellewisoff

The following photo is the PHOTO PROMPT. What story does it tell you? Share it in one hundred words or less.

PHOTO PROMPT – © Copyright – Rachel Bjerke

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Genre: Realistic Fiction

Word Count: 99

GULF

On fragrant spring afternoons, on the mossy stone patio in Arlene’s backyard, we shared sandwiches, secrets and giggles as only little girls can. In summer we waded in the creek that ran behind her house and tried to catch tadpoles that tickled our bare toes.

When we entered junior high, Arlene withdrew and when I tried to talk to her about it, she turned away as if I no longer existed. I never knew why or whether I had done something dreadful to offend her.

The questions, answered by silence, scarred my heart. Fifty years later, the ache remains.

***

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” –E. E. Cummings

There’s no time like the present to get over the past and get on with the future.

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13 March 2015

Published March 11, 2015 by rochellewisoff

Note: When linking your story, backspace over the info in the middle box and leave your name. It makes it easier on everyone. Thank you. Let me know if you have any questions.

My story follows the PHOTO PROMPT below and the inlinkz frog. I appreciate honest comments.

PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook

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Genre: Historical Fiction

Word Count: 100

RADIOACTIVE

“Au revoir, mon ami.” Marie kissed Pierre’s ice-cold cheek.

“Where Papa?” asked fourteen-month-old Eve.

“He’s going to sleep his last sleep beneath the earth,” said eight-year-old Irène.

Marie placed a bunch of periwinkles and Pierre’s favorite photograph beside him. The picture was of her on the balcony of their first apartment on rue d’Allemagne. Refusing a black drape, she and her daughters adorned his coffin with flowers.

“I’ve no future without you, Pierre.”

“Remember our dream for humanity,” she heard him say, “for science.”

Days later Madame Marie Curie returned to the laboratory, her haven of discovery, joy and solace.

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6 March 2015

Published March 4, 2015 by rochellewisoff

***When posting your URL, please make sure it’s specific to your story and not just your blog. It’s frustrating to have to scroll down past several articles to get to your Friday Fictioneers post for the week.***

Thank you.

The following picture is the PHOTO PROMPT. Does it plant a story in your mind? Share it in a hundred words or less.

My story follows the prompt and the inLinkz frog. I relish honest comments and appreciate constructive crit.

PHOTO PROMPT – © Erin Leary

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Genre: Realistic Fiction

Word Count: 100

ESCAPE

“Sabira! Where are you, you worthless bitch?” yelled her husband, Davlet.

From the barn rafters she watched him through a chink in the wall and prayed. “Don’t let him find me.”

Two weeks ago she’d been an ambitious university student until four men, including Davlet, jumped out of a car and forced her into it.

“Kyrgyz tradition,” said her mother when Sabira called her for help. “You’ll learn to be a good wife as grandmother and I did.”

“New tradition,” whispered Sabira as she tightened a noose she’d fashioned from barbed wire around her neck and jumped off the ledge.

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27 February 2015

Published February 25, 2015 by rochellewisoff

The next picture is the PHOTO PROMPT. Where does it take you? Can you tell us in a hundred words or less? Take the road less traveled if you dare!

My story follows the prompt and the blue inLinkz frog. I enjoy comments and welcome constructive crit.

PHOTO PROMPT –© Dawn Q. Landau

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Genre: Historical Fiction

Word Count: 100

WHODUNIT

“A moving picture is the last thing I want to see, Amy,” said Lizzie Le Prince. “‘The Great Train Robbery,’ indeed—starring Thomas Edison as the ring leader.”

Amy patted Lizzie’s hand. “Let it go, dear. It’s been thirteen years.”

“It was Edison all right. He had Louis murdered for his invention and tried to take sole credit.”

“Police didn’t find any evidence. Louis just vanished without a trace.”

Across the aisle in the darkened theater an elderly man peered at them over his program.

“Poor Lizzie, my dear little martinet,” Louis whispered. “Perhaps a simple divorce would’ve been kinder.”

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(I take no responsibility for the typo)

20 February 2015

Published February 18, 2015 by rochellewisoff

*NOTE: When linking your story in the inLinkz, you’re given three boxes. The first one is for your URL and the third for your email address. The second presents with your blog and story title. It would be helpful if writers would backspace over that and type in your name. This way we can all tell who the writer is at a glance. Thank you.

Below is the PHOTO PROMPT. What thoughts crystallize in your mind? Can you tell the story in a hundred words or less?

My story follows the prompt below. I enjoy honest comments.

PHOTO PROMPT – © Copyright Marie Gail Stratford

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Genre: Historical Fiction

Word Count: 100

SCHIST HAPPENS

I’ll never forget Mike O’Hara, my fellow New York sanitation worker. What a storyteller. Every Friday night me and the boys would settle round for a long listen.

“So I says to Mr. King, ‘whatcha make a dis rock I dug up?’”Mike took a long swig of beer. “Heavy sucker. Looks kinda like a red diamond. King says he knows a jeweler who’d kill for it.”

“This might be your tallest tale yet, O’Hara,” said Pete.

Mike had the last laugh when his “sewer garnet” made headlines in 1886. Pity he didn’t sell it hisself. Could’ve made a fortune.

.

http://www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com/jhbnyc/articles/garnet.htm

http://www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com/jhbnyc/articles/nycminerals2.htm

13 February 2015

Published February 11, 2015 by rochellewisoff

😀 In case you missed it we were mentioned in WordPress’s Daily Post 10 February 2015 https://dailypost.wordpress.com/2015/02/10/highlighted-blogging-events/

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The next photo is the PROMPT. Where does it take you? Tell me in a hundred words or less.

My story follows the prompt and the Blue InLinkz frog. I appreciate honest comments and constructive criticism.

PHOTO PROMPT –Copyright Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

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Genre: Historical Fiction

Word Count: 100

VICISSITUDES

When Sarah and I were five, Grandma sold Jack. Mama took to her bed for a month.

“Why she sell my daddy?” asked Sarah.

I dried Sarah’s tears with my lace petticoat.

“Stop that, Emma.” Grandma snapped. “She’s a servant.”

Six years later the old biddy sold my best friend. I haven’t seen her since.

On my seventeenth birthday I was married off to a plantation owner near Charleston.

This morning I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl who bears no resemblance to either her blond father or me. In fact, she’s the spitting image of her Aunt Sarah.

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Real life twins. It can and does happen.

6 February 2015

Published February 4, 2015 by rochellewisoff

The following photo is the PROMPT. Can you get lost in it? What kind of story does it tell you? Share it in a hundred words or less.

My story follows the prompt and the blue inLinkz frog. I appreciate honest comments and constructive crit.

PHOTO PROMPT – Copyright – Melanie Greenwood

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Perhaps it seems I’m late to the party as last week, 27 January, commemorated the seventieth anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. In my opinion, every day is a good time to remember.

Shalom,

Rochelle

***

Genre: Speculative Fiction

Word Count: 100

YIZKOR

There is a museum in Jerusalem called Yad Vashem. Although I live five miles from it, I’ve never wanted to visit.

“Come with me, Hannah,” says Zvi. “The candles are pretty.”

My brother is relentless.

“No, Zvi. Let me forget.”

_________

The maze of mirrors is filled with reflections of six candle flames.

“Shoshana Stein, six years old. Romania.”

Disembodied voices intone names in an endless requiem for the dead.

“Moishe Lapinsky, sixteen years old. Poland.”

One point five million children murdered.

“Zvi Goldberg. Four years old. Ukraine.”

At my brother’s name, I sink to my knees.

I will never forget.

The names I used in my story are fictitious. The names in the following snippet are real. Haunting in its simplicity, the candle room is an experience I’ll never forget.