17 October 2014

Published October 15, 2014 by rochellewisoff

The next photo is the prompt. There’s much to look at. What do you see? Tell me in a hundred words or less. Then click the blue froggy guy after the prompt and link your story URL.

PHOTO PROMPT – Copyright – Douglas M. MacIlroy

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Genre: Realistic Fiction

Word Count: 99

HIBAKUSHA

When I was five my father opened our home to his widowed aunt.

“Why can’t Obasan live with her own children?” I whined and stamped my foot.

“Pikadon took them,” said Chichi. “We are her children now.”

“But she scares me.”

I soon saw past Obasan’s scarred face. Her stories delighted me. She taught me how to construct flapping birds and intricate shapes from colored paper.

One night she lay down to sleep and returned to the source.

Every year at O-Bon I honor her with mukae-bi, dance and sake.

Her elegant spirit surrounds me like a thousand winds.

.

Pikadon.

O-Bon

10 October 2014

Published October 8, 2014 by rochellewisoff

Below is the photo prompt for the week. What do you see? What do you hear? Tell me in one hundred words or less, then click the blue froggy fella and link your story. My story follows the linkz and prompt. I appreciate honest comments and constructive criticism.

PHOTO PROMPT Copyright-Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

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Genre: Historical Fiction

Word Count: 100

WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS

The boy stared out the window beside his bed and listened to his Alyn Ainsworth record. He tapped his fingers on the night stand in time to the music.

Sentenced to the ‘greenhouse,’ a children’s sanitarium, he’d celebrated his fourteenth birthday with tea, boredom and Streptomycin. Yet, after a year of incarceration, the doctors still considered Ritchie too ill to go home.

“Join our band,” said a nurse. “Bring your new banjo.”

“I’d rather play drums.”

Ten years later Ritchie smiled over his drum set at a sea of screaming teenagers as Ed Sullivan cried, “Ladies and gentleman, the Beatles!”

.

3 October 2014

Published October 1, 2014 by rochellewisoff

The following photo is the prompt. Does it speak to you? What does it say?

My story follows the photo and the blue froggy fella. Comments and suggestions appreciated.

Copyright-Kent Bonham

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Genre: Historical Fiction

Word Count: 100

REQUIEM IN C MINOR

“You must practice an hour a day,” said Mama. “People will come from miles around to hear you play. You have a gift.”

“I hate the violin,” I yelled. “I don’t want to be a musician.”

Once Mama made up her mind she only heard what she wanted to hear.

What choice did I have? I was only six.

Eight years later Mama’s prediction came true. People came from miles around to hear me play. My music was the last thing they heard on their way to the gas chambers.

Sweet music, the only color in Theriesenstadt, saved my life.

Author’s note for those who may ask how I arrived at this.

At first glance, this photo said nothing to me other than, “Yuck. Where’s the story in this and why did I choose it for a prompt?” At second glance I thought ‘dead bird.’ Nah. Trashed lollipop? Okay, forget about the articles, what about color? I didn’t see much of that. My mind went to the Holocaust, a part of history I think of in shades of gray. (Not the racy novel 😉 ) Next, Terezin, a town in Czechoslovakia that was turned into a ghetto and renamed Theriesenstadt came to mind. There the Nazis made a propaganda film to show the outside world their kind treatment of the Jews, when, in reality, it was a holding place on the road to extermination for most. My research path ultimately inspired me to write REQUIEM IN C MINOR. Thank you for reading.

Shalom,

Rochelle

26 September 2014

Published September 24, 2014 by rochellewisoff

The next photo you see is the PROMPT. Study it. What does it say to you? Tell me in a hundred words or less.

My story follows the prompt and the link. Click on little blue froggy fella and add your link. If reading and commenting on every story is daunting, try reading the five prior to yours and the five following. 😉

PHOTO PROMPT Copyright – Marie Gail Stratford

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Genre: Historical Fiction

Word Count: 98

HELLO, MY NAME IS BILL

Against the cold wooden floor, labor pains wracked Emily’s back. One after another they came, each harder than the last. She closed her eyes to shut out onlookers’ stares but couldn’t block out their voices.

“Helluva place to have a kid.”

“Pour me another, Fayette.”

“Whaddya think, Gramps? Boy or girl?”

“Quarter says ‘boy.’”

“Pay them no mind, Emily,” said Mama. “Push!”

Over the din of cheers and clinking glasses William Griffith Wilson made his howling presence known.

“Born behind Grandpa’s bar,” whispered Emily as she cuddled her newborn. “Don’t suppose it’s some kind of omen, do you?”

Epilogue

19 September 2014

Published September 17, 2014 by rochellewisoff

The following photo is the PHOTO PROMPT. Where does it take you? Tell me your story. 😉

NOTE: All are welcome to participate but please tell the story on your blog page not in my comment section.

Copyright – Dawn Q. Landau

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Genre: Realistic Fiction

Word Count: 100

BY WAY OF JERICHO

“They say the minerals are curative.” My sister pointed to a picture of the Dead Sea. “Come with me.”

“You want salt?” I said. “I’ll buy you a box of Morton’s.”

“You know what I mean.”

“I’d rather visit Australia.”

“Be a pal. Think about it.”

___________

“I knew it wasn’t a cure,” my sister whispered from her hospice bed. “I just wanted to visit the Holy Land before I died.”

____________

The water’s buoyancy made it fun for us to swim but I’ll always prefer the Hebrew name Yam HaMelach, Sea of Salt, to Dead Sea.

I swim with her still.

.

“We have returned to the cisterns
To the market and to the market-place
A ram’s horn calls out on the Temple Mount
In the Old City.

And in the caves in the mountain
Thousands of suns shine –
We will once again descend to the Dead Sea
By way of Jericho! “

-from the song “Jerusalem of Gold.”

12 September 2014

Published September 10, 2014 by rochellewisoff

Below is the PHOTO PROMPT. Take time to think and reflect. How does it make you feel? What do you see?

Copyright – Janet Webb

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Genre: Smoke and Mirrors

Word count: 100

HARRY’S FIRST TURN

“Things were supposed to be better in America,” said Rabbi Weiss. “’Too old fashioned’ the congregation I built says, and just like that, I’m a pauper with nine mouths to feed.”

“It’s because you don’t speak English, Papa.” Ehrich looked up from his book.

“What’s this you’re reading?”

“The Book of the Sacred Magic.”

“Better you should study the Torah.”

“That didn’t do you much good, did it?”

“Impudence! To your room!”

Half an hour later Ehrich strolled into the parlor smiling triumphantly.

“How?” Rabbi Weiss gasped. “I locked you in.”

“My brain is the key that sets me free.”

.

Click link for more info- Harry Houdini 1899

5 September 2014

Published September 3, 2014 by rochellewisoff

The following photo is the PHOTO PROMPT. Let it ignite the flames of your imagination. Then, tell me a story in one-hundred words or less.

PHOTO PROMPT -Copyright – Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

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Genre: Realistic Fiction

Word Count: 100

FIRE IN THE HOLE

Two months ago my husband bought a dehydrator, a nifty gadget that reduces ten pounds of apples to less than a pound of mummified slices in a matter of hours.

“Think of the money we’ll save,” said Jeff.

“Seriously?” I rolled my eyes.

The final straw broke when he dehydrated jalapeños.

A short time later the dog begged to be let out. With my howling baby tucked under one arm and a handkerchief over my stinging nose I blindly kicked open the front door.

It took a week to fumigate the house. It’ll take longer to let Jeff back in.

29 August 2014

Published August 27, 2014 by rochellewisoff

Below is the PHOTO PROMPT. This photo from Madison Woods sent a few squeamish writers running from their keyboards. If you’re an FF veteran, you may already have braved this slimy picture and written a story. It’s perfectly legal to repost or write a new one if you like.

PHOTO PROMPT – Copyright – Madison Woods

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By the time this page goes live I will be on a farm in upstate New York visiting my son and daughter in law. To learn more about what she does click here. I’m told the internet connection isn’t very good up there so chances are I won’t be doing much reading or commenting.

My story is from August 2012 when Madison was queen of this tangled grapevine.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Word Count: 99

WILD LIFE

Half naked Himba people in Nambia, a sweaty camera crew and millions of TV viewers witnessed our marriage vows.

I willingly followed Trevor up the Himalayas, drank sun-scorched canteen water instead of Cabernet and swatted mosquitos in the Amazon.

In Nepal he slipped on something and narrowly escaped being trampled by a choleric elephant.

“I’m done,” he whispered later. “Let’s go home.”

“You are my home.”

Back in the states, safe from cheetah attacks and hippo stampedes, Trevor’s mangled body lies on a cold steel table. The driver, texting on her cell phone, never saw him cross the street.

As it appeared originally.

22 August 2014

Published August 20, 2014 by rochellewisoff

The following photo is the PHOTO PROMPT. Does it speak to you? Do you see only a vehicle? Tell me in one hundred words or less. 😉

PHOTO PROMPT -Copyright-Roger Bultot

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Genre: Realistic Fiction

Word count: 100

HAFIZ’S SOLUTION

“You’re unbelievable, Trisha,” said Joe. “We’re stuck in the middle of nowhere and you’re reading poetry?”

“The tow truck’s on its way. Nothing we can do but wait.” She grinned at him from the passenger seat, her feet propped on the dashboard. “Relax. Enjoy the breeze.”

“The repair bill’s gonna be astronomical.”

“Could just be the battery.”

“Or the transmission.”

Joe’s mind raced from one awful conclusion to another as he paced back and forth in front of the stalled minivan.

Trisha giggled.

“What’s so funny?”

“Listen.” She read, “‘O someone should start laughing! Someone should start wildly laughing. Now!’”

To read over Trisha’s shoulder click here.