Friday Fictioneers challenge to write a 100-word story inspired by a photo prompt provided on Rochelle Wisoff-Fields’ blog. Click the link below to read other writer’s creations. Enjoy!
Copyright – Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
׳אֶרֶץ חשֶׁךְ וצ Tzalmavet
Shadow boxes she called them carefully placing tchotchkes into each slot she’d lovingly carved out. Soon they’d be enshrined behind glass. Hours my Bubbeleh toiled in the attic. Her head bent over lost in remembrance. Hours turned to years, the curtain of silence broken; I listened and watched her build stories.
Her method I never understood. The key she told me was tattooed on her arm.
Just before passing, she tenderly placed carrots for Helga who had snuck them under barbed wire at night to feed them. Now I’ve become the Shadow keeper ensuring her spirit’s safe passage home.
Word Count: 100
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Wonderful tale… this tole a real story..
Thank you Bjorn
Mazol Tov! a beautiful and meaningful story. Good work.
Thank you Lindaura
Yup, this is Rochelle reincarnated! And just as enjoyable.
Thank you Dawn
I have to agree with Rochelle. This one is my favorite story. I could feel every word. There was such beauty in it. Such history. Wow. You blew me away. I loved it. Have you ever been published? This is one that you could elaborate on. It could be published. It’s a good one.
Love, Renee
Thank you. No I have never been published but there is truly more to this story. Whenever I write 100 words I have much more story in my head that never makes it onto the page but informs every word that does. 🙂
No pressure, but seriously get it all out of your head. Then edit it. Then edit it again. Then send it to a writer friend and have them edit it. 🙂 There’s these really great online publishing companies that you can look into. Wattpad, Ether and a host of others.
I never thought I’d get published, but then I did. My life has been kind of crazy lately, so I haven’t been able to do much but blog. I’ll get back to it soon though.
Try it honey. You’re good.
Love, Renee
Thank you for the vote of confidence and prodding. I have been up to my eyeballs in a Toile design but perhaps soon I will have time for other things.
I hope you do. Your words are pretty damn fabulous!
Aw Shucks.
I can manage 100 words but more than that is quite intimidating.
Dear Dana,
Your story is beautiful. Far too many keeper’s of the shadows. Wishing safe passage to all.
Aloha,
Doug
This is too true Doug. Thank you.
Dear Dana,
I rarely claim a favorite story of the week but this could very well be one of mine. This story touched me very deeply. You’ll find that this is a theme that often weaves through my writings. Your title is perfect! “Gam kee elech bageh talmavet…” Bubbeleh has walked through it and back again. Loved the use of Yiddish “tchotchkes” . The key tattooed on her arm….
Beautiful! Yafah m’ohd m’ohd!
Shalom,
Rochelle
If you don’t mind some constructive crit: “Her head bend”…should it be bent over? “Hours turned TO years”… “carrots for Helga WHO…”
I got so lost in your story that I missed these things. At this point I’d say if you go a couple of words over in the corrections, don’t worry about it.
Absolutely love the criticism and the permission to break the word rule this time- even if it falls under favoritism for this story. 😉
I made the edits you suggested and still managed to keep it to 100 words. Woohoo!
Rochelle,
Thank you Rochelle. My aunt used to build Shadow boxes. I oft ponder on the symbolism of the light and dark, the shadow behind the image; all that went into the choices but wasn’t said. When I saw your photo this story sprang to life. I’d say truly inspired by you, perhaps a little channeled and definitely for you on the special occasion of your 60th.
Dana
Lovely. Well done.