Friday Fictioneers: Never Forgetting
It’s Thursday which means it’s Friday. Friday Fictioneers, that is. Hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, you, yes, you, can join in the weekly fun simply by clicking here. All it takes is 100 words.
This week’s photo prompt was submitted by Scott Vanatter with permission from Northwest Photographer Robert Mielke. I hope I’m spelling Robert’s last name correctly, but I couldn’t find it anywhere on the blog other than a signature at the bottom of the photographs. And speaking of photographs, forget Fictioneering for a couple of minutes and click the link and check out Robert’s photography. He has some really nice photos and (at least one that I saw) tutorial. Seriously, if you like photography, check him out. I’ll wait.
Waiting…
Waiting…
Waiting…
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Welcome back and now to the prompt. Usually after looking at a picture prompt it takes a little time before an idea comes to me but I got one immedidately after looking at this picture and the words came easy. Sadly, when I stopped before the last couple of sentences, my word count was 347 so what I started with is a lot different than what I ended up with below.
Never Forgetting
I return every December 1st.
I miss my wife. My beautiful daughter, Adina, only 7
Trees had lost their bloom; air cool, but humid. Grass was faded green, turning to brown. They followed me. Monday morning. Saw them as I left the school. When I reached Meadowood – – three more.
They hit me, hard. I fell. Hands and feet tied I was dragged to the tree. I only voted, I cried. They laughed. Said I had the right, but not the freedom to exercise that right in Mississippi.
The rope tightened . . .
I return every December 1st.
Michael B. Fishman
Michaelsfishbowl 
Nicely done! It’s difficult to get that menacing feel in less than 100 words, but you did it.
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You’ve packed a lot in here in 100 words, very powerful
Well done
Dee
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Were you peaking in my head? I considered this thought for my poem…but my muse took me else where when I began to write. You wrote it very tastefully. Nice job.
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Very nice, Michael! I laughed when I saw how many words you had initially but you did a masterful job of paring them down and then having the twist at the end that he’s dead, not the wife and child.
janet
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You did an amazing job with this…very well done
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Very moving. Also, you did an amazing job of editing. Wonderful story!
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Yikes! Was he lynched because he voted? Scary. Did this take place in the ’60’s? What is it about the state of Mississippi??
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That was powerful. The simple narrative style added much. Well done,
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Brilliant! I like the style very much. Just goes to show that 247 of those 347 words weren’t necessary at all!
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Very well told. So much emotion and energy in it.
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Very well told, and you can pack a lot into 100 word. Definitely telling about evil times.
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Really like this, very sad story that was echoed all over the south. Makes mr think about how we take that right for granted. Very thought provoking. 🙂
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Whoops! that was supposed to be ‘me’ and not ‘mr’. 🙂
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Dear Michael,
Very powerful punch to this one! Bravo!
shalom,
Rochelle
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Deep, that was intense in just 100 words.
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Oh, this packs a punch indeed. You did a fabulous job whittling your words down, and I feel it’s even more powerful for how spare it is now. Congratulations!
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It is amazing how powerful your story is pared down to just 100 words. It works.
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You left exactly the right words. My imagination filled in the rest. Nicely done.
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So creative in the voice/perspective. Very nice story.
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Michael i think your edit went fine. i still feel the passion in your shortened story.
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