Friday Fictioneers – Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz
Picture Massacre
The whole family together; that’s what I’ll do. Put all these pictures into a leather-bound album. I need to sort them; uncles, aunts and the great-great somebodies or another? My brother’s family pictures have survived as has one of Uncle Bert in uniform. I am not sure how old my mother was then, but the boy on the tractor, well that’s me with Baxter my collie. Oh, here’s Auntie Rose with a Derringer tucked into her fishnets. Was that real?
‘Why us?’
‘Family memories?’ said the nurse.
‘Yea, that’s all I have left.’
‘Okay, we need to change those bandages.’
James McEwan 
At least he has photos to remind him of his younger days.
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Of course, once he sorts them, and imposes on them the order he believes they imply, the story becomes his, not theirs
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This sounds like the story of a very troubled family. Yes?
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Yes, he is the only survivor of a massacre. The derringer pistol implies a gangster connection.
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The bandages suggest some sort of accident, but he lost all his family suddenly? Or is he just on one long run of bad luck… Good character piece James.
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Thanks Iain, I need to try harder with my images – his family have been massacred, he is the only survivor. thanks for reading.
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This may have been a less tragic story if that Derringer were real.
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thanks for reading.
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Going through all these photos would be quite a task.
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Dripping with revenge to follow.
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Dear James,
Such a tragic tale. That album will be hard to look at but a good idea. The last line begins a whole new chapter. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such a sad story.
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It’s difficult to look at photographs after a tragedy. Perhaps, they’ll give him comfort. Tragic tale …
Isadora😎
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No family, just pictures. That’s better than nothing I suppose.
Here’s my story
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From the title – ‘massacre’ onwards, the story was of loss – found it sad. I wanted to know much more about what had happened.
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Oh gosh, well done. Memories are all the remains to hold onto
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A story with a powerful backstory, James. At least he can sort things out through the pictures. Well done. —- Suzanne
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How dreadful to lose all of one’s family at the same time. I wonder if having these pictures offers him any consolation. A sad story that makes me wonder what will happen next.
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Thanks Margarisa, life goes on.
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When all that is left are photos and memories it makes life bittersweet.
When one is the sole survivor of a massacre, they become even more so.
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When does the cycle of violence stop?
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That’s the question
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A well written, but rather disheartening piece James. Perhaps it just hit a little too close to home – I’m not getting any younger you know… relatives are dropping like flies…
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When all that is left is the photos, it’s a lonely place to be.
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Thanks. A place to hold onto memories.
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You’re welcome, and yes.
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A whole family history contained in those few scraps. Sad but truthful James
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Thanks Lynn.
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My pleasure
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a powerful and haunting tale with a stunning title. loved it and admired it
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Thanks, John.
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Sounds like he’s been though some hard times…
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Will he plot revenge?
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im having a hard time finding on line what kind of equip. there using on us,
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