PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz
Mom’s 90th birthday was approaching. Us “kids,” now in our 60’s and 70’s, decided assisted living was imminent. It took blood, sweat, and tears to get Mom’s acceptance. She called and said, “June, I’m going through pictures. Come over and get some.”
I arrived at the appointed time. One by one, she chose for me, identifying each, then handing them over, where I put them in a basket. When filled, I noticed there were no pictures of me in there.
“Mom, where are the pictures of me?”
She paused for a moment, then said, “Your mother has them.”
[99 words]
Rochelle is the steady host of Friday Fictioneers.
Tao Talk 
Yes, darling, it’s time to move. Good story with a “stab to the heart” last line.
Tracey
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Thanks for reading and commenting, Tracey.
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Wow! That’s some twist in the tail
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Thanks Neil.
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Ouch, quite a reveal. Well done.
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Thank you, Iain.
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A powerful ending, yes powerful, well done
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Thank you, Mike.
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Wow a shocker ending…. I have a friend who told me his grandmother was in her 80’s and her older sister told he the family secret that she didn’t know- that her mother- wasn’t her mom. She never got over it. Why at that point in the game other than spite would a person do that?
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Good question, Hans. Shocking that it really happens!
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Well, that was a gut shot… love you too “mom”
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Yes, it would definitely be a moment you never forgot!
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A very interesting ending.
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Too true to life. (K)
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What a stunner of a last line. Well done.
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Thank you, Sandra.
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Wasn’t expecting that twist! Cracking story
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Thank you, Lynn!
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My pleasure :)
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Heck of a twist at the end there!
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Yes indeed!
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Dear Lisa,
That last line is something of a sucker punch. Good job. That would be something like finding your picture on a milk carton.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, thank you for your response.
Shalom,
Lisa
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Ouch! That one had to hurt. Great write!
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Thanks Bear!
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Yoinks! Revealing the truth after so long revenge for the whole “assisted living” thing, perhaps? :-)
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Good guess, Ali!
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Wow, that was unexpected – even more so for June I guess!
Here’s my story
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Thanks Keith!
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There is always one final secret and it’s a gob-smacker.
Nicely turned.
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Well-said, James :) Thank you.
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What? That last line was shocking!
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Imagine how June feels!
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Well! I certainly wasn’t expecting that ending. Now I want to know more. Well done.
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Alicia thank you very much.
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So lovely to find this out in your seventies… What a punch in the gut.
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Never too old to be surprised, it seems!
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Wow. What an ending twist. At that point, I would have dropped the picture box. Mom certainly could keep a secret. A little too long though. I’m wondering what the other “kids” knew about it. A great story, Lisa. :) — Suzanne
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Thank you, Suzanne. Good questions! I’m thinking another chapter may be needed to answer them…
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Whoa… what a cruel way to reveal the truth! I didn’t see that coming.
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She didn’t either!
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Good point!
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It’s either dementia or a long-time secret. I’m guessing the later. How sad for June, but a well-written story.
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Thank you, Brenda. Both very good guesses.
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I have a friend in her 50’s whose uncle just informed her that the man she had always known as her father—wasn’t. She was completely gobsmacked. But I pointed out to her that this information will not change her life in any way, and her memories are her truth.
So why did her uncle do that? Don’t know.
Your story really rang true for me, but I’d rather attribute that slam-dunk ending to Alzheimer’s :)
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I’m glad you connected with the story, Linda, and good guess!
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