Our gracious host, Rochelle, is asking us to get
creative in 100 words or less using the photo
seen below. Welcome to Friday Fictioneers.
This is where the prompt took me.
Francine sat at her laptop typing an email to her old friend – the usual stuff about grandchildren, her book club, recipes. Mid-sentence, she stopped abruptly; what was that word? It was there a second ago and now it’s gone. She quickly reread the last sentence, certain the memory would return. It didn’t. Francine’s shoulders slumped, and she sighed deeply, feeling strangely lost. Looking out her bedroom window, she was stunned to see it was encased in icy webs; March 27th and winter was still hanging on. She felt a chill, like the deep freeze of her mind was just beginning.
NAR©2026
100 Words
This is “White Out Conditions” by Bel Canto
Everything on The Elephant’s Trunk was created by me, unless otherwise indicated. Thanks for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.
The Elephant's Trunk 
A certain amount of that is to be expected with aging but too much and…yikes!
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Yes! It’s an awful situation. Thanks, James.
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This happens to me all the time! Fortunately, at least for now, I am able to recall the word I’ve misplaced in a few minutes.
Cobwebs and the brain…good think.
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Thanks so much, Dawn. You are in good company!
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Gloomy weather doesn’t brighten the mind. Hoping sunlight will chase away the cobwebs.
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That’s true. It’s been a long winter for a lot of people. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Lisa.
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You’re welcome, Nancy. Just got back from a No Kings March. Sun is shining, cold as hell, and twice as many at least were marching today compared to the last one. Hope Springs!
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Hopefully, it is just a brain fart like we all, who are not necessarily heading towards dementia, have now and again. You tell your MC to chill and, and, and…. what’s that word?
Beautifully written, amica cara.
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I like your way of thinking, cara mia. Prego!
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Glad you do 😉
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i suppose such is life. 😦
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It is. I hope we can live it with this much grace as possible.
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Well-evoked, Nancy. So small, so simple, so frightening
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Thanks much, Neil. I appreciate your comments.
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I experience this all the time, and have, for a long time, and still am not dement. The words are misplaced, not forgotten, at the oddest moments they come back. I hope they do for your character too. I sometimes try to think of the german word to look it up, but that then has hidden somewhere too. Brains are weird.
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I love how you summed up your comments, Gabi. The brain is indeed weird! It happens to me, too; I’m aware of it and trying to stay on top of things by keeping my brain active and busy. Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.
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Oh crap!
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My sentiments exactly!
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I am forever grasping for that one word. I cannot tell you how many times I have to bring the thesaurus out and look up a word I know means the same thing as the word I am groping for in effort find it.
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I hear you, sister! At least you still remember what the thesaurus is for and how to use it! Keep up the good work! 😃
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An awful thought. It happens.
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It really is, Chris. I’ve seen it a few times in my family and it’s heartbreaking. Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.
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Not a fun thing at all. You know it, you just know it….sadly, it never appears. Good one, Nancy.
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You got that right, Lois! It can really be frustrating and troubling. Thanks for your thoughts on this one.
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Atmospheric…gave me the creeps
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Sorry for creeping you out, Geeta! 😊
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I enjoyed
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I have been forgetting some things lately.
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Bill and I both have. We are trying to keep our brains as active as we can, with crossword puzzles and writing, etc. Thanks for sharing, Jim.
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Oh how sad. Whenever I forget a word, I feel the same apprehension
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I think we all do, dear Sadje. We hear so much about dementia, we can’t help but be frightened by it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
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You’re so right. I’ve read that memorizing things like holy verses, poetry etc keeps the brain active.
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I dread that happening to me, but if it does so be it.
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Thank you, my friend. I appreciate your gracious attitude.
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Frustrating, especially if you’re a writer. Love the way the cobwebs triggered the theme.
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Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, Sandra, as well as this inspiring image.
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Nance you have written this brilliantly- Connecting her memory loss to the ‘icy webs’ is a brilliant touch. Sadly her mind isn’t just forgetting, it’s being frozen by something beyond her control 🙌
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Thanks for your beautiful comments, Ange. How frightening it must be for her to realize her mind is failing and knowing there’s nothing she can do about it. 💕
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I know it must be terrifying 😓
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So it begins ….well written Sis 💜 💜
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We both experienced it in our families, sis. It’s a heartbreaker. 💜
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sadly yes 💜💜💜
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When the mind stutters it needs a revitalised push, but how?
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I wish I knew the answer, James. Thanks for sharing the term “mind stuttering”; that’s a new one for me.
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Oh, those illusive words that knock on the door and then forget to enter the mind … and it’s happening more often these days, Nancy …
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I’m hearing the knock too, my dear friend! Thank you for your wonderful comments and some good music. 🎶💙
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And your name is Nancy … I’m reasonably sharp in the mornings … “I’m almost alive, I’m almost home” – Leonard Cohen … it’s my absolute pleasure my friend 🥰🤗🌏🎶
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I do love that song! 🎶💙
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Ooo i felt a chill reading this. A first sign of memory starting to go. Scary
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Thanks so much, Laurie. I’m so glad to know you were able to feel that chill.
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Great story (sad and could feel the late March chill) and I really like your image made with Perplexity
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Thanks so much, Yvette. I don’t usually change up the prompt photo but this time I thought it went well with my story. I’m so glad you thought so too.
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;0) they both synced well
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