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.
Sophia had always hated Tony’s whistling.
For twenty-one years, that tuneless, wet-lipped sound had bored into her skull like a deranged woodpecker. Breakfast. Car trips. Menu-reading at restaurants.
Last Tuesday, Tony had whistled while changing a bulb in the foyer chandelier.
The ladder hadn’t slipped… not exactly.
She’d given it considerable encouragement.
The lake police were thorough, she’d grant them that. Very sympathetic too. Terrible accident… Forty-foot ceiling… Precarious aluminum ladders…
Sophia raised her wine glass toward the empty chair.
“To the chandelier, Tony, and, of course…. aluminum ladders!”
She smiled, sipped, and listened to the absolute magnificent silence.
NAR©2026
100 Words
This is “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin
Everything on The Elephant’s Trunk was created by me, unless otherwise indicated. Thanks for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.
The Elephant's Trunk 
Oh the silence
Though I can understand the frustration with the whistling… that’s enough to get under ones skin.
She’s got nothing but silence now
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Yep …. crickets. Thanks, Laurie.
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Nancy, my mom used to say there’s more than one way to skin a cat, or in this case, silence a whistle. Saltines maybe? I can feel her satisfaction at the end.
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Thanks very much, Lisa. While I wouldn’t recommend following Sophia’s example, I can very well imagine what it’s like being pushed to the limit.
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You’re welcome. I like how you described the whistle embedding itself into her brain (paraphrasing.)
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This was so good – every word of it! 👏
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Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
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Let’s just say that I am on Sophia’s team. I cannot abide whistlers!
Good thing he didn’t end up simply paralyzed… then she would have to take care of him… or place him far, far away.
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Hahaha!! Good point!
I’m not a fan of whistling, either …. or humming. They reach 10.0 on the ‘teeth clenching’ scale! 😖
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I just got back from a concert… My companion started to whistle along and I think my wide-eyed worked. Coz he stopped. I don’t fucking think so!!
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Barbarian! 🤣
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Right?
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It’s a good thing he didn’t survive the fall..he’d be calling murder. Fun story!
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Yes, and wifey would be in big trouble! Thanks!
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💯!! You’re welcome 😊
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My wife is annoyed by humming, whistling and other mouth noises. I make a lot of noise. I will remember this tale the next time I climb a ladder.
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That’s a good idea. And whatever you do, don’t show your wife this story! 😂
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Here’s to getting the job done oneself! hehehe
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Enough is enough, you know? 😆
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An opportunity she just couldn’t pass up.
I suppose he is lucky she lasted (or he lasted) as long as they did. lol
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LOL excellent point, Dawn. Thanks so much.
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Love it 💜💜💜
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Thanks so much, Willow 💜
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I hate whistling, but maybe not that much!😂
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I take no responsibility for your actions, Tiffany! 🤣
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Good one Nancy! Although I have to tell you I am a little sensitive about ladder related falls, which if not fatal, can still be life-altering. 😉
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I am very well aware and I thought about you as I was writing this. Perhaps I should’ve put in a caveat!
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Ladder-related falls are a leading cause of unintentional injuries and fatalities nationwide, resulting in roughly 500,000 treatments and hundreds of deaths every year in the U.S. alone.
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For sure! That’s how Bill broke his hip and dislocated his shoulder.
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The old whistle while you work, didn’t work … Hi Nancy, I’ve just got my WP reader back and working properly after three days !!! … but it’s 11.30pm and now it’s time for bed … I’ve not had a happy time with the “Happiness Engineers”
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Oh, you poor man! The Happiness Engineers aren’t living up to their name …. I’m having ongoing issues! Sleep well, my dear friend and thank you for your lovely comments. 🥰
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Yes there seems to be a glitch in the system at WP end, hopefully things will be betterer for me when I turn my computer on in the morning 📘🌏😎
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I guess she decided against placing that aluminum ladder in a puddle of water…😬
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Sizzle …. done to a crisp! ✨
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poor guy, i suppose everyone has their limit.
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Yep …. and Sophia reached her!
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Dear Nancy,
My husband likes to whistle and he hits a certain pitch that goes right through my skull…maybe I should have him change a light bulb for me. 😉 Nah. But your story did make me laugh out loud.
And that song. 😀 In 2006 I went with a tour group to Israel. Our guide would start every morning with, “Good morning. I’m still Zvi. Today in israel there is no rain. There is no snow. Don’t worry be heppy.”
I leave your page smiling.
Shalom,
I’m still Rochelle
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And your comments made me smile! Thanks for a bit of cheer. Happy Friday, my dear Rochelle 😊
Shalom
🕊️
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Twenty one years of audio torment, I can understand her frustration.
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Me too, but I wouldn’t have lasted that long!
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🎶Whistle while you work…splash🎶
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Hahaha!! That made me laugh! 😂
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Another murder but this time we have the motive.
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Whistling: cruel and unusual punishment!
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Those little niggles can build, can’t they?
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Big time! Thanks, Neil
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Rather a harsh punishment 🥲
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Italian women know how to get it done! 😆
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Lol! 😜😱
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🤭this made me laugh Nance who’d have thought it would take her so long to finally stop that ‘wet-lipped’ noise 👏
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IKR!? She got her revenge in the end! I’m glad this made you laugh, Ange …. thank you 😊
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🩷
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Sophia’s got great problem-solving skills.
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It’s not her first tarantella! 😂 Thanks, Iris.
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