This is my first swing at Rochelle’s 100 (or fewer)-word story challenge based on a photo provided by Na’ama Yehuda. Many thanks to both. If I did anything wrong, someone please tell me. My story:
Genre: Fiction
Word Count: 99 (including title)
Mourning Mystery
She told the turban-clad cabby, “Seventy-second and Central Park West.” As he pulled into airport traffic he asked if she was a fan. She said, “No.” But she claimed to be born on December eighth, nineteen-eighty. He looked and shrugged.
She stepped onto the Dakota driveway and walked slowly to the archway door. Then she walked across to the park. As she stepped onto the Strawberry Fields Memorial, she removed the Carter Arms .38 special from her purse, placed the barrel in her mouth, and pulled the trigger. She heard, let me take you down…nothing is real…forever.
***
Look both ways. Forty years ago from next December 8th, Mark Chapman murdered 40-year-old John Lennon by shooting him four times in the back with a Carter Arms Undercover .38 Special, in the arched entrance to the Dakota Apartments. One can walk across the street into Central Park and view the Strawberry Fields Memorial. Within days of Lennon’s death, several fans committed suicide. While this story is fiction, the emotions are not. Mind the gaps.
***
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Our Literary Journey 
Welcome to Friday Fictioneers
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Thank you. Been lurking. 🙂
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Welcome to FF!
Poor woman, a normal-seeming start to your story but leading to tragedy.
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Thank you.
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This is excellent – powerful and traumatic in 100 words. Welcome and good start 🙂
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Thank you.
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Dear Bill,
Being a Beatles’ fan I got the references. Very powerful and left me wondering about this person who’s committing suicide on the shared birth/death day. Well done.
Welcome to Friday Fictioneers as a participant. I hope this won’t be the last we see of you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you, Rochelle. The street sign in the photo and my memory of visiting those places sent the muse to my mind. 🙂
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Wow, that’s a powerful story with which to join the FF gang! I grew up listening to The Beatles and that date is one I’ll forever remember with great sadness.
Here’s mine!
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Thank you, Keith. I’ve been there, and after a bit of reading, that is what came out.
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This reminds me of haunted places, the energy of a murder present and inspiring new victims to kill. Sad story.
Welcome too FF! 😀
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Most of us of a certain age remember all too well hearing of his murder.
Strong debut, Bill.
One thing. Let us never mention the murderer’s name, he does not deserve to be remembered.
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Wow; dramatic debut! Welcome to FF, fellow newbie. I’m a second-timer, myself.
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Howdy, Paula Sue.
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You debuted with a powerhouse story, Bill. Welcome to Friday Fictioneers. Looking forward to reading more from you.
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Thank you.
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You’re welcome.
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Welcome to FF! You’ve made an outstanding start with your tragic story.
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Thank you.
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I had no idea fans had killed themselves at the scene. Great rendering of these tragedies. And welcome to FF!
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Thank you, Gabriella.
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Bill! How cool to see you here at FF! And what a great story, to boot. How sad other people felt the “need” to commit suicide folliwng this horrendous murder.
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Thanks, Dale. Right. When I read about the suicides I felt stunned.
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Crazy.
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Welcome to FF. And with an interesting debut. Looking forward to more from you.
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Welcome to FF! Good to have you here.
Terrific but sad story here, you captured the emotion and moment well.
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Thank you, Laurie.
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Welcome to FF. A chilling start to the journey. Mind the gaps indeed. I didn’t know that about John Lennon, so thanks for the history lesson. Peace.
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Thanks for warm welcome. 🙂
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Wow, a great debut! Welcome to Friday Fictioneers. I thought she was a bit young to be one of the suicides, but then I realised how you worked the dates to coincide with the facts of Lennon’s death. Well done!
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Thank you.
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it’s been a while since i visited the place. brought back memories.
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Welcome to Friday Fictioneers!
I saw a movie about John Lennon’s murder but had no idea fans killed themselves after. Nice debut story.
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Thank you 😊
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