Copyright Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Finally, he turns to me.
“…and I’m resting you again this week, Elizabeth.”
The girls around me, celebrating their selection, fall suddenly silent.
I shrug.
“S’okay.”
That doesn’t please him; I didn’t intend it should. It’s a battle of wills.
And nothing to do with swimming.
When he leaves, the others crowd round me.
“Report him, Lizzie, we’ll back you. You’re the best, we all know that.”
In my head, I hear my grandmother’s familiar drawl.
Fine words doth butter no parsnips, girl.
But at Saturday’s gala, lane 3 remains empty throughout the entire competition.
And the Team-Coach leaves on Monday.
And this photo, I think, represents Rochelle’s happy place, where she does a lot of her thinking. Hope you’re enjoying your visit to Israel, Rochelle. The Friday Fictioneers are looking forward to your safe return.
castelsarrasin 
A terrible theme, sensitively handled, Sandra
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I’m with Neil here. Fantastic handling of a very sensitive subject. Well done, Sandra.
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Thank you! 🙂
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Thanks, Neil.
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Guessing the coach was a major creep?
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Mega.
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Really unfortunate. Hope the team-coach was sacked.
Such people are responsible for ruining the talent & careers of many…
Just Keep Swimming – Anita
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Thanks for reading, Anita.
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I liked how you left me wondering about the coach. Was he in some way jealous of her? Nicely done, Sandra.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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I think she’d disappointed him in some way. 🙂
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Layers of intrigue and sordid suggestion.
I love how you never spell it out, yet leave no doubt.
Wonderful.
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Thanks CE. Sordid is such a …. sordid word. 🙂
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Will the team coach leaving make things better for her? One suspects that in itself won’t heal all the wounds.
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It will be better in one respect, I think. At least she can compete again.
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Nice Sandra. I like how the girls banded together.
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Thanks Colline.
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Love how you tell the story without saying a word of the goings-on. Yet, we know exactly what went on. Love that the team stayed by her side!
Well done, chère dame!
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Many thanks, Dale. 🙂
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He approached her sexually. She turned him down. He got even by “resting”her. Her silence was her best defense. She wins, he’s gone. Too bad, though, that he’ll still try to molest girls until someone forces him to stop.
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Too bad indeed. Thanks for reading.
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Lots implied here. You do a great job of conveying the powerlessness of the situation, and the odious coach. Well done.
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Thanks Josh.
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This is a really masterful story, Sandra. You’ve told an entire story in just the subtext of the actual events. This is one of your best, I think.
David
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Thanks for a lovely comment, David.
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Less is more___that’s what your powerful story is all about. In so few words you’ve managed to convey an entire lifetime’s worth of information. Subtlety is what reigns all through your highly sensitive story, Sandra.
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Many thanks Neel.
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Great story, timely subject.
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Thank you.
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Sometimes a few words are more powerful than an entire essay. Lovely work Sandra.
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Thank you Jo.
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You handled the subject matter deftly and with precision. Excellent work.
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Thanks Russell.
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This is perfect handling of a case like this… I have been up close to cases like this… unfortunately it was the athletes fleeing and the coach remained with a constant influx of new adepts
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Sadly that’s often the way it goes.
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Dear Sandra,
How awful that this story is closer to fact than fiction. Well written and sensitively handled.
Shalom from Jerusalem,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle. Safe travels.
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a difficult subject handled with subtlety. well done.
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Thank you.
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A timely tale in a handful of words. Brilliant.
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Thank you, Keith.
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Good that a bad human being left for good. Team will do better without him.
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So true.
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Grandmother was oh so wise.. Brilliantly told, Sandra.
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Many thanks. 🙂
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A good story well written, Sandra. I’m guessing there are too many of those creeps around who need sacking. 😦 — Suzanne
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Sometimes the world seems to be full of them. Thanks for reading Suzanne.
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So many stories in the news these days, of exploitative coaches and their young wards. Brilliantly told story Sandra.
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Thanks a lot.
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I like what her grandmother said. Sounds like something my own granny would say. =) So glad she took her advice with the other girl’s backing and the coach being sacked. As others have said, the tragedy is that he will most likely do the same someplace else. Excellent writing as always!
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I think it’s a lovely saying. 🙂 Thanks for reading, Brenda.
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I was all set to comment “solidarity”, then I noticed it’s your title 🙂
I’m glad the others backed her up. Quite a surprise (I’m a bit cynical…).
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🙂 Thanks for reading.
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Another terrific story! You say a lot and so if you words. Well done!
Cheers, Ronda
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Thanks for visiting, Ronda.
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The back story is only hinted at but still clear – genius!
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Thanks, Liz.
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Stubborn attitudes never encourages the best out of anyone.
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Thanks for reading.
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good stuff Sandra
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Thank you.
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Nice saying without saying. No doubt the coach deserved what he got.
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I think so. Thanks for reading.
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Nothing worse that a monster who uses his power to prey on children.
You’ve raised my hackles with this one!
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Sorry about that, Dawn. Thanks for reading.
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I’m so curious to know more about why he did it – about the ‘battle of wills’ – even though there’s already so much in your story. Great character dynamics, and the ending’s perfect.
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Thanks, Margaret. I’m late getting around the squares this week.
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Tough topic to handle, especially in 100 words, and you did it brilliantly. Well done!
I get the impression is gets sacked on Monday. I certainly hope she spoke up with the support of her team mates.
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I think the action spoke louder than the words. Thanks for reading, glad you liked it.
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Well written story. Thoroughly enjoyed reading
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