The sound of the portable television, blaring game show pinging sounds was exasperating.
I’d see her on the patio smoking her cigarettes and bidding on the fictitious items on the screen.
I’d seen her on the patio, smoking her cigarettes and bidding on the prized items on the screen.
I glance over as I prune my gardenia. “Do you like game shows, Dina?”
“I enjoy them so much I subscribed to the game show channel,” she says.
“The shows are all repeats, right?”
“Sure, they are. I always forget the results. Damn dementia.”
~~~~~~~~~
They found Dina murdered in her recliner.
2020©Isadora DeLaVega
~~~~~~~~~
Genre: Flash Fiction
Word Count: 100 words
Photo Prompt©Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
To join Rochelle and her Friday Fictioneers challenge
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Inside the Mind of Isadora 
May 12, 2020 at 4:42 am
WHOA! Dina should have picked a better neighbor to live next to. What insanity takes over when the um-balanced people decide to change everything they don’t like. Scary story and I didn’t see this coming. GREAT!
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May 12, 2020 at 3:44 pm
Thank you for visiting and commenting, Nan. I appreciate it. The insanity in the world reflected in a few 100 words. Mask – no mask – gloves – no gloves – this isle no that one …. yes, insanity is all around us. Prayers for a better day tomorrow and tomorrow after that and …
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May 12, 2020 at 3:49 pm
Can you check your SPAM. I left a comment on your story but it isn’t showing. ~~~ : (
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May 9, 2020 at 12:05 am
Maybe you can jack up some music or something to drown out the dings? I got a chuckle out of her watching reruns of the game shows but they seem new because she can’t remember them. Game Show Groundhog Day! 🙂
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May 9, 2020 at 3:20 pm
Nope, that doesn’t work in my neighborhood. The loud music would bounce off of the water on the lake.
Plus, if people are deaf, it would sound low for them. LOL
With dementia, everything is new again even if you’ve seen it. LOL
Glad you enjoyed my lil rant on life during the corona virus.
Have a peacefully safe weekend … Isadora 😎
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May 9, 2020 at 6:15 pm
🙂 you too ❤
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May 8, 2020 at 11:19 pm
Oy, maybe a little too far but I certainly understand the annoyance. It’s true … since the lockdown here I’ve realized I have a whole lot of neighbors in my apartment building and they are soo freaking loud!! 🙂
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May 9, 2020 at 3:17 pm
For some reason, people are trying to annoy others during this time of stress.
I don’t think owning your own home in a community gives you carte blanche to
be as loud or as disrespectful of the spaces of others – just because.
Unfortunately, we can’t choose our neighbors. They will somehow make their way
to the peaceful world others enjoy and disrupt it.
Thank you Brenda for reading and commenting. Have a safe and peaceful weekend …
Isadora 😎
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May 8, 2020 at 11:13 pm
OY! And the truth is, that jokes aside, elder abuse is real, and the risk is higher for those who have dementia to be abused by those who care for them or who have access to them … Poor gal.
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May 9, 2020 at 3:07 pm
YEP … elder abuse is rampant in Florida. When I had my back surgery several years ago the secretary collecting medical info asked me if I was being abused at any time before hospitalization. I found the question odd and asked, “Why?” What I surprise when she told me. I can see it happening often.
Aside from that, it was a little covid cabin fever rant on my part. All is fiction with a little tongue-in-cheek humor for anyone who needed it.
Thanks for visiting and commenting.
Have a safe weekend … Isadora 😎
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May 9, 2020 at 5:22 pm
Alas, abuse of the vulnerable – children, the elderly, the disabled, the infirm, the helpless – is rampant. While most people would not abuse another, there are all too many who would (any number is too much, and when one considers there are over a million VERIFIED cases of child maltreatment ANNUALLY in the US alone, and uncounted numbers of elder maltreatment … we realize that this is a long more than a few …).
I’m glad you were asked about maltreatment – it is one of the only ways to find out, often enough, because people may not bring it up unless asked directly. Same with domestic violence and sexual abuse. I’m glad she asked.
Have a safe weekend, yourself!
Na’ama (a fellow spine surgery person… ;))
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May 9, 2020 at 7:04 pm
Sadly, in the past, I heard many, many stories from my hubby about abuse of all types.
I wrote a story about one of the incidents when he was a policeman. I dare say I don’t like
to write about the atrocities because it is very wearing on me emotionally. I’ve had daughters abused too.
There’s a list that can go on and on about abuse. I wonder if people will someday respect all and end the violence.
You must work with these types of cases. Bless your heart ….
Isadora 😎
(hope your surgery was a success … mine was)
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May 9, 2020 at 7:54 pm
I’m so sorry, Isadora. About what your daughters endured. This should not happen to anyone. And it happens to too many.
I would like to think that people would, one day, realize that we are all deserving of respect and care, and that violence has no place.
Amen to that.
Na’ama
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May 12, 2020 at 3:41 pm
all is good now but the effects linger. thank you, Na’ama. 🤗😍😎
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May 12, 2020 at 3:44 pm
I hear you. I understand. May the effects ease and ease more with time. XO
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May 8, 2020 at 4:25 pm
Neighbours can be very stressful things.
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May 8, 2020 at 8:20 pm
I think with people staying at home we’re aware of them more. I was never bothered before by the chaos of it all. That’s why I believe in – high fences make good neighbors – except my high fence doesn’t screen out high volume from people whose hearing is missing.
Just a cabin fever venting. Thank for commenting. Stay safe and enjoy your weekend. Isadora 😍😎
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May 8, 2020 at 2:55 pm
Diabolically funny, Iz!!! I not only could see all of that, I also KNOW a lot of people like that. Maybe not personally, but I get the point. I loved the way you semi-repeated that line because it got the annoyance factor across — like neighbors seeing this each day and just all ready to do what they probably did eventually. Buen trabajo! Five out of five QVC’s.
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May 8, 2020 at 8:55 pm
OH WOW … gracias, mi amigo. I’m glad you enjoyed the repeat.
A blunder on my part. I didn’t proofread the final draft. I relied on Grammarly.
GGrrr … for them. But, since you thought it had a funny attached to it, I’ll leave it as is.
I wish I could merit that five out of five … I’ll redeem myself on the next one. LOLOL
Can I blame it on brain freeze from cabin fever? NAH … I’ll just beat myself up so I don’t do it again.
Yo aprecio su visita y comento … Be safe … Be happy
Have a special wekend ..
Iz 😍 😎
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May 8, 2020 at 11:50 pm
Muchísimas gracias. I never used Grammarly before, but I figured it knew a lot of tricks I would use. Blame it on the brain freeze, too.
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May 9, 2020 at 3:12 pm
My desire to add commas to everything, everywhere is the reason I started to use it.
My computer takes over the spell check – not always the correct spelling – so I thought
Grammarly could help with that too. I guess proofreading is still on me. LOLOL
Hasta la proxima …. gracias por su visita.😎
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May 8, 2020 at 12:47 pm
At least she’ll never run out of new things to watch.
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May 8, 2020 at 8:24 pm
Yes, it’s all new every time. I suppose if you have to have dementia it helps to have a good sense of humor. Thanks, Keith. Have a safe weekend … Isadora 😍😎
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May 8, 2020 at 6:49 am
Bit of an unexpected twist at the end there, Isadora. Poor Dina. Good read!
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May 8, 2020 at 8:44 pm
Covid needs to end so Dina can get out. Listening to “Come on Down” from ‘The Price is Right Show’ can lean on a persons last nerve. LOLOL
A bit of venting due to Cabin-Fever. Hope you’re staying safe, Tom. Have a fantastic weekend … Isadora 😍😎
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May 9, 2020 at 6:53 pm
You too, Isadora! 😀
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May 8, 2020 at 12:07 am
I think the neighbour took thins a tad too far to the extreme… Maybe just have her lower her volume? No? I guess not, then…
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May 8, 2020 at 5:52 am
My neighbors listen to some really wild music…. They have to. 😉
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May 8, 2020 at 8:15 pm
I’d take wild music over “Come on down” on the Price is Right. hahaha
Cabin Fever – I think.
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May 8, 2020 at 8:12 pm
Mmmmm … deafness involved. No need to ask about a volume change. Before covid, I never heard my neighbors. They’re home too much and so am I.
Cabin Fever = Murder … LOLOL
Thanks, Dale. Have a safe weekend, Isadora 😍😎
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May 8, 2020 at 8:15 pm
There is that. Suddenly there are people around all. the. time! LOL
You too, amiga.
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May 8, 2020 at 8:22 pm
YUP … no bowling leagues, no movies, no walks in the park, no boating, no fishing – etc.
aahhh …. yes, my personal zone has been invaded. 🤪😫😃😎
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May 8, 2020 at 8:56 pm
Yep… Welcome to… everyone’s world!
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May 7, 2020 at 11:44 pm
I’m not sure if the repeat line was intentional, but I really liked it. Dina may have her memory problems, but so does the narrator
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May 8, 2020 at 8:47 pm
LOLOL … grammarly never picked that up, Neil. I guess that’s what I guet for having faith in someone else. I’m glad you liked it. I think I’ll keep it because you do. The narrator has brain freeze from cabin fever. LOLOL
Thanks for always keeping it real. I really appreciate your critiques. They’re genuine.
Have a safe weekend … Isadora 😍😎
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May 7, 2020 at 11:40 pm
I understand the murder motive completely, I abhor game shows….. 🖤
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May 8, 2020 at 8:10 pm
HA HA I really can see no good reason to watch them. It’s not like the viewer is going to receive the prize too. It’s a bit annoying to hear it repeatedly.
Ironically, before covid I never heard my neighbors. It must be my lack of outings.
Have a super safe weekend, Ivor. Have a virtual beverage of peace … Isadora 😍😎
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May 7, 2020 at 9:47 pm
i guess it’s one positive of dementia. everything looks fresh and new. 🙂
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May 8, 2020 at 8:07 pm
HA HA yes, that’s true, P;aridel. It’s always new and enjoyable. Thanks for commenting. Have a safe weekend … Isadora😎
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May 7, 2020 at 8:31 pm
Querida Isadora,
I guess the neighbor’d had enough of Dina. That’s taking irritation to a new level. Bien escrita.
Shalom y abrazos,
Rochelle
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May 8, 2020 at 8:00 pm
Querida Rochelle,
Some things can get on a persons last nerve.
Does isolation ring a bell? LOLOL
Ironically, I had never heard my neighbors …. until covid!!!
Although a bit extreme for the situation, I went in that direction for a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor. No jail time for me … 😳🤪
Stay safe … buen fin de semana.
Isadora 😎
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