I don’t like Erwin, though I’m not sure why. Okay, he’s charming enough, and unfailingly helpful. But my brain flags him in some way as dangerous. Probably, I once knew the reason for this judgement and have now forgotten this, leaving only the chafing suspicion. Or perhaps he reminds me of a bully back in the dim haze of the school playground. I remember remembering my dislike of Erwin, so it’s happened before, but I just can’t recall when.
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Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here
Neil MacDonald Author 
Dear Neil,
Some people just rub us the wrong way, don’t they? I feel that way about some newscasters.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I feel that way too about some people in the news
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I know just what you mean. Only this week I saw a familiar face that instilled distaste and it took me fully three days to remember who and why. I’m grateful I still can. I loved the casual style of this piece.
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Thanks so much, Sandra
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The body remembers what the mind sometimes forgets or tries to.
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That is true. The mind often generalises and loses the detail
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Is it weird that I understand this fully? Nicely done!
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It’s a forgetfulness that comes with a certain age perhaps. Thanks so much, Dale
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Methinks you may be right!
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Once that associative red flag has been planted, it stands, for good or ill. Good articulation of the concept, Neil.
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Thanks so much, Lisa
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You’re very welcome.
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this was a great human-social-psychology piece, with layers of how we process threats and remember in vague ways
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Thanks so much, Prior
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🙂
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Weird how the mind works. Great story.
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Thanks so much, Will
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In my case, it’s Gregory. Whenever I hear his voice I bristle. Great take, Neil.
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Thank so much, Nancy
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there’s always one or two Erwins in everyone’s lives it seems, only the names are different
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Thanks, Nandini
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I am with you on this Neil, and your writing style is perdect for this piece.
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Thanks so much
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bullying memories don’t go away. such is life.
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Of course it may not have been bullying. He can’t remember
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I wonder if Alzheimer is setting in here, or else Erwin is the sort of person no one likes?
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I hadn’t intended any suggestion of Alzheimers but I can see why you might have thought that
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You know, I think sometimes we just don’t like someone. Perhaps we sense something about them that gets our hackles up. I like this one. I get the sense there’s a reason not to like Erwin.
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Thanks so much, Laurie
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Such a great inner discussion. Your words are tactile- “chafing suspicion”….love it!
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Thanks so much, Clare
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I had a similar experience just a few days ago! I don’t like him and I don’t know why.
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I think it’s because memory is partly selective forgetting. We generalise, rather than necessarily storing specific events
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The subconscious has a mind of its own and quite overpowering too.
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And, in fact, much of the act of remembering is forgetting, in order that we can generalise
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Haha, some folks just put off a vibe, doesn’t really matter why.
Enjoyable read.
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Thanks so much, Dawn
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I say, go with your first mind! Chances are there is something very wrong with Erwin….
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I’m with you on this. Violet
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