Sunday Photo Fiction is a weekly challenge presented by my old friend Al Forbes.
The idea is to write a short story (200 word max) inspired by what you see in his picture (below).
It made me think of another great bridge, in another great city, where they currently have problems with forest fires in the surrounding areas (see photo following story).
Click on this link to enter your tale, and see what others have written.
Below is an example of what I call Sound Bite Fiction.
Copyright Al Forbes
City Bridge
The bridge is long and high.
The traffic hurtles in and out of the city centre, everyone in a hurry.
The rail has stopped, the city is dull.
I pause halfway across, intrigued by the low cloud and fog belt.
But I am aware of the two youths, twenty metres away, and their aggressive stance.
I am not yet concerned, but wary.
Then a slim Asian lad strides past me, texting as he goes, oblivious to his surroundings.
I sense disaster.
The two laugh as they accost him.
He is startled, confused, but they grab him.
With embarrassing ease they sit him on the parapet.
And casually push him over.
My blood freezes as I hear his scream disappear into the gloom.
I realise that I am running towards them, stop abruptly.
Do you have a problem, the larger one grins.
With what, I ask, and walk away.
Vancouver BC
I clicked through to this story from the latest SPF after randomly noticing “Granville Bridge” in the Tag Cloud. The funny thing is, I recently moved to Vancouver from London, and when I first saw that bridge I, too, thought “Hey, that looks like Tower Bridge.” (although it’s Burrard Bridge; Granville Bridge is the one next to it).
And as always, I enjoyed your story very much. Unfortunately, it’s so true—you’ll get more help by shouting “fire” than shouting for “help”.
Hi Martin, I had not previously realised that anyone looked at the Tag Cloud, I know I never do!
I am of course very aware that the pic shows Burrard Bridge.
I took it from Granville Bridge, my usual crossing, when I spent a month in Vancouver last year.
Glad you enjoyed the story.
There is a whole book full of them available at the click of a mouse!
I don’t think I do very often either. It was only that I had just returned from Granville Island an hour previously so the word caught my eye.
And I know there’s a whole book, although when it comes to books, I prefer slightly longer stories (the sample of The Second Request is loaded up into my kindle right after The Bone Clocks—which, with Christmas and relocation, I have been reading for absolute ages now—and after JS Brand’s Pretty Little Thing who just got there first).
I look forward to your thoughts on The Second Request.
Happy reading.
What an unpleasant situation for him to find himself in. Unfortunately I think most people would react as he did. Well done. 🙂
Quite unnerving. You have described how the average person would react to a situation such as this very well. The phrase “self-preservation” comes to mind.
Thank you, Francesca.
Sadly I have to agree that most of us are not heroes.
Well done… It was too late to be a hero, anyway.
Indeed, Roger, discretion and all that…
Thanks for your comment.
Tragic story and well told.
Thank you, Joy.
I admit that there are not a lot of chuckles here this week!
Another very absorbing story, and I agree with the other comments, it is so chilling and stark. Next time I go up to town I think I’ll cross the river by London Bridge!!
Thank you, Niki, but you are quite safe, this is far away from the turgid Thames.
I like it.
I am glad.
The Second Narrows. I’ve had interesting experiences on or about a number of the bridges in Vancouver. Some of them involved thuggery, though not so extreme. Well written.
We’re getting the wildfire smoke here, too. Much of western Canada is on fire this year. You know it’s bad when they send the army in.
rjb
Thank you, RJ.
It is a great city with great bridges, and I have never had a hint of a problem there.
The smoke is pretty wild, isn’t it?
Excellent. Poor guy, and I can understand the trepidation of getting involved.
Thanks, Al.
Too late to help, not brave enough to make a stand.
Very much so. I wonder if that is what the majority of us would be like in that situation. I know we would like to think we would be heroes, but when it came to the crunch, how would we react?
Maybe it depends on the size of the youths, and how up-to-date our karate lessons are?
Ha! True
excellent. Very uncomfortably so.
The unspoken is incredibly powerful is this story.
Bravo. Sans égal à part l’Eléphant.
Yes, and no heroes this week.
Meme pas UnElephant.
Chilling piece. Falling off buildings and other high points is a recurring nightmare for me.
Any ice cream in the freezer while you’re there?
Thank you, Karin.
I know AnElephant who would be happy to catch you.
And probably share his ice cream.
A well-told chilling story.
Thank you, Steve.
Reblogged this on anelephantcant and commented:
AnElephantCant say he is comfortable on high places
He does not like to be on top of this bridge
Although he’s thick-skinned
His ears flap in the wind
So to take his mind off it he thinks he is going to get something nice from the fridge