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).
This week’s photo provokes thoughts on religion, and its many impacts on our lives.
This is my view.
Click on this link to enter your tale, and see what others have written.

Copyright Al Forbes
Afterlife
So this is heaven.
A nice lady shows us onto a bus and we get the grand tour.
It is lovely.
Parks and gardens, flowers and trees, rivers and streams, and, in the distance, snow-peaked mountains.
This looks pretty much the way I expected when I volunteered.
You see, I am, or rather I was, a suicide bomber.
I joined the fight for my beliefs, as I was taught.
And Paradise looks to be pretty much as promised.
I haven’t seen any virgins yet.
Well, that is maybe a bit unfair, I can’t really judge the ladies here, can I?
At the end of the tour we are separated, allocated different queues for our eventual destinations.
I am the only one in this queue.
It has a signpost.
Underworld.
It seems God is, after all, a Catholic.
And suicide is a mortal sin.




What fun a soul without body can have? How suicide bombers are tricked to believe in that, I wonder.Nice twist and great story.
Thought provoking, great stuff.
That is all I can ask for.
Thank you, Sally.
Well written and great twist.
You are very kind, thank you.
Ooooohhh! Wow! The sixth sentence made my jaw drop and I like reading fictions that make my jaw drop. 🙂
Also, I have told a story too through the perspective of a bomber. 🙂
Great tale! Eloquently done. 🙂
Dropping jaw good.
Other comments also good.
I like you already!
Yes. Dropping jaw good. 🙂
Oopsie. Here’s a penny for the ferryman, it’s a long trip down to the ninth circle.
Assuming your bombing was successful, suicide may be the least-mortal of your sins.
A tough life, and a tougher afterlife, perhaps.
Thanks for visiting, Dave.
Wow! Not a bad idea to give a tour in heaven to make those who are going to hell regret for life. Great story! 🙂
Thank you, FS, happy you enjoyed.
And I enjoyed the touch of sadism too!
Oops — that’s propaganda for ya. Falls short at the very end — no virgins AND god’s a catholic — he’s in hell already!
He can always sue someone, I guess!
Whoopsie! Note to suicide bombers. It ain’t going to work out like you thought. Loved this one, CE.
KInda serves ’em right for buying into that rot to begin with, don’t you think?
Thanks, EA, glad you enjoyed.
Haha. If the God is Catholic, I too am in trouble. Lutheran’s or any evangelicals or heritics then. We haven’t been praying to Marry or any other Saints and we haven’t been doing enough good deeds, purely for the sake of getting into heaven. We’re not to keen on the Pope either as the head of the Church. Great write, pretty funny.
Glad you enjoyed, Mandibelle.
Sorry to tell you that you have come to the wrong place with ecumenical problems!
He got that wrong then. As God is clearly a Catholic I’d better start brushing up on my latin!
He got that wrong then. As God’s clearly a Catholic I’d better start brushing up my latin!
Visit Keith’s Ramblings!
Amo, amas, I love a lass.
I have got by for a lifetime on that.
If God is really a Catholic, I’m surprised he didn’t have more company in that line! But how nice for them to give a tour ahead of time, either way.
It was a small bus!
He may be the only one in that queue…now, but there are more buses arriving every day! Great story!
Gosh, for a pretty lady you are so cynical!
And right, of course.
Thanks again, always a pleasure to see you here.
Suicide bomber, huh? I’m guessing suicide may not be the worst of his sins. At least he got a look at what he’ll be missing. Not so sure he’ll find any virgins in Hell. Fun story. (Well, for me. Not so much for him.)
Glad you liked, TV.
Good to know that whoever runs the place has a sense of humour, don’t you think?
Indeed.
Think he s going to be there for a hell of a long time. That’s what happens when you don’t read the small print. Great story Ceayr.
Thanks, Al, you just might be right!.
Reblogged this on anelephantcant and commented:
AnElephantCant go to church on a Sunday
He is not a big fan of organised religion
He is not sugar and spice
But he thinks it is nice to be nice
He loves all creatures even Al’s sodding pigeon!