Friday Fictioneers is hosted by the wonderful Rochelle, the undisputed master of what I call Sound Bite Fiction.
She sets the weekly challenge, and the standard.
This week’s prompt by Sean Fallon is rather odd, I confess, and left me even more confused than usual.
Fortunately I have been at the confluence of the Rhone and Saône rivers all day, so have had plenty of time to come up with nothing.
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on the picture, below.
Fruit
When I was young, sweetheart, we bought fruit at the market.
We ate it fresh, or we would preserve it.
That meant we had all the vitamins we needed throughout the winter too.
That was before the government was owned by Big Pharmacy, of course.
Now we have a balanced diet every day, don’t we?
We have a breakfast pill for Vitamin C, a lunch pill, full of nutrients, and a dinner pill for extra protein.
It is boring, certainly, and very expensive, but we are all healthy, aren’t we?
Yes, angel, what is it?
What is fruit, grandma?
Scary future, C.E., but it makes a good story. Well done. — Suzanne
And now you’re writing horror stories too! Oh my. 😉 Very clever take, CE and, in fact, terrifying!
I can’t imagine not being able to access real food. Your gripping story paints a picture of a horrifying possible future.
This breaks my heart a tiny bit. We must not let that happen.
I can certainly see this happening at some point in the future. I really hope I am not around to see it! Great story 🙂
Thank you for your kind words, Angie.
I hope this is further away that I think.
This reminds me of Katie Kacvinsky’s Awaken. It’s terrifying to think that day may come. :\
Not familiar with Ms KK’s work, but the day is on its way
Oh, most definitely. Though I’d rather wish I’m gone by then.
i don’t want to see that day comes. but i’m afraid it’s getting close.
I am afraid you are right, Plaridel.
I pity the astronauts who already have to eat like this ;(
I find it impossible to pity astronauts!
But thank you for taking the time to read and comment.
So many pills … I tend to rattle when I walk. Your usual quality shines through, C.E. And, Russell’s correct — the blue one before bedtime.
Thank you for the ‘quality shines’ comment.
I tend to shake, rattle and roll, but my coat is so glossy!
The way things are going, I wouldn’t be in the least bit surprised. Good one CE. I expect you’ve been admiring the orange and green lacy buildings at the Confluence today, then?
Thanks, Sandra.
And yes, but construction works apart, what a fabulous spot for those of us who love rivers.
It seems true. Govts are owned by big pharmacies and arm dealers, everywhere. Beautifully written story though scary.
Thank you, again, Indira.
I think most of us are very aware that Big Business, and not governments, run our world.
Don’t forget to take that blue pill an hour before bedtime, Grandpa.
One link they’ve found in many of the mass shooting we’ve experienced in the US, is that many of the killers (mostly young men) were put on mind-altering drugs at an early age to control their boyish behavior and help them improve in school. No one considered the long-term effects.
Great idea, Russell, but marginally flawed.
I am colour blind, so my leaves are flourishing beautifully.
Nicely done story that borders on prophecy. The tone is brilliant — hard to put a word to it. Irony? Dry? Sad? Humorous? All of the above?
Glad you enjoyed, DoD.
I will leave you to choose the appropriate word.
Thank you.
Dear CE,
I laughed at this and then I cried. I hope this isn’t prophetic. Well done with an ending that smacks on squarely between the eyes.
Shalom,
Rochelle
When a reader experiences such reactions, I am happy.
Thank you.
Sad to think that this could be a totally plausible future, though I certainly hope it isn’t.
Sad, but probably inevitable, Adam.
Long may we have fruit, down with ‘big’ pharmacy. Your story reminded me of what I thought when I first saw breakfast ‘bars’ on my local supermarket shelf.
Glad to have triggered some thoughts, Michael.
That is all we can hope for.
Just lost my appetite!
What makes the story so jarring and scary, for me, is the calm and gentle tone of the conversation with the child, a “teaching opportunity” that sounds a bit like rehashed propaganda mixed with resignation. It could be the future… and that is just awful.
Excellent!
I think we know it is already in the pipeline, Em, happening in so many ways all around us.
Thanks for kind words.
So very possible!
Even probable, Dawn.
I shudder to think!
The future is already here, I think.
What a scary picture you paint… thankfully I still have fruit and no pills to eat…
For the moment, Bjorn, enjoy while you can, mon ami.
Geez isn’t this a frightening prospect? Nicely done!
Yep, it sure is, and well on its way.
Glad you liked.
Somehow I fear Big Pharmacy looms on the horizon
I think it may be closer than that.
One of your best!
Mail’t frae mah ayePad
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Cheers, Kris!
I hear a distant bell – hopefully it is not tolling for us!
What a scary picture you paint!
I love the tone of this… can picture a child sitting at the table with a grand-parent, listening to stories of the “good ole days”…
Hardly worth answering you here, is it?
You’ll be wrapped around a bucket of Cuba Libre by now.
Yeah, Baby!!! Was lovely, too!
Yikes. I hope this scenario never materializes (almost wrote metabolizes LOL). Good story!
Thanks, Caerlynn, glad you enjoyed.
As for the future…
This was amazing dear Ceayr, I hope not happens like that… Thank you, Love, nia
Thank you, Nia, always a delight to see you here.