Friday Fictioneers is hosted by the wonderful Rochelle, the undisputed master of what I call Sound Bite Fiction.
She sets the weekly challenge, the standard, and the prompt photo.
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on this picture, below, which this week is supplied by Na’ama Yehuda.
© Na’ama Yehuda
Click here to hear the writer read his words:
Queue
I am confused.
Okay, I’m not used to being dead, and I never claimed to be smart.
But still.
I’m in this queue, under a leaky umbrella, water running down my neck.
Up ahead are happy folk in summer clothes.
Behind are pretty girls, frolicking in bikinis.
Way up front there is a guy asking questions.
Then he points.
Through one door I see people dancing upwards, towards sunshine and music.
Behind the other door is darkness, and an air of infinite desperation.
I think back over my life, shake my head.
I really shouldn’t be confused.
My feet are soaking.
Oh snap!
It’s a joke on where that door might lead. Hell? Hades? The Underworld? Florida? I’ve never been, but I’ve heard bad things.
It’s nice that we live in an epoch where we can question the religious establishment and hypothesize for ourselves, either serious pondering or in jest, without being arrested or tortured into repentance.
If he’s going where you seem to imply, he should be dry soon. Florida’s warm, even this time of year.
This is an excellent take. It’s interesting to think of one line that leads to opposite extremes, and your protagonist watches as others get a happy ending while assuredly awaiting his unhappy fate. It adds to his torment along with the rain.
Laughing.
Not sure how Florida got in here!
We all have our own views of what might happen, I think, and in the absence of any core belief I feel free to generate a new approach each time.
Ah! Nicely done. Quite a wonderful spin to the prompt.
Existential crisis, eh?
Glad to have stopped by.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Natasha
P.S: I like the soundbite. Makes it so very real.
https://natashamusing.com/2019/09/the-show-must-go-on-friday-fictioneers-natasha-musing/
Thank you for your very kind words, Natasha, I too am glad you stopped by.
Existential crisis indeed, although seemingly too late to do much about it.
I am pleased there is a choice (I hope) on the final exit. I felt the confusion here, as if he couldn’t decide; was he good or bad?
A choice?
Yeah, but no.
I think the shake of the head summed up his position, James.
Existential crisis! I am not sure I’d like to ponder on that question or stand in that queue with my feet soaking wet! Well done! Loved it.
Cheers
Esha
Thank you, Esha, for your very kind words.
Happy you enjoyed.
He’s not dead for the mere fact that he realizes that his feet are soaking. That can’t be allowed now, can it?!
Your logic, dear Sascha, is way beyond my meagre understanding of life and death!
lol probably mine too. However, I thought there was a school of thought that if you’re dead you have no feeling of earthly discomforts…or comforts for that matter….or maybe I made it up. (I do write fiction, after all). 😉
Laughing as your logic becomes less credible by the word!
A school of thought? Really?
We all write fiction, dear Sascha, so thought, in schools or not, is pretty jolly irrelevant!
oops.
Loved this chat, thank you!
anytime. (just striving for the last word.)
Great take on this photo.
Glad you enjoyed
Great perspective with this one. 🙂
Glad you found it of interest
I always do. 🙂
Thank you, that is a lovely thing to say.
I’m a rebel. I think I would be stepping out of that line.
I don’t think that is possible, Jo, higher power and all that…
You are not dead, not happy, not smart! There is some problem there. It seems everyone is enjoying except you.
Actually a bit dead, sir, just not quite adapted to it.
Some go up, and some don’t…
Something tells me that he’s not going through the door with the dancing people.
You must have been reading my mail, Bernadette!
Oh dear. Not a good reason to be standing in line, is it? Well written 🙂
Sadly non-optional, Linda!
Oh dear, well at least the feet willl be cooler for a second longer if he goes to hell. Nice stuff.
Good positive thinking, sir, I like it!
Excellent. Existential, muddled with reality.
Kinda like life really, don’t you think?
What a great take on the prompt LOL!
Thanks, Tessa!
Might be sensible to utter a quick prayer or something. Never know, it might help!
Ever the optimist, eh, Keith?
See you later!
I enjoyed where you took this tale of woe, wet feet included.
Wet feet are a big part of misery, Mike!
Well, no one said it won’t rain there, eh? 😉
Maybe dampen the flames a bit?
Yeah … 😉 Put in a thermostat!
I know which door I would take, if we get a choice that is.
A choice? Oh, you gotta be kidding!
I feared not.
Haha what the hell? Jk. I enjoyed the protagonist’s confusion.
Glad you did, Tannille
Alive or dead, you’re still gonna get rained on… nice one!
In Scotland it is like that!
In Cornwall too!
I’m glad I didn’t read this before I posted my story. There was me thinking I had found a unique take on that queue. Very imaginative, sir! 🙂 🙂
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Thank you, Susan, I enjoyed yours too
Yes I can imagine being dead would feel pretty surreal!
Take a bit of getting used to, maybe?
Not how I imagined the pearly gates to be 😀
Pah!
What do you know, hmm?
I might have inside knowledge!
Dear CE,
Somber theme mixed with humor. Beetlejuice. Nice.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you, m’lady
So it’s raining up there? Our mythology says it is auspicious to die in the rain. The heavens are set to welcome you.
Not quite up there yet, Reena.
And our climate says it is almost inevitable to die in the rain!
🙂
I liked “I’m not used to being dead”
Laughing.
I sometimes struggle with opening lines!