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.
Click here to hear the author read his words:
The Low Road
The highway is straight and empty, and very boring.
The sides drop down to a stony arid wasteland, not a good place to go.
I haven’t seen another vehicle in an hour, or about 70 miles.
I’m struggling to stay awake, but I have to keep going.
What I’m running from is even less palatable.
I won’t bore you with the details, but I’d rather walk across this desert than face it.
So I splash water on my face and glance in the rear-view mirror.
I see them, coming up fast.
Looks like I’ll be taking the Low Road home.
Note: Quick explanation for those of you not fortunate enough to be Scottish. The Low Road is the route taken back to Scotland by the spirit of one who dies abroad.
You might enjoy this version of the song.
Lovely piece.
Trust she escaped.
Nice!
Interesting, and perfectly valid, that you read the voice as female. Glad you liked it.
Aye, a great song… been there too.
You’re more civilised than I thought, Chris!
What a song! And the story ain’t half bad, either.
I’ll take that, Nancy!
Dear C. E.,
Thank you for the explanation. It adds an extra chill to the last line.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Always glad to be of service, m’lady
A poignant piece indeed. It doesn’t bode well methinks.
What a great version of that classic song. I know Loch Lomond well – it’ll play in my mind next time I’m enjoying a pint in the Oak Tree at Balmaha!
Loch Lomond is bonnie, for sure. Cheers!
I didn’t know the low road meaning, though I’ve known the song for decades. Good piece.
Cool, And thanks.
Fab gritty cinematic opening – transitioning from mundane boredom
to sudden high-stakes adrenaline is very effective – but I’m sad that
it looks like the end of this road for him 🖤
Thanks, Ange, glad it worked for you
I’m sorry it’s come to this for him. Learned something new about Scottish folk in your story. Good writing.
Every day’s a school day!
and I’ll be in Scotland afore ye
I think that’s very probable, Neil!
Very edgy- I feel irksome treble of defeat.
I like ‘irksome’, Jodi
In one way or another, a lot of these desert stories involve death.
Go figure, eh?
Puts a new spin on an old song, for me. Thanks. But what did he do and is there no other alternative?
Don’t look at me, I know nuffink…
😂
So, of course, now my imagination’s in overdrive, wondering what he’s done.
But whatever it is, and whoever they are, does he really deserve to go home by the low road?
Nice one.
Your imagination? Overdrive? Yeah, right…
‘Yeah, right…’? ‘YEAH right’? I was waiting for ‘AYE right’.