100 Word Apocalyptic Story
Clouds in her coffee was just the beginning of that day…
PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
The earth shook,
The waters had their way,
The people climbed out of dark holes,
And found a land they didn’t recognize,
Not because of nature’s ravage,
That was tough,
Person against person for a morsel of bread,
But it was the ‘eminent domain’ that tore farms and businesses,
From the hearts of their owners.
The new order that ended disorder
And true freedom in America.
If not for the relationships forged in travail,
Welded by love,
By families reunited and re-formed,
The cloudy weather would never have lifted.
Gosh this little story sounds like doom and gloom, doesn’t it? Forgive me people, it’s just that the clouds made me think of Carly Simon’s “Your So Vain” – ‘Clouds in my coffee’ which led me to the current novel I’m writing – “We are Survivors”. The protagonist Penny doesn’t know it but there are clouds in her marriage that she intended to stay in, good or bad for the rest of her life. However, a national cascade of earthquakes, separates her from her family, her husband who is listed as deceased but is really hiding out with the woman he’s having an affair with, her two young adult kids who are stuck in a ‘Relief Center’, a euphemism for a work camp and her, who was thrown together with a farmer who shows himself to be a man of honor and compassion.
That’s a high-level summary that those 100 words above meant to capture. Would you read that story when it’s published? Comment below.
Today’s photo prompt is provided by Rochelle Wisoff as part of her Friday Fictioneer’s writing challenge. It’s a weekly event! Check out her web-site to join or read more interesting stories from the same photo. You won’t be sorry you did!
Clare Graith 