A dramatic image from Rochelle this morning begets a less dramatic story.
“Ask you another question?”
“As long as you’re buying.”
He motioned for two more shots. They came and we toasted.
“What’s the deal when you guys leave the fire truck in the street? No sirens, just the lights rolling.”
I sipped my beer. “Well, lots of folks die at home. Drunks, mostly. They tend die in their bathrooms. The EMTs call us to help extract them. It’s procedure.”
I did not mention that very morning. Ferguson and I had pried a two-day stiff out from where he had fallen, wedged in beside the toilet.
“This is how you’ll go, Ed,” Ferg had told me.
I would disagree, this is dramatic…in a long run. You captured it well.
A bleak outcome… and apparently not a story he took to heart.
Good work.
KT
I suppose I should take heed. But do I really care what happens to me, once I’m dead?
Good piece.
Well written – evokes a horrible image.
Thanks! An unpretty affliction indeed.
It is an unpleasant affliction to have, but I don’t think the message got through.
Well written and great take on the prompt.
I love dark subtle humor. Good job!
Yup.. eventually the shots will get ’em..
Days of wine and rose – but probably mostly cheap wine.
Save us from prophetic friends. Nice take on the prompt. Well maybe not nice, but certainly different.
Dear J Hardy,
The image of the stiff will stick with me. Thanks. Good story and more dramatic than you think.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Dear J Hardy,
This is a well thought out and well written story that smoothly and effortlessly illuminates the darker side of the world we live in. Wedged between the toilet and wall, I applaud you.
Aloha,
Doug
This is the reality of life and death – spoken about in pubs.
I found this quite dramatic, and a great take on the prompt.
Compelling,chilling.
A like a story with a nice balance of time and place, a little snip of dialogue, bit of action, believable characters, bit of back story, bit of forward reflection…Basically all the elements of a novel in 100 words.
Ask a lot and I think this delivered!
PS It’s getting late…Meant to say, I like….
Now if that’s not a wake up call I don’t know what is.