John Dory made a song about it, how they come in iron ships, how they say they make the world free for us. How we heroes. He wrote it serious, which made it even funnier.
Now they come and say we can go back to Enewetak, that it’s safe after all their experiments. They tell us it’s our home, though almost nobody ever seen it.
John Dory’s daddy, he helped the army men with the diggings so he got to see the explosion. Said it was like the sun falling into the ocean.
Said he was sorry to see it.
Dear Josh,
Love the voice in this. It don’t sound all that safe to me.
Shalom,
Rochelle
All the more chilling, Joshua, for the matter-of-fact tone. Great story
You achieve a curious mixture of bitterness and humour, beauty and terror in this story. It’s a powerful human response to the weird military logic that having world-shattering weapons makes us safer.
Think I would leave it a few more decades before returning rather than take their word for it…
Do they all get free Geiger counters? You know, just as souvenirs? Little cards to show exposure? No? Maybe they should wait a little longer…
Josh, this reflects a most serious part of history when we really didn’t understand the dangers. We should have. Maybe some did. It’s heartbreaking that a whole culture was lost.
Wow, clever take on the photo prompt!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
The matter-of-fact voice gives this so much more heft. Well done, Josh.
All the more impact in this tale for the voice of the story-teller. Well done.
It’s okay, it’s all perfectly safe…
Gave me the shivers….well done.
DB McNicol
author, traveler, shutterbug
Author Blog
Personal Blog
I don’t think I’d take their word for it! Nice one Josh
My go at Friday Fictioneers!
This gives me the chills when I think how little concern for the local people was raised. Great story.
Love this story. The tone and language work so well to bring the characters to life. Such a tragic reality, however.