Meltdown

Posted on October 17, 2013 by Jan Brown

Welcome to Friday Fictioneers, when writers from around the world post 100-word stories based on a photo prompt provided on Rochelle Wisoff-Fields’ blog. This week’s photo is by Janet Webb. Thank you, Janet!

Meltdown

by Jan Brown

After the global ice meltdown flooded the east coast, waters rushed inland and the St. Lawrence Seaway was overcome. The Great Lakes couldn’t contain the onslaught. Chicago was deep under water. People headed west into the suburbs, most getting stuck on flooded streets and highways.

Those of us on top floors of high-rise hospitals could only gaze down at the mess, knowing that the medical personnel who abandoned us did so for naught.

Suburbanites guarded their houses, while churches appealed for food and clothing to care for survivors.

I wish I could give them my Jello. I hate hospital food.

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42 thoughts on “Meltdown”

Sandra on October 18, 2013 at 1:49 am said:

Perfect closing lines. 🙂 Well done.

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- Jan Brown on October 18, 2013 at 5:58 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Sandra!
  
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Sandra on October 18, 2013 at 2:51 am said:

I can picture it all; the imagary is great! I love this 🙂

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- Jan Brown on October 18, 2013 at 5:58 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Sandra, I’m glad the imagery worked.
  
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rgayer55 on October 18, 2013 at 5:12 am said:

Hi, I’m Al Gore and I approve this message–especially the punch line. Great job, Jan.

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- Jan Brown on October 18, 2013 at 5:59 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Russell 🙂
  
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rochellewisoff on October 18, 2013 at 5:32 am said:

Dear Jan,

Now that was a different perspective. I find it disturbing that patients would be left to themselves. Loved your last line.

Shalom,

Rochelle

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- Jan Brown on October 18, 2013 at 6:05 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Rochelle! I agree, it’s disturbing to think about the fate of so many hospital patients in a catastrophe. But I’m glad the closing line worked 🙂
  
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Lindaura Glamoura on October 18, 2013 at 7:00 am said:

Your disaster story really made me laugh. I wonder how much hospital food they could still get up on the top floors. But there is also the Nurse’s station. They probably have food stuffed in there. And who knows how long one could live on “creamora”?

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- Jan Brown on October 18, 2013 at 6:07 pm said:
  
  I have a feeling the protagonist would rather expire than contemplate living on hospital food 🙂
  
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patrickprinsloo on October 18, 2013 at 7:57 am said:

How long will the food last? Hang onto the Jello. It may yet fetch a decent price.

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- Jan Brown on October 18, 2013 at 6:11 pm said:
  
  Yes, the Jello may turn out to be valuable, especially when they run out of chicken soup and rice pudding 🙂
  
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bridgesareforburning on October 18, 2013 at 9:08 am said:

Hi Jan,
You must be a Democrat or an Independent, because the Republicans don’t believe in global warming, or that the earth is round. Can I have the Jell-O? Ron

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- Jan Brown on October 18, 2013 at 6:15 pm said:
  
  Yes, I’m definitely a Democrat! But, please, don’t tell Boehner the earth is round, or that it revolves around the sun. It might shake his faith to know that the universe doesn’t revolve around the GOP. He’s had enough trouble lately, poor soul….
  
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vbholmes on October 18, 2013 at 9:47 am said:

Disaster or no–there’s always a whiner.

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- Jan Brown on October 18, 2013 at 6:16 pm said:
  
  Yeah, some people are never happy!!!
  
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Helena Hann-Basquiat on October 18, 2013 at 10:21 am said:

I wish I could give them my Jello. I hate hospital food. This makes it all worth it!

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- Jan Brown on October 18, 2013 at 6:16 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Helena!
  
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The Bumble Files on October 18, 2013 at 2:05 pm said:

I couldn’t comment earlier, Jan. I really enjoyed this piece. I, too, would want to be on the top floor. They are the lucky ones. Maybe they can find some chips instead of jello!

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- Jan Brown on October 18, 2013 at 6:17 pm said:
  
  Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed the story!
  
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talesfromthemotherland on October 18, 2013 at 2:50 pm said:

So scary to imagine this scene, though it seems possible. The horror of watching the disaster unfold, is captured so well in your post. The jello is a clever, funny final note.

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- Jan Brown on October 18, 2013 at 6:18 pm said:
  
  Thank you so much for your comments. I’m glad you enjoyed the closing line!
  
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sustainabilitea on October 18, 2013 at 3:08 pm said:

I promise you, we are NOT underwater in the Chicago area, although it has been raining. As for Jello, please add walnuts, celery and apples to mine and make it lime. Yum!!

janet

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- Jan Brown on October 18, 2013 at 6:19 pm said:
  
  That does sound a lot better than plain Jello!
  
  Thank you for reading and commenting. Hope the rain clears up soon!
  
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zookyworld on October 18, 2013 at 4:14 pm said:

In all that bleakness, there’s a smile to be had yet. A fun line about hospital food — and what unfortunate luck to be stuck with that (better than washed away, tho). Maybe fashion a fishing pole and catch some dinner swimming by?

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- Jan Brown on October 18, 2013 at 6:22 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Dave, I’m glad you enjoyed the closing. As to fishing, I’m not sure I’d want anything that floated up from the Chicago streets 😉
  
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lingeringvisions by Dawn on October 18, 2013 at 8:08 pm said:

Lol..that was good.

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- Jan Brown on October 18, 2013 at 8:33 pm said:
  
  Thank you!!!
  
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kz on October 19, 2013 at 4:33 am said:

hospital food.. yuck. i feel her haha 🙂 that’s a great last line

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- Jan Brown on October 19, 2013 at 1:56 pm said:
  
  Thanks, kz!!!
  
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dmmacilroy on October 19, 2013 at 5:58 am said:

Dear Jan,

Who cooked the Jello?

I’ll be staying away from Chicago once the meltdown picks up steam.

Aloha,

Doug

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- Jan Brown on October 19, 2013 at 1:57 pm said:
  
  Oh, we landlubbers are doomed 😉
  
  Mahalo!
  
  Jan
  
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Shirley McCann on October 19, 2013 at 7:30 am said:

Adorable. Loved the last line.

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- Jan Brown on October 19, 2013 at 1:57 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Shirley. I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
  
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draliman on October 20, 2013 at 12:21 am said:

Loved the last line – to me this rather whimsical comment shows the state of mind of the story-teller, as if they’re starting to lose it, like people might worry about the most mundane things when they’re in shock.

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- Jan Brown on October 20, 2013 at 3:18 am said:
  
  So true! Thank you for reading and commenting.
  
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David Stewart on October 20, 2013 at 7:54 am said:

If only they could start a free trade system, like kids swapping food from their lunches. There must be someone out there willing to eat hospital food eventually. 🙂

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- Jan Brown on October 20, 2013 at 11:09 am said:
  
  Good idea 🙂 Thank you for your comments!
  
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Björn Rudberg (brudberg) on October 20, 2013 at 2:07 pm said:

Is Jell-O one of the basic food-groups.. amazing to have it as hospital food.

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- Jan Brown on October 20, 2013 at 2:26 pm said:
  
  Heh heh — not really “food,” is it?
  
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  - Björn Rudberg (brudberg) on October 20, 2013 at 2:27 pm said:
    
    I think it’s mostly artificial sweetener and sinews
    
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pattisj on October 27, 2013 at 4:22 pm said:

Jell-O to the rescue! Cute take on the prompt.

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