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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Perfect closing lines. 🙂 Well done.
Thank you, Sandra!
I can picture it all; the imagary is great! I love this 🙂
Thank you, Sandra, I’m glad the imagery worked.
Hi, I’m Al Gore and I approve this message–especially the punch line. Great job, Jan.
Thanks, Russell 🙂
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
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 🙂
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”?
I have a feeling the protagonist would rather expire than contemplate living on hospital food 🙂
How long will the food last? Hang onto the Jello. It may yet fetch a decent price.
Yes, the Jello may turn out to be valuable, especially when they run out of chicken soup and rice pudding 🙂
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
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….
Disaster or no–there’s always a whiner.
Yeah, some people are never happy!!!
I wish I could give them my Jello. I hate hospital food. This makes it all worth it!
Thank you, Helena!
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!
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed the story!
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.
Thank you so much for your comments. I’m glad you enjoyed the closing line!
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
That does sound a lot better than plain Jello!
Thank you for reading and commenting. Hope the rain clears up soon!
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?
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 😉
Lol..that was good.
Thank you!!!
hospital food.. yuck. i feel her haha 🙂 that’s a great last line
Thanks, kz!!!
Dear Jan,
Who cooked the Jello?
I’ll be staying away from Chicago once the meltdown picks up steam.
Aloha,
Doug
Oh, we landlubbers are doomed 😉
Mahalo!
Jan
Adorable. Loved the last line.
Thank you, Shirley. I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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.
So true! Thank you for reading and commenting.
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. 🙂
Good idea 🙂 Thank you for your comments!
Is Jell-O one of the basic food-groups.. amazing to have it as hospital food.
Heh heh — not really “food,” is it?
I think it’s mostly artificial sweetener and sinews
Jell-O to the rescue! Cute take on the prompt.