Qingshan stood in ankle-deep waters of the rice paddies. The train approached.
What must it be like to go somewhere?
Xiaojian squatted in the packed cargo car. He leaned out an open door for some air.
What must it be like to ride in a seat?
Zhuli sat in a second-class seat with a cool breeze in her face. Her back felt tight from sitting so long.
What must it be like to travel first-class?
Laiyuen lay disgruntled on her bed. Her first-class cabin was stuffy and the wheels too loud.
What must it be like to fly to Shanghai?
~~
“Friday Fictioneers” is a weekly challenge hosted by the lovely Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, to write a story using only 100 words in response to a photo prompt. This week’s photo was provided by Dawn M. Miller. For nearly a year now, I have enjoyed starting off my weekend by writing a story. If you would like to join in with this encouraging group of writers or read their stories from this week, visit HERE.
Loved the structure of this, each just wishing for that little bit more, none realising they are not the least fortunate.
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Thanks so much, Iain, your comment means a lot. I think we all do this, I know I do for sure.
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Want expands to fill the money available for its satisfaction
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Always! Thanks so much, Neil, for the true and profound comment.
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The grass is always greener–no one is ever satisfied with their lot. Nice parable. In the last para I would change lie to its past tense, lay.
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Thank you so much for the catch. The forms of lie & lay often trip me up. =) We are indeed a discontented lot for sure.
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This was so clever and I absolutely love the way you structured the narrative! A prime example of how we always want the things we don’t have and how the grass will always seem greener on the other side,
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Thank you, Jade! I’m so glad you enjoyed. =)
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We always want what we don’t have. Great piece.
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So true! Thanks so much, Lisa. =)
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I loved this. It is our world in a nutshell.
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It sure is. Thanks so much, Tina! =)
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Nobody is ever content with what they have…
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It is certainly a challenge to be content.
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Goodness! I love the step-by-step progression of your story. Simple but so very well told. Kudos!
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Thank you so much, Alicia, your comment is very encouraging! =)
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Really well-structured story.
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Thank you so much, Jilly! =)
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All this hassle at airport security, what must it be like to stay home?
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I suppose the next progression is, “What would it be like to travel on my own jet.” Unfortunately, I guess you’d still have to take off your belt and shoes.
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Beautifully built, line by line. The dissatisfaction of the human soul.
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Thank you, Linda! I think the key for the last two especially is contentment. It is a challenge for us all!
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Dear Brenda,
I love the way you took us on this journey from the rice paddies to first class. Beautifully told.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you so much, Rochelle. When I see a train, it often reminds me of the many trips my family and I took through the countryside in southern China decades ago.
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I’m laughing much too loudly at a ridiculous hour of the morning because this is so true. Perfect snapshots into the human condition (and all the grumbling that comes with it).
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Thank you so much, Magaly, for reading and commenting. Our lack of being satisfied seems to be the human condition, for good or for bad.
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That is such a brilliant take. The grass, as they say…
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Thank you so much for your encouraging comment!
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A nice attempt to show there is no end to human aspiration. But at some point one has to realise there is a limit that has been reached.
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Though there are those who truly need more, for many of us it is an issue of want. The key is contentment, even if we seek more.
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True.
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Excellent. I was, like your characters, left wanting more.
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A compliment indeed. Thanks so much, Sandra.
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Humans will always find something to grumble about! The person traveling by plane might well wish for their own jet.
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Yes, and complain it is too small. My daughter likes to say (tongue in cheek), “And my gold slippers are too tight.” Thank you for stopping by! =)
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LOL, I love that expression! I may have to start using it.
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🙂
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This really got me thinking. We are always drawn to next rung on the ladder. Brilliant.
Click to read my FriFic tale!
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That’s very true, Keith. Thanks so much for your encouraging comment.
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Nice little step-ups as we view the thoughts of those on different rungs of the ladder.
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Thanks so much!
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like they say, the grass is always greener on the other side. 🙂
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Very true, we often feel others have it so much better. =)
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Beautifully crafted, Brenda! I particularly liked the first aspiration “What must it be like to go somewhere?” That really surprised and intrigued me.
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Thank you so much, Penny! =)
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Very creative take.. The natural progression of the human desire.. Very nice.
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Thank you so much, Violet!
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LOL – “the fly”. I love that.
Yeah, so much of comfort is a state of mind.
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For sure. Thank you so much, Alice, for commenting!
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We think the grass is greener else where
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It is the human condition I think. 🙂
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I love the leap-frogging of the storyline. Nicely done.
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Thank you so much! 🙂
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Maybe in the end there are those who would love not to travel at all… the structure of this is wonderful
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It’s true, there are those who are content not to. Thank you so much, Bjorn, for your kind comment. =)
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No matter what we have, we always imagine what it would be like to have more. Love the progression of this piece!
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Sadly, very true. Thank you so much for your comment on the piece.
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You’re welcome.
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Well said! My husband and I were just talking about this the other day: how easy it is to fall into that trap of always wanting “more.” I know I’ve been guilty of it more than I like to admit!
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Same here. The key is contentment for those of us who have enough. I suppose the question is, “How much is enough?” Thank you so much for stopping by and for your comment, Ann! 🙂
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They sound like a bunch of malcontents to me. I’ve never heard a first class passenger grumble on an airline, but I suppose there are some who wished for a faster means of transportation.
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A friend of ours gets ferried around Asia by his company in first class. He once complained to us after a flight from the States to Hong Kong that the seat / bed had a slight curve to it so it was very uncomfortable. For someone who has never ridden first class on a plethora of cross-ocean flights, only to enviously walk through on my way back to the cattle car (haha), I was flabbergasted by his complaint.
I suppose another one could be, “Could Elon get me there faster?” 🙂
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Love this! Never satisfied, are we? ❤️
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That’s certainly true, Irene. Thank you so much for reading and for your lovely comment. 🙂
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Love the way you structure the story, each person’s question adding a layer, intimating a world where some citizens never leave their remote rural villages til now. Good writing.
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Thank so much for reading and your lovely comment!
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