They promised better days for our golden years. I stood with the others at the bank of the Seine River. Travel pods floated toward us.
Theo stepped up beside me.
“No! It’s not your time,” I argued.
“Your time is my time.”
The pod was roomier than I imagined, and the travel time shorter. After landing with a slight thump, Theo and I left the pod and stood together in a soft green field under a radiant sky. Peacefulness washed over me, until an ear-piercing scream sent a shiver down my spine. We ran for the cover of the trees.
~~
This story is a shorter version of a much longer story. (Whew, 100 words is tough – but fun.) It’s my contribution to “Friday Fictioneers,” a weekly challenge hosted by the lovely Rochelle Wisoff Fields. With the help of a photo prompt to inspire, we’re to write a 100-word story. The photo this week was provided by David Stewart.
If you would like to join in with this encouraging group of writers or read their stories from this week, visit here.
Thoughts of a Wanderer 
Oh that’s hard to do it to people in their golden years. They can’t run very fast.
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Yes, I guess that’s the point. It’s good they have each other…hopefully. Thanks for commenting, Neil!
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An excellent exerpt! 😀
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Thanks so much, Susan. I’m glad you enjoyed! =)
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Shades of Soylent Green…
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In that vein for sure. Thanks so much, Trent, for commenting! =)
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Intriguing!
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Thanks so much. I’m glad you found it so. =)
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What a beautiful story of love, I was thinking. That line, ‘Your time is my time.’ Beautiful. But you’ve introduced so much more with the ‘promise’ for the golden years. Who are ‘they’? What kind of society is this? And then the tense twist at the end. And all of this in 100 words! A great piece of writing.
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I’m happy you picked up and sacrifice of Theo to go with her. Thanks so much for your kind and encouraging comments. I’m smiling!
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Excellent cliff-hanger, Brenda. I liked the love between the two characters; that’s true and authentic.
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I’m so glad you enjoyed the relationship with her and Theo. I do like these characters and their relationship. I’m working on growing this story, so we’ll see. I need to finish the project I’ve been working on for so long, but then… Thanks so much, Penny, for your encouragement!!
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Just as I thought it was heading for a happy ending! Anything that involves large parts of the population being carted off in travel pods is never going to end well – governments just aren’t that nice to their citizens.
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Right? My thoughts exactly. Governments certainly are not that nice. Haha … I do have a difficult time with a happy ending. It’s the way my muse leads. I need to work on that. =) Thanks so much as always for commenting, Iain!!
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Dear Brenda,
That ending made my pulse race. I’m left wanting to know why and where they are. Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Success!! Thanks so much for your encouraging comments, Rochelle, as always. =)
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And it was all going so well. I like an open-ender, well done Brenda!
My story!
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They had hope, but … Thanks so much for commenting. I’m glad you enjoyed!
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methinks somebody got scared upon seeing them. 🙂
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Well, that’s possible. Caught someone or something off guard. =) Thank you for commenting!
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What a lovely, romantic deception for bloody murder of the old who aren’t valued any longer This is great, full of original ideas. I love it.
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Thanks so much. I’m very glad you enjoyed the story! =)
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So much for the “golden years”! Great story Brenda.
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Not so golden after-all. Thanks so much, Dora!
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Well, that makes me want to know more!
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I’m so glad!! Thank you for letting me know, Ann. I’m working on a longer version. Have a nice weekend!
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Time travel pods. I want one. Very pretty. That’s what the humans need in my story.
Great take on the prompt B!
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A travel pod would be nice. Thanks so much, T!
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I’m guessing they left that out of the brochure 🙂
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They certainly did! (haha) Thanks, Ali, for commenting!
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Lots of potential for further development. A kind of geriatric Logan’s Run.
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I remember that movie … a classic. I enjoyed writing it and it was much longer than the short version. I’ll add bits and see where it goes. Thanks so much, Sandra. =)
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Oh, yeah, there’s more to this story. Intriguing.
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I’m so happy you found it intriguing. There is certainly more to this story. 🙂
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An enjoyable take on the prompt. Quite thrilling well done.
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Thanks so much, Mason. I’m really glad you enjoyed the story! =)
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You’re welcome.
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So romantic and peaceful and until the scream. I wonder what it was….
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Thanks so much for commenting! =)
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I really want to know the rest of the story–I think!
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Haha … we’ll see which way it goes as the story grows. Thanks so much for commenting, Linda! =)
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Ooooooooo I guess retirement might be kinda short! A sacrifice perhaps. Scary end. Well done.
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It could be short, we shall see. =) Thanks so much, Laurie!
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I am sensing a retirement scam here. So many trusting people entering pods on the promise of retirement, nice one.
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Yes, definitely a scam. Thanks much for commenting! =)
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Oh dear… such calm and beauty and then they have to run? Not so tranquil a retirement as they’d hoped!
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It certainly is not. Thanks, Dale, for reading and commenting! =)
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🙂
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Retirement, what a perfect title for this. I’m so glad he went with her, even if it wasn’t his time. Together they may be able to outwit the danger and enjoy their new home. Excellent story, Brenda.
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I’m so glad you enjoyed the story, Lisa. I’m having fun with the characters. Though, their situation is dire, they have each other and … we’ll see where it goes. (haha) Take care!!
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You’re very welcome, Brenda. Another enjoyable read.
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That adds a new level of terror to being sent out to pasture.
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It certainly does. It’s difficult enough growing older. =) Thanks much for commenting!
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I sense adventure and peril in the offing…..
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There is an adventure in the making. Thanks so much for reading and commenting! =)
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