Friday Fictioneers – The Weight of the World
Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, the weekly 100 word photo prompt hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was contributed by Ted Strutz, and you can read the other stories by clicking on the blue froggy.
I decided not to take such a literal view of the photo this week. If it doesn’t make sense, hopefully my tags will help.
Copyright Ted Strutz
Shuddering, he closed his eyes. How could he make this decision? He couldn’t think.
But the People relied on him. They had elected him to make the Big Decisions. His thoughts whirled, spinning, too fast to grasp. He hoped that at any moment the ride might stop and he could get off, but it only span faster.
At last he took a breath and opened his eyes. Before him stood his Chief of Staff and senior General, standing six feet apart, hands on the console. He nodded solemnly. “The word is given. God forgive us.”
As one they turned the keys.
Leave a reply to draliman Cancel reply
Click for a random post!
Woohoo!
I totally didn't win!
Share Your World
Friday Fictioneers
draliman on life 
This brought back the nightmare of Armageddon.. I hope that there will never come a time like this.
LikeLike
Me too. I’m hoping no-one would actually turn the key no matter what.
LikeLike
Very frightening Ali! I hope it never comes to this too.
LikeLike
It’s a pretty scary thought indeed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s scary, Ali. It’s one of the worst nightmares for people. Well done. —- Suzanne
LikeLike
I like to think the decision made would be not to make things worse by pushing the “button”.
LikeLike
A very frightening prospect for us all. I like the way you used the promt to describe his spinning, whirling thoughts. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, when I decided not to be too literal I tried to work a story around whirling thoughts and emotions.
LikeLike
Scary indeed. May it never happen.
LikeLike
I agree.
LikeLike
In theory, it has been stated that due to the widespread acquirement of nuclear weapons by many countries, this has assured relative peace. For because each country knows what the consequences would be if one were to attack the other with their NWs, they instead will not do so.
Very good take on the picture.
LikeLike
It only takes one nutjob with an itchy trigger finger, however 😦
LikeLike
True, yet, all the times it has come dangerously close, they have not…And there were some pretty power hungry individuals in charge. Nevertheless, it is frightening prospect.
LikeLike
I loved your metaphors, another great story 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, I’m glad you liked it 🙂
LikeLike
What a wonderful, scary, heart-throb of a tale. Well done!
LikeLike
Thanks! It’s a frightening scenario.
LikeLike
good timing. oct. 7, 2015 is supposed to be the end of the world. 🙂
LikeLike
I heard that. Yet, once again, we’re still here 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting contrast between amusement park rides and setting off the nuclear holocaust. Adds to the jarring feeling.
LikeLike
I decided to use the whirling and spinning to illustrate his state of mind. However, my mind was already thinking of some sort of disaster 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes I understood that about his state of mind but the image was also saying something all by itself. 🙂 So to me it made the contrast more powerful. 🙂
LikeLike
It is a good contrast, and also reminds me of a dream scene in Terminator 2 where Sarah Connor is looking at a playground when a nuclear explosion goes off and she sees all the kids and parents vaporised. Everyday fun versus unthinkable horror.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly. 🙂
LikeLike
Very frightening – you certainly ring the changes week to week.
LikeLike
It’s a very scary thought that something like this could happen.
I like to mix things up a bit! It depends on my mood and my day as well 🙂
LikeLike
I’m guessing we’re talking nuclear holocaust? As long as we preserve our arsenals, some day, someone, somewhere will commit this obscenity.
LikeLike
It only needs one person to push “the button” and the rest will follow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stop the world, I want to get off..
LikeLike
Me too sometimes 😦
LikeLike
What a scary scenario, and no less threatening than it was during the cold war, only less predictable. Good, thought-provoking story, and a great take on the prompt.
LikeLike
Thanks! A scenario which could, but hopefully will never, come to pass. I’m glad you liked it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Figurative spinning this time. Maybe, if we are lucky, they will lose their keys. Good one!!
LikeLike
We can only hope. Glad you liked it!
LikeLike
scary story – Nicely written.
LikeLike
Thanks!
LikeLike
methinks of the song by Sting. I can only hope none of the world leaders have teens when confronted by this. Great spin. 😀
LikeLike
Thanks, it’s scary stuff!
LikeLike
Mr Trump will save us all. Yuge! 😉
LikeLike
Now there’s a scary dude.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is the ultimate nightmare. Thankfully, if (or when) it does happen, we’ll all be gone, poof!
Sorry! Couldn’t help being a bit morbid. Reminds me of the Tom Lehrer song, “We Will All Go Together When We Go”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN0qvNhtGhM.
Yours was a beautifully written decision-making story with an excellent title!
LikeLike
It would definitely be better to just go instantly without sitting there worrying and waiting for the end.
I’m glad you liked it, and the title as well 🙂
LikeLike
Oh dear, what a thought, Trump with his hand on the key. I’m sure he’ll be thinking of all the property he can scoop up and develop! Great images – scary but great!
LikeLike
From the bits of news and quotes I’ve heard regarding the Presidential whatever it is that’s going on currently, I’m not sure I want any of them in charge of the “nuclear football”.
I’m glad you enjoyed the story!
LikeLike
In a world that people are assigned to act as sovereigns great decisions are made and the weight, as well as fate, of the world rests with them and on them.
Randy
LikeLike
Very true. Let’s hope that we (those of us who have a choice anyway) always vote in somebody stable.
LikeLike
Don’t do it! Nice take on the prompt.
LikeLike
Thanks! I think he did it :-(.
LikeLike
Great take. And such a scary thought…
LikeLike
Thanks! And it certainly is.
LikeLiked by 1 person
An appropriate title, Ali. I hope no one is in this position. Such a scary thought how quickly it could all end with the turn of a key.
LikeLike
I’m hoping there’s plenty of checks and safeguards before they decide. And then if they do turn the keys it doesn’t work.
I’m glad you liked the title. I often have terrible trouble thinking one up!
LikeLike
It’s an impossible decision. Kill millions to save billions.
LikeLike
Yes. I’m glad this sort of thing is left to people other than me! Though I’m less glad that this sort of thing exists in the first place.
LikeLike
in topic of your comments, I don’t fear the key turning. If the bang is big enough I won’t know it happened.
What got me was the spinning thoughts that paralyze my brain sometimes. My brain goes into overload and I have to take emotions out of my thinking to make sense of a situation.
Does that relate?
LikeLike
In these circumstances it’s definitely better to go out in an instant.
I do sometimes have to just stop and wait for a moment to take stock and think through things properly, especially when I’m very busy and there’s lots going on. I’m on my own, though, so emotions aren’t usually involved, it’s just at work that my mind gets in a whirl.
LikeLike
Dear Ali,
My favorites are always the one who don’t take a literal approach to the prompt. I didn’t need the tags to know what this was about. The weight of responsibility and the emotions were all packed solidly in your hundred words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Dear Rochelle,
I’m usually very literal so it was a nice change for me. I’m glad his emotional turmoil came across.
Ali
LikeLike
Wow. I wonder what is about to ensue. Responsibility can be a terrible thing.
LikeLike
Once those keys are turned it’s all armed, so I hope he knows what he’s doing 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stop the world, I want to get off!
LikeLike
A sentiment shared by many I think 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hate when life begins to feel like that!
LikeLike
Me too, I get a bit panicky.
LikeLike
Clever use of the prompt, Ali. It must be a dreadful decision to have to make. A great depiction of a frightening possibility.
LikeLike
Thanks, it’s not a decision I would want to make. I doubt anyone would.
LikeLiked by 1 person