FF – Daytime at Midnight
Here is my post for Friday Fictioneers, the 100 word story prompt hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was contributed by her long-time friend Lucy Fridkin.
To read this week’s other stories, click on the blue froggy.
Copyright Lucy Fridkin
Frederick stared down at the great Arks below. Though after midnight the light from the approaching solar storm reflected off the water, casting shadows which danced across the waves. Soon the Arks would set sail; later they would dive to the depths of the ocean, protecting the world’s inhabitants inside hardened steel shells…
“What’re you doing?”
“Oh, just looking at the bay, dreaming up a story.”
“Come inside. The solar storm will be here soon. We want to be together at the end, to say goodbye.”
“Okay. Arks would’ve been good.”
“Huh?”
“Oh, just thinking out loud.”
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Friday Fictioneers
draliman on life 
Wow, I really like this one Ali. Such a great ambiance, and wonderful how you just hint at the apocalypse.
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Thanks! I don’t think even they know exactly what will happen. I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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Dear Ali,
Between his writing and the reality you present, this story packs a wallop. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
I’m glad you liked it! I managed to get a story within a story 🙂
Ali
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Good descriptive writing. I was there
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Thanks, I’m glad you liked it!
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This conjures the record we listened to when I was in my teens W-A-Y back when, before Bill Cosby was . . . Well, anyway, he told a little story about God asking Noah to build an Ark and Noah had to ask, “What’s an Ark?” It was hilarious at the time.
Your tale is much more thought provoking and very well done, and rather sad. Good take on the picture.
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That does sound funny 🙂
I’m glad you liked my story. It is quite sad, but they seem resigned to whatever will happen next.
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Chilling but good!
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Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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I also think good but chilling, as I guess a few wealthy people have their Ark.
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Yeah, you can bet there are some arks and underground shelters scattered here and there for the “deserving” few.
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What if we’re all just characters in the mind of an author waiting for the end of times?? Damn simulation hypothesis!
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Aargh! That’s a scary thought 🙂
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This one gave me chills. Too close to reality for my taste.
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Let’s hope I’m not an unsuspecting prophet.
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i wanted to remain positive, but the outcome didn’t look good.
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I have a feeling not everyone is coming out of this intact.
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Great take – like all those sci-fi films where humans are saved by suddenly being able to construct arks or ships that can save them all, the reality is we will just accept our fate.
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Thanks! Yes, constructing arks always seems a bit far-fetched. Plenty of underground bunkers for government-types and fat cats though I expect!
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I enjoyed this. It had the feeling that if only they’d thought of it before, they could have built an ark, although unlikely. Unprepared for the end yet prepared as they could ever be.
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Do we really have the resources and the ability to cooperate in order to build arks, is the question. As you say, they’ve prepared as best they can.
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Chilling story! They seem awfully calm for it to be the end of the world.
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I think this was predicted and they’ve made their peace. I’d still be running around screaming though, I expect 🙂
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LOL! Me too!
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I don’t know why I smiled at the end of this, But I did!
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There’s nothing like impending fiery doom to bring a smile to one’s lips 🙂
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I think we need to start building an ark. Good one.
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It’s never to early to get the arks on the go! I’m glad you liked it 🙂
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I hope that doesn’t happen too soon. It sounds rather nasty. Arcs would be a great answer. Good writing, Ali. 🙂 — Suzanne
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It sounds rather fatal 🙂 Fingers crossed for the arks!
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Solar storms? Sounds like great weather for sunbathing! They should go to the beach…
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“Best tan ev…” WHOOMP!
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Great writing. I really liked the interweave of his fantasy with the reality of the end of life.
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Thanks! I guess he likes to fantasise about a world where they’re all saved.
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The story and the real story…Great effect.
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Thanks! Thought I’d fit two stories into 100 words this week 🙂
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I hope to be just as calm and creative in the face of an apocalypse. ☺ Great story within a story!
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Me too (though I hope even more that there won’t be one!). I guess they’ve had some time to make peace with it. I’m glad you liked it!
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Wow, this has an impact (no pun). Gives me the chills and makes me smile about the beautiful writing at the same time. And I agree, in case of disaster, there will be bunkers for some. Or Mars colonies.
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Deep underground or high in the sky – anywhere but the scorched surface.
I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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What a clever story, Ali. Nicely done. They seem ready for the end, so calm. The fact that he can write such a beautiful story makes me think he’s at peace with it.
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They’ve made their peace with what’s happening. I expect they’re in the minority, though.
I’m glad you enjoyed the way I wrote it!
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A story in a story. Clever, Ali! I love it.
Five out of five bottles of SPF-215.
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Thanks, two for the price of one!
Maybe SPF-215 will do the trick 🙂
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I loved the way your writing was going along so beautifully and then …it was like the needle going over the record on the turntable. lol. Awesome the way you did that.
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Thanks! I was having trouble with the picture and then that idea occurred to me 🙂
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Well, they all unite for that goodbye! Very interesting take.. 🙂
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Together at the end. I’m glad you liked it!
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What an interesting story. It’s certainly thought provoking.
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Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
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I love the way you’ve written this story. The character’s thoughts as he gazed down at the bay become very poignant once we realise that the Arks are a figment of his imagination (or wishful thinking) and that end of the world is really approaching.
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Thanks, I’m glad you liked the way I wrote it. I do so many apocalypse stories it needed something different 🙂
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This is most excellent… the whatif in a a story within a story… wonder if there is another story like a russian doll
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Ooh, a Russian Doll story, multiple layers within layers. That would be a challenge!
I’m glad you liked it.
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Wow. This is great. I love the flatness of the tone once the dialogue begins, and how that contrasts with the reality they’re experiencing. And the opening scene is really effective. ‘If only we had … ‘ So sad.
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They’re quite resigned to their fate at this point. I’m glad you liked it!
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I like the way they face their fate. Pity no one built an ark though. Arks would’ve been good 🙂 Great story.
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Yeah, arks are good news when it all goes wrong. I’m glad you liked it!
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I like all your stories 🙂
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🙂
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