FF – A Dirty Job
Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo comes from Roger Bultot.

Copyright Roger Bultot
Jerak snuck a glance at the scene around him as he pushed his mop across the floor. He was supposed to keep his head down, but sick fascination always enticed him to look.
Men, women, even children sat on benches, long white tubes fixed to their heads. They seemed calm enough – Jerak had been told that the tubes delivered some enzyme or other, easing the process.
He hated his work here at the Farm, but it was classed essential. It meant he’d never be Chosen. Never be one of those sitting on the benches. Never be food for the alien masters.
Categories: Fiction
flash fiction, Friday Fictioneers
Eeee creepy!
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Yummy humans 🙂
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Gah! Too vivid! Oh, wait. Maybe I’m just adding too much in my mind. Gah, that isn’t making anything better.
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Best not to think too hard about them being slowly liquefied and sucked up the feeding tubes.
Oops, sorry 🙂
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Yeah, yeah, sure you’re sorry. >( 😉
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😉
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Time for a revolution I think.
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For sure. It’s coming.
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Worry ye not. Our expert leaders will see us all right. Oh, hang on……..any cleaning jobs going?
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There’s the much sought-after “clean up what’s left of dinner” job, if you’re interested.
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Eeek! I think he’s the lucky one not to be chosen! 🙂
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No-one wants to be dinner 🙂
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Euwwwww! I’d keep sweeping too…
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Not a job you’d want to lose given the alternative…
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True ’nuff!
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Eeek, so the invasion was a success. Perhaps they’re not all bad…?!
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Mostly they’re pretty bad. And hungry 🙂
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Nicely spooky.
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Thanks, I’m glad you liked it!
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It might be a worse torment to watch that going on day after day. I’d pray for a nice quiet heart attack.
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That might be a better fate than this, true.
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A story in true D-Man style 😀
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I’m glad you liked it!
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Woooooo, I like that. Great ending!
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Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
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Without the alien this reminded me a bit of Never Let Me Go… to know that your purpose in life is to be consumed.
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A scary proposition for your future.
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Ugh! The aliens sound like spiders with the difference that the tubes do all the hard work. They’re alien drinking straws. Oh, now I’ve made it even worse. Good writing, Ali. 😀 — Suzanne
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Yeah, alien drinking straws. Yum 🙂
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How frightening was that! I feel quite poorly now.
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Ooh, sorry 😦
Not a nice way to go.
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Good God! That was pretty vivid and scary!
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I stopped short of describing the technicalities of the process itself 🙂
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Thank goodness you were limited to 100 words!
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Probably for the best.
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His nights must be filled with nightmares. Excellently creepy story.
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I imagine they are. I’m glad you liked it!
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I love that he watches in sick fascination. Even when you know you don’t want to see something, but cannot stop yourself looking – THAT!
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Yes, I think we’ve all been guilty of that, when you just can’t look away…
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Yikes! I guess he’s not allowed to warn the “chosen ones”.
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That would be a serious no-no, I’m thinking 🙂
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😁
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Yikes! He is upset for not being a meal for aliens? LOL! Great story!
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He’s pretty glad, I think 🙂
But he still hates being there.
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I think I’d rather be mopping too!
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Me too, and given my aversion to housework that’s saying something 🙂
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I’m pretty sure I would give the aliens indigestion and maybe diarrhea. That should make me safe…
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And how do they find out that you give them indigestion and diarrhoea? By eating you, that’s how…
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This made me think of Auschwitz. Clever, strong writing but I don’t like it, I’m afraid.
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Sorry about that. I was thinking scenes from Starship Troopers and Aliens.
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A pretty scary scene you’ve painted here. I wonder who’s for dessert!
Click to read my FriFic!
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Best not to wonder. Just keep your head down 🙂
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i guess he should consider himself lucky. he’s got a job that keeps him out of trouble. 🙂
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Definitely one of the lucky ones.
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Dear Ali,
Add my “eeeew” to all the others. “To Serve Man”…it’s a cookbook. Well done…backing out of the room now. Happy New Year.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
It’s a grim scene indeed! Happy New Year to you too 🙂
Ali
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“Food for the alien masters”
Of course.
I wonder if they (we?) are considered brain food like fish are to us?
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For sure. They can’t get enough of us!
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Lucky Jerak!
How terrible for the preys.
A unique take and so well written.
Happy New Year. 🙂
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Yes, lucky in a way but quite a miserable life he leads. I’m glad you liked it, and Happy New Year to you too 🙂
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Oh noooooooo! These aliens are not related to the angelic ones I envisioned. We must smite them! 😮
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No, they couldn’t be more different! Maybe your aliens will come by and chase my aliens away 🙂
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Lucky guy! 😀
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At least he won’t be lunch 🙂
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Thank cat not kitties…phew 😀 Pawkisses for a Happy Weekend 🙂 ❤
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Kitties are safe 🙂
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Aaaagggggh! Brain-sucking aliens!
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And they’re hungry… 🙂
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You have to see the silver lining in everything! Love the way you set this up as Jerak being in a bad place, before the reveal letting us know he’s in the best place.
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Well, he’s not keen on watching his fellow humans get eaten but it’s the best place to work if you don’t want to be next!
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Jerak is a good custodian, and he gets to go home after work. Well done.
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I bet he’s pretty glad to get home too. I’m glad you liked it!
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Eek! He’s definitely lucky to have an essential job.
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For sure. Though he has to look at the unlucky ones every day.
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