(Photo Credit: Wikipedia)
I’m bitter that Mother gave away the last of our batteries. Reading by candlelight isn’t romantic; it’s tedious.
The drenching heat leaves us slimy and exhausted. It’s horrible weather for wearing her wig, but mother holds on tightly to relics. Her insistence on decorum will probably kill both of us.
First there was the blind panic. Grocery stores and pharmacies were raided. People became more disposable than supplies, and riots were everywhere. Now there’s only silence. Few people leave their apartments. I’ve been trying to hoard food, but mother can’t seem to help herself. She’s unable to distinguish between angels and urchins. As I stare at our dwindling supplies, she mumbles about her nonexistent grandchildren. I remind her that the world is terrible now. Constantly.
We needed the batteries for a hundred other things, but she gave them away because she couldn’t resist their big weepy eyes. She doesn’t know what I know about those little brats.
This week’s Trifecta Challenge was the word “blind.”
“I remind her that the world is terrible now.”—Sounds as cheery as my novel.
Well done.
Thanks. These are the sort of writings that drive my husband crazy, the ones with no endings… So, I should probably keep doing them.
Wow – I love how much you imply without stating anything concrete. This bit really gave a good glimpse into the mother’s psyche: “She’s unable to distinguish between angels and urchins.” And this does the same thing for the narrator: “She doesn’t know what I know about those little brats.” Fantastic!
Thank you. I think I might be continuing this one.
“The drenching heat leaves us slimy and exhausted.” This is so descriptive and evocative.
You know I started off this story in one direction, but then abandoned it… except for leaving that one description.
So when’s this going to be published hmmm?
I have no idea. I haven’t even converted from “I write” to “I’m a writer”…
“Blind panic” buddy! Very disturbing entry. Love the first two paragraphs.
Thanks Kymm! I still haven’t figured out if I’m going to continue this story or not…
Your words perfectly describe a grim, hopeless world. Nicely done!
Thanks. I was thinking about “The Road” while writing it…
Wow, this is super interesting. Post-apocolyptic with an overly giving mother whose mind is slipping. Nice job! I’d read more.
Thanks. I still haven’t figured out if I’m going to keep going with this story or not. All of the encouragement is always helpful though.
I would DEFINITELY read more.
Thanks! I’m still trying to get back into the mind frame I was in while writing this.
Love this.
Thanks Rollergiraffe. Still trying to get back into that (super happy) mindset to write more…
I love your choice of an unexpected subject matter. Very refreshing AND well written!
Thanks Linda! I was thinking about the book “The Road” while writing it… Of course, it’s impossible to do even a pale imitation of that book.
That was an interesting end. I’m kinda curious about the ‘brats’ now, and why the character thinks that way. Repetition makes it even better.
I love the complete lack of sentimentality, especially at the end. Rock on!
Yeah, I’m thinking they are using the batteries for something super important…. like playing Nintendo…
Wait, which end of Utopia does this happen on? Very different urchins at different points…
Great tale!
You know, NYC really is full or urchins and orphans, of all ages and varieties. For the longest time, I’d been telling myself I was going to write a story about Utopia Parkway… also Future 86 and Promised Land State Park… but I suppose those will come eventually.
I do hope you continue this one. You had me from the title (an aside–you ever hear the song titled Utopia Parkway by Fountains of Wayne?) and your writing is brilliant!
I haven’t heard the song, but the actual Parkway… It’s here in New York, and couldn’t be further from being a utopia. I will have to look up the song. And thanks!
I love your ability to get so much across in so few words. Very Hemingway. Your uneasy blog was amazing and so awkwardly good.
Thanks Heath. I love that these writing challenges force me to say a lot, but always in around 300 words…