{This is a response to Friday Fictioneers, . Friday Fictioneers is a weekly 100-word writing challenge, based on a photo. The prompt picture this week reminds me of an attitude toward hurricanes that was prevalent in my youth, when hurricane seasons were generally calmer. But it still holds sway in some pockets of Florida, and among certain age groups, who tend to think they are immortal. Thanks for the prompt, and thanks for reading!}
Toasting from lawn chairs, Jason’s party guests watched, as the last station-wagon pulled away. Receding children stared mournfully at the wading pool, the sprinkler, the balloons.
“Grown men, fleeing! Bunch o’ wimps!” Jason snorted.
His young, childless friends jeered, clicking plastic. “Bring it, Martha!”
Wind tipped the tequila table. Smash!
Laughing, they filed inside the house. To hunker down.
Ropes snapped. The tent became a kite.
Huddling, between tub and toilet; clinging, to feckless friends; toiletries, buzzing round their ears like dragonflies: Jason felt a whirlwind of regret.
Not one, sober.
And Martha had made off with the roof.
A good and well-written story with a warning, Andrea. I remember reading about “hurricane parties”. I also remember one hotel busy celebrating when the place was demolished. There was little left after the storm. Some people do think they can run between the raindrops. —- Suzanne
What a wonderful expression Suzanne! Reminds me of the Donald Fagan song about Miami “Walk Between the Raindrops.” Heres a YouTube link: https://youtu.be/CpJRc4RZPqE
Looks like Martha won that round!
Haha Thanks granonine!
Great message in this. Great write.
Thanks Lisa!
The stupidity of youth. Hope they learned. That’s the key isn’t it? Very clever story! 🙂
Thank you Brenda! Hard way to learn.
Parents did the right thing moving away with the kids to avoid imminent storm.
Yes. Something about being a parent seems to turn on that dormant responsibility switch!
Hope there is a drink for later. Sounds like one of those days.
Words permitting, the would have been drinking from hurricane glasses, the ones that look a bit like hurricane lamps. No more tequila left, though, I’m afraid!
Oh no, no tequila ?!
Hoping they make it through the storm unharmed and that those who left got to a safe place.
Me too. Thanks msj!
You are welcome, Andrea.
Great little story, Andrea – and very believable!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Thx Susan!
Perhaps next time they’ll heed the warnings – or maybe not. Terrific piece.
My story – Gail’s Gazebo!
Thanks Keith! I suspect they will. ?
I’m always surprised when people don’t heed the warnings. Recently in the UK we had an entire town below a fracturing dam that was supposed to be evacuated, but there were several families who refused to leave. Presumably they would have expected others to put their lives at risk to rescue them in due course. Very topical.
It is puzzling how people will protect property, sometimes at the cost of their lives ( I suspect my characters survived, though they were definitely shaken up a bit.)
In my story, I would attribute their decision to stay to youthful folly and machismo, rather than any loyalty to place or sense of possession. The original version (250 words!) had them congratulating themselves on a courage no one else seemed to possess.
But it is also true, that if Nature gives us a break for a few years from its typical dangers, we can become lazy and complacent and dismissive of its power.
There are always those who feel they are indestructible. Nothing like a roof ripping off to show them what’s what!!
Loved this.
Thanks Dale!
A good story about not listening to warning. So true.
Thanks mike!
Dear Andrea,
It’s one thing to put your own lives in danger…but to put the lives of children on the line. Shame on them. Good take on the prompt.
Shalom,
Rochelle
In my mind’s eye, the children were being driven away to safety by their own responsible mom or dad, but were staring with longing, out the back window of the station wagon, because they were sad they were missing the party. No children were harmed in the course of this story. ?
What they choose to do with the information “a hurricane’s coming” is up to them, I guess. Idiots 🙂
Up to interpretation, I guess. Thanks draliman!
At least they went off in style… It does feel like a case of ‘well, they were warned.’
?
Some people just won’t heed the warnings
True, Neil!