Friday Fictioneers– Madison Woods posts a pic to write a 100 word story about.
For Info, click here.
This week it’s:
Claustrophobia
I won’t go down that alley.
You know I’m claustrophobic.
That alley looks like a vertical waffle maker.
Might as well ask me to take an MRI.
Yes, I only live once, and it’ll end right now in this alleyway.
There will be rats. I can feel the Pied Piper coming.
I see crashing waters sweeping us away.
Ali Baba and his 40 forty thieves charging down upon us.
You’re right. I have gone too far..
I’m going back to the Hyatt, spending the day at the pool soaking up the sun
with a giant gin and tonic.
Randy Mazie
The Writer's Village 
How funny, I mentioned the Pied Piper in my blog post today! We’re obviously very in tune with each other! 🙂
😉 I will check it out. I am catching up from the past few days and i have not yet gotten to yours. Thanks, Randy
It’s hard to catch up if you get behind isn’t it! Don’t worry about catching up quickly on mine, any time today will be fine 😉
What day are you in? Ha.
Today!
then I’m okay. I’ll get around to it today as long as it stays today and not yesterday.
I’ve read it TODAY! Nice piece.
We can’t protect or stop our children from growing up which I know you know. There will always be a transitional High School Musical and another Pied Piper leading our children to the next phase of their lives –
when I experience in my adult life, my own “High School Musicals” and “Pied Pipers” which have me sniffing the air, mystified, ears a-listening, and floating towards some magical end, foolishly led along – until some “greater” part of me awakes and pulls me back to reality, and “phew”, safety, before it’s “too late.”
We help our kids as we help ourselves.
For us, some of that help even comes from the others around us who love us. “Wake up,” they cry. And hopefully (most of the time), we do (and our kids do too).
Like the vertical waffle maker line. Somehow manages to be cartoonish and terrifying at the same time
I felt like I’d be squeezed in one if I had to walk through there – with my sides squishing out over the edges like waffle batter does when you squish down too much batter.
On balance, and with an imagination like that, I’d agree he’s better off by the pool. Nice one Randy.
Actually I’d such the character is way off balance, and will probably be even more so by the time he’s imbibed by the pool.
Thanks, Sandra
Hah! This made me smile – loved it.
Smiling is good.
Much better than claustrophobia.
Randy
Hi Randy,
I’m somewhat claustrophobic so I could really relate. Have to think you can too. Can I join you by the pool? Ron
soitenly. I’ll get us some more gin.
Never do a closed MRI, fer sure.
Randy
You could read it as if the person is debating with their inner demon, I like the directness of the first line. Brings to mind Frost’s the road not taken.
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
I guess becomes:
Two paths diverged on a bleach white way,
And sorry I could not travel in
And being no traveler, I moved away
And looked down one but could not stray
and walked to where my comfort’s been – a glass of gin
😀
Ahhh, I knew I could count on your for some humor, albeit a bit or maybe not dark but with a tint of darkness to it. Makes me think of when we’re driving to Philly and going through tunnels and I flash on the movie with Stallone?/Ahhhnold? where they’re in a tunnel and the water is roaring down towards them. Of maybe Jason Bourne happens, by the worst of luck, to be in your tunnel being chased by Carl Urban and crashing into everyone else. 🙂
Liked it.
Wow. You really went to celebrity places with this.
Golleee! And all on the way to Phillie to boot.
Ha. Randy
Just a wild and crazy person. What can I say?? Love that name-dropping.
😉 (-:
Wasn’t Stallone from Phillie?
He might have been, bit I have no idea. I’m not too good on celebrity stuff.
I just started singing “High Anxiety….” But I totally get that — and I bet Mel Brooks does, too!
High anxiety?
There’s always Prince Valium. He’s such a pill.
This made me laugh out loud. Love the “what the hell” ending. Thanks for the chuckles.
When you write “what the hell” I think Robin Williams.
What the hell… Randy
The vertical waffle maker made me giggle, too, Randy. Personally large crowds make me claustrophobic. A few years back I had to have an MRI. I took a nap. Very restful experience for me. Now Ferris wheels and other open high places are quite another story.
High places for me = squishy feet. Brain commands = don’t look down. Pre-Brain commands = don’t get on that ride period.
In addition to the claustrophobia, I have sinus problems so laying on my back, with my sinuses draining = a fear of suffocating.
Has to be an open MRI
But no matter what… strange alleyways = caution. At least for me. Randy
As always, nice to hear from you, Rochelle.
I liked this. I’ve traveled with companions like that. I didn’t like it. They sat at the pool and I went down the alley. Well written take on the photo.
Funny thing. When I first saw the pic, I flashed on water rushing toward me, like a disaster movie. I’ll still go down…
I don’t blame you. Although I’ve written about my claustrophobia which I do have with MRI’s, this is not very menacing to me. I am very adventurous. I would go down it too.
Besides, I hate sitting around a pool drinking gin.
Randy
I misread, overlooked the claustrophobia, or more likely, forgot it at the end. I see differently now, and I wouldn’t judge either.
make mine a malibu rum on ice and i’m right there with you by the pool. well done.
welcome, baby, to the open air pool side bar and joy no brainer
i have a trip to cancun in november, and i’m looking forward to the poolside bars
😉
how can travel be fun if I miss my nap?
Good one Randy
Bring along a nap-kin?
that one was a stretch, I know.
groan ( rolling eyes )
I see those rolling eyes… wait, I’ll catch them for you.
remember, a rolling eye catches no lashes (or nappy poo’s)
An unwilling tourist if there ever was one, thanks for the laugh.
thanks.
Pulled me in. I waited for a twist and got one! Back to the pool, a good book, some sun and a cold drink will do nicely. 🙂
😉 not much of a drinker, I take it
I can’t blame you for being scared. My character had the same problem 🙂
I know… oh, what a tangled web we weave