Thomas Charles Henry

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Anywhere But Here – Friday Fictioneers

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Thomas Charles Henry

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Time for another Friday Fictioneers entry. The challenge is to write 100 words based on a weekly photo prompt chosen by our host Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Check out her blog for more information by clicking here.

Apologies for not reading as many stories as I would have liked this last fortnight. I will try and catch up this week! As always, thank you to all who take the time to read, like or comment.

2016 06 24

PHOTO PROMPT © Rich Voza

Anywhere But Here

Six months since The Event. The country’s gone to hell. Only way of knowing if the world followed suit: get out there and ask.

Somehow our band of misfits survived. Most of us anyway. When we learned about the airfield we had one objective: keep Frank alive. No point securing a plane if nobody could fly the damn thing.

We kept watch all night whilst he checked her over. The dogs rested easy. I didn’t.

The sun was glinting off the fuselage when Frank emerged.

“She’s ready. Where we heading?”

Beautiful metal bitch.

“To the moon, Sinatra. Anywhere but here.”

23 responses to “Anywhere But Here – Friday Fictioneers”

  1. wmqcolby Avatar
    wmqcolby

    Hmmm. I like it, but I’m a little confused as to who these misfits are. Nevertheless, it’s got that spirit of adventure! Thanks, Thom.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Thom Carswell Avatar
      Thom Carswell

      Thanks. Sorry it was confusing. I was writing in a post-apocalyptic vein. The group of misfits are just regular people who have survived ‘The Event’ and have banded together for security.

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      1. wmqcolby Avatar
        wmqcolby

        Ah! OK. Got it.

        Liked by 1 person

  2. neilmacdon Avatar
    neilmacdon

    I liked the way you sustained the tone throughout

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Thom Carswell Avatar
      Thom Carswell

      Thanks Neil

      Like

      Reply
  3. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar
    Björn Rudberg (brudberg)

    Oh yes.. why not take me to the moon… like the metaphor.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Thom Carswell Avatar
      Thom Carswell

      Thanks Björn!

      Like

      Reply
  4. IB Arora Avatar
    IB Arora

    for the misfits, moon is the place

    http://obliqview.blogspot.in/2016/06/one-hour-prompt-rich-voza-she-had.html

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. michael1148humphris Avatar
    michael1148humphris

    Music don’t sound so good on the moon, I suggest heading for Mars😉

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. petrujviljoen Avatar
    petrujviljoen

    Ray Bradbury wrote a short story about the misfits flying off to the moon. Built their own rocket. Loved your version. Doesn’t it also refer to the movie ‘Misfits’ starring Marilyn Monroe, wrote by her then husband, the Miller guy if I remember correctly?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Thom Carswell Avatar
      Thom Carswell

      Thanks for commenting! I have never read the Ray Bradbury short story or seen the Marilyn Monroe film so any connections were accidental. I think I’ve confused a few people this week with my comment about the moon – it was meant as a sarcastic, throwaway comment but maybe I missed the mark with it! Glad you enjoyed it though!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  7. spicedmullings Avatar
    spicedmullings

    Misfits? Yes when you survive an Event!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. Sandra Avatar
    Sandra

    I liked the voice in this piece. Good one.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Thom Carswell Avatar
      Thom Carswell

      Thanks Sandra. This piece was really all about the narrators voice so I’m glad you liked it.

      Like

      Reply
  9. Edith M. Field Avatar
    Edith M. Field

    I loved the bitter humour in your narrator’s description of his fellow survivors. Ascribing the surname Sinatra to the pilot and the oblique reference to “Fly me to the Moon” was genius. A great piece!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Thom Carswell Avatar
      Thom Carswell

      Thank you for this feedback Edith. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

      Like

      Reply
  10. mickwynn2013 Avatar
    mickwynn2013

    This was well told. In a post apocalyptic world you have to fly somewhere but where?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Thom Carswell Avatar
      Thom Carswell

      Thanks Mick. Where indeed! And what will they find when they get there?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  11. rochellewisoff Avatar
    rochellewisoff

    Dear Thom,

    I liked the atmosphere in this piece as well as the misfits. I was a little confused by the Sinatra reference at first. Well done nonetheless.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Like

    Reply
    1. Thom Carswell Avatar
      Thom Carswell

      Thanks Rochelle. This might be one of those ‘it made perfect sense in my head’ weeks!

      Like

      Reply
  12. madamewriter Avatar
    madamewriter

    Awesome story…sounds like a screenplay possibility. I absolutely love that you were able to use the word “whilst.”

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Thom Carswell Avatar
      Thom Carswell

      Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. I’ll try and use ‘whilst’ in a few more of my stories now I know you like it!!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  13. draliman Avatar
    draliman

    Very nice. I liked “The Event” – a bit of mystery as to what it was, we can only imagine. Also their ignorance of what has happened across the world. Is it going on as usual, or has The Event brought it all down? Off they go to find out!
    Great stuff. Could be a novel all about their adventures as they make their way across the world searching for survivors.

    Like

    Reply

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