Today’s Friday Fictioneers photo prompt is from our fearless leader, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. The Fictioneers say hello to Sebatian Joshua Pendergast, born Nov. 4, 2012 to fellow Fictioneers “Elmowrites”, AKA Jen. Sebastian, we’re eagerly awaiting your first submission. 🙂 My story is inspired not only by this picture and the sci-fi riff always lurking about the Fictioneers, but by all those still suffering from Hurricane Sandy. Prayers go up for you daily.
To read all the stories, go to http://www.inlinkz.com/wpview.php?id=208942.
The Way It Spozed To Be
It wasn’t supposed to be this way.
We’d obeyed The One’s commands…no fossil fuels, fats, sugars, big business or AC, keep moving in the winter; worship only in the theater, on TV or on Sunday afternoons.
No Old Ones as teachers of survival–hadn’t wanted them to suffer. No young to save–too inconvenient. Nature had been tamed. We were in control.
In hidden pockets, the Rebels lived with the old skills, drinking deeply of life.
We drank only Kool-Aid.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way. It wasn’t supposed to be so cold. We weren’t meant to die…were we?
This, that and the other thing 
Funny how just the mention of Kool-Aid introduces the spectre of religious zealotry. I’ve been involved in NaNoWriMo and miss these challenges. Great story.
Pre-, Mid- or Post-Apocalyptic? That is the question. Another question is, what is the “authentic” life, really? Rod Dreher is very much a hipster journalist, crunchy con and all that. But he celebrates his deceased sister, who ate all the fast food and laughed at his Whole Foods obsession and wine snobbery. Where do we find what’s real? Maybe it’s outside of all those things. 🙂
Provocative. Thank you.
Here’s mine: http://wrasselings.blogspot.com/2012/11/friday-fictioneers-castle.html
Been there, read that, enjoyed it. Thanks for the comments and for reading. “Hipster journalist, crunchy con”–look out! 🙂 Have to look him up.
Cindy, I read Rod Dreher, too! He lives very near me. Good question about what makes an “authentic” life.
I, too, was hit by radical religious practices and Kool-Aid in the same piece. More chilling than the ice on that window, I’d say.
I think “drinking the Kool-Aid” now has more to do with any sort of blind following, not just those traditionally religious in nature. Of course, blind followers often follow “gods” of their own and, in that sense, can be considered religious. The latter would apply here.
That’s exactly why it’s chilling. It makes me think of Jonestown. Those who don’t remember it should Google it. A horrid example of blind following.
The story well captures the sentiment of shock, disappointment, betrayal.
Thanks, Abraham, for reading and commenting.
There’s such a lot in this piece, I’ve had to read it several times. So many images. Really well done.
Thanks, Sandra. Glad you liked it and thanks for stopping by when you’re so busy (having fun!)
Here you go, Janet: http://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/
No Fats or Sugars??? I’m joining the rebels… Sounds like Hell has frozen over.
http://tedstrutz.com/2012/11/08/friday-fictioneers-thieves-in-the-light/
It’s just New York City. 🙂
Hi Janet
Excellent dark, futuristic story. Reminded me of novels like The Road and 1984. Ron
Lovely compliment, Ron. Thanks. And thanks for coming by and reading.
fantastic. rhythms of sentences, pacing, suggestion – nice work!
Thanks. Nice to read before turning in for the night.
Just thinking about the identity of The One who admonishes followers to “worship only in the theater, on TV…” Insightful description of a possible future, people drawn in by seemingly healthy lifestyle, then convinced to stop prolonging the life of the elderly, then to stop creating progeny, then to swallow that last lie, literally. A dark tale, crisply and brilliantly told.
Merci, Jan.
Dear Janet,
Oh, so loved the Kool-Aid and the apocalyptic normalcy you imparted to this piece. Thaks for stopping by mine earlier today.
Aloha,
Doug
I’m glad you liked the normalcy. I find that more frightening than over-the-top rhetoric or too much excitement.
Great opening line — it drew me in. And I like realism of realizing the danger in “drinking Kool-Aid” too late. It gave the story a chill appropriate to the prompt!
Thanks, Jan. Glad you stopped by.
Very stark and chilling, and the scariest part is the possible reality you have so aptly depicted. Great job.
Here’s mine, in a similar vein: http://unexpectedpaths.com/friday-fictioneers/cold-reason/
Thanks so much.
“No young to save–too inconvenient”–I’m surprised there was anyone left to drink the Kool-Aid. But then, it looks like there won’t be for very long. Sad prediction for the future of a society of sheep.
Hopefully not a prediction although it’s happening at least in some ways around the world.
Following blindly, doing as we’re told, and expecting someone else to take care of us. That theme continually gets repeated throughout history and always fails. The voice of your character captures it well.
You’re right, Russ. Thanks for reading and commenting.
We weren’t supposed to die, were we? I enjoyed the doubt creeping in.
Mine is here: http://erinleary.wordpress.com/2012/11/08/flash-friday-fiction-15/
Thanks, Erin. I guess the Kool-Aid hadn’t totally taken effect.
Drank the Kool-aid, did you? Oops.
Fortunately for me, I don’t like Kool-Aid. I mostly drink water, almond milk, tea and Guinness, with a nice glass of wine periodically. 🙂
🙂 Yum Guinness. (And of course that “you” meant your narrator 😉 )
Ahhh, I see it all now, as clearly as through a frosted windowpane. 🙂 I really am a bit foggy this morning for some reason. Have to have another cup of tea right away!!
Kool-Aid never liked the stuff….A fine piece of work Janet. Count me in with the rebels…
Tom
I’ll be seeing you in the hills, Tom. Always hated Kool-Aid myself!
This was truly chilling in an apocalyptic way. Well done 🙂
Thanks for coming out of your warm basement to read and comment. 🙂 I always enjoy hearing responses to what I write (or photograph, on my blog).
Very poignant slice of thinking – and doubt. Hope I’d have the courage to be with the rebels.
There are several of the Friday Fictioneers there so come on over. 🙂 Thanks for reading and have a wonderful weekend.
Very intriguing! I’d like to know more about that world, which tells you something. And it made me wonder if I’d be the speaker or a rebel. I love the “Kool-Aid” metaphor.
Thanks–both for reading and commenting. I love it when something I write makes people think a/o feel.
Scary and cold. Like if Jonestown and Soylent Green got married.
A marriage made in hell! Thanks for reading, commenting and liking. Have a horror-free weekend!
Very intriguing and complex! The most stunning line is “We drank only Kool-Aid.” That conjures up so many things for me. Well done.
Thanks, Amy. I don’t like Kool-Aid, but it certainly didn’t get any help from Jonestown, did it?
Chilling.
I’m ready to see the movie to answer some of the mysteries. Was it mass suicide a la Jonestown due to the cold, or is the KoolAid a red herring (or red KoolAid) and it the cold itself killing them? I’m hoping for Denzel Washington is the movie too.
Sad and stirring (and I don’t mean the Kool-Aid in a pitcher!) Weird that we now associate a kids’ drink with radical religious views. Well done–and thanks for stopping by mine.
Thanks, Beth, although I’m would say just radical views in lock-step, whether religious in the usual sense of the word or not.
I like to think this is more futuristic where many have forgotten how to cook and actually farm things themselves and kool-aid is an old timer treat to enjoy. well done and thanks for stopping by and yes I hope there are no mice this season.
🙂