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18.2.16

EVER-ROLLING STREAM - a 100-word story

EVER-ROLLING STREAM

The man’s complexion had paled to a dirty grey with pain when the small plane took off from Lusaka.
“All right back there?” the pilot called over the drone of the engine.
“The surgeon’s waiting in Johannesburg,” Doctor Luke replied, “Just get us there as quickly as possible.”
The lovely landscape flowed by smoothly – until a boiling column of cloud grew out of nowhere and lifted them thousands of terrfying feet before flinging them clear.
“That was close!” the pilot gasped, but then the plane dropped through an airless pocket, and cartwheeled down to crash in flames on the beautiful, deadly African ground.
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This photograph of a lovely sand-timer was taken by Sandra Crook, one of the writers who post a 100 word story each week for Friday Fictioneers, via Rochelle's blog  https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/
The words from Isaac Watts' hymn came into my head - "Time, like an ever-rolling stream, bears all its sons away" and I remembered, as I often do, my mother's son, my baby brother Luke. This happened 30 years ago.
Here is a link to read the entire hymn: - http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/hymn-lyrics/o_god_our_help_in_ages_past.htm

29 comments:

  1. That was a shocker - the pulling of the rug.

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    1. That's how we felt at the time, Helen.

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  2. That's a sad ending made even sadder by the fact that it is true.

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    1. It is, and it was - no mother should lose a son.

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  3. Didn't see that coming, Lizy. How very sad for your family.

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  4. Oh gosh! Not something you ever forget. Thankyou for sharing, Liz.

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  5. Oh Liz, such a sad story, and sadder to know it was true x

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    1. Sometimes writing it is the only way to get it out.

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  6. That has to be a horrible feeling--knowing you're going down and no way to stop it. Thanks for sharing this very personal story.

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    1. Imagining Luke's last moments haunted me for years.

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  7. Dear Liz,

    No parent should have to outlive her child. Heartbreaking.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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  8. What a terrifying moment... And even more so understanding it was your brother...

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    1. It was a tragedy - my brother, the patient and his wife, and the two brothers who owned the plane all died. They held the funeral in Lusaka Cathedral.

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  9. lovely twist there!

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  10. Such a sad story Liz, and I'm sorry for your loss. And the description of the 'boiling' cloud is so apt. I used to watch the four o'clock thunderstorm 'boiling' up on the horizon when we lived in Jo'burg. I wouldn't have wanted to be in a light aircraft around those storms.

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    1. The clouds grow so fast, and possibly the pilots weren't used to Jo'burg weather - they were farmers who simply volunteered to help a desperately sick man.

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  11. What a heart-breaking story and a horrid way to lose a son (not that there are any good ways, I assure you).
    Well written, Liz.

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    1. No parent should have to buty a child.

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  12. This is captivating and tragical, atmospheric, and great writing. It's also heart-breaking to see that it is true, and that you and your family had to go through this.

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  13. What a tragedy. How awful for your family. Your story is gripping.

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  14. oh my! such a tragic story, but well-penned!

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  15. Words are always so hard to find when such an event happens. 30 years on and words still seem so irrelevant. I believe this is when the 'heart' takes precedence. It alone understands beyond words.
    Liz, this was beautifully written.

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