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19.4.18

CHAIN GANG - a 100 word story

CHAIN GANG

We needed six kids holding two chains each, and one to start us off.
Big Carl would grab his chain and run like crazy while our skinny legs struggled to keep up. Muscles screaming, hands burning, round and round, faster and faster, till Carl yelled ‘Now!’ and we lifted our legs and flew.

I let go once, and my loose chain took Carl’s tooth out. Skinned knees were nothing compared with the shame.

Thirty years on, Carl’s big heart gave out. When we wedged our shoulders under his coffin, all six of us were certain we heard him shout, ‘Now!’
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Douglas M Mckillroy's photo is probably of something much more industrial than a children's ride, but this is how I've interpreted this week's Friday Fictioneers' prompt from Rochelle, our glorious leader. Go to her blog  https://rochellewisoff.com/  to read other stories from our group.


What glorious weather we're having in England this week! And it's more of a treat because it's a rarity. Needing some photos for a book cover was my excuse to take the day off and get the bus to Brighton, where I managed to squeeze in lunch, a bit of shopping, and a stroll along the seafront with an icecream in my hand. The kids' rides on Brighton Pier might have influenced my choice of story!


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42 comments:

  1. Helen Baggott19/04/2018, 15:46

    That was lovely. So poignant.

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  2. Dale19/04/2018, 17:14

    Absolutely LOVED this, Liz! Wonderful take. One of my favourites this week.

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  3. Iain Kelly19/04/2018, 17:43

    Such childhood fun, and the reflection of a life time. Lovely. And the ice cream looks good too!

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    1. liz young20/04/2018, 12:35

      Iain - the icecream was good enough for me to finish, which I don't often do!

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  4. Susan A Eames19/04/2018, 17:56

    Such a well crafted story! You managed to make the sad ending happy - brilliantly done!

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

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  5. Linda19/04/2018, 19:35

    Loved this--could see it so clearly. Made me think of the merry-go-rounds we loved when we were kids.

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    1. liz young20/04/2018, 12:36

      My own childhood is in there somewhere too!

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  6. Helen Laycock19/04/2018, 19:56

    Oh, I was there, experiencing the exhilaration. I love the way your stories catch us out with that sudden emotional turn, Liz. Well done.

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    1. liz young20/04/2018, 12:37

      From a story-teller like you that's a lovely compliment, Helen.

      Delete
  7. Patsy19/04/2018, 21:19

    Great story. It made me think of a 'giant's leap' children's game thing I saw once and wanted to try, but couldn't as it was fully occupied with small children, who'd probably have been crushed had I joined in.

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    1. liz young20/04/2018, 12:38

      Thanks Patsy, and I'm intrigued - can you describe the giant's leap, please?

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  8. Susan Kane19/04/2018, 23:23

    Good imagery. Felt the burning legs and flying! Good closure with children now grown laying a hero to rest. Now.

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  9. plaridel20/04/2018, 04:02

    sound like a great guy. he'll be surely missed.

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  10. seaviewwarrenpoint20/04/2018, 11:16

    Another great piece of flash, Liz. Seems like someone just presses a button in your back and out they pop! :)

    marion

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    1. liz young20/04/2018, 12:39

      Thanks Marion - if only it was that easy!

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  11. Fatima Fakier20/04/2018, 13:32

    I love that the story was about friendship, as was mine. Yours reflected on the lifelong friendships that are truly treasurable. They definitely got into a lot of trouble together!

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    1. liz young22/04/2018, 12:55

      Boys will be boys, even in this age of mixed gender signals!

      Delete
  12. Alice Audrey20/04/2018, 20:40

    If he can shout "now" from a coffin, the did it right.

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  13. lisarey1990@gmail.com20/04/2018, 22:53

    Very poignant.

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  14. Penny Gadd21/04/2018, 18:54

    Lovely story, Liz. Great detail about letting go of the chains and Carl's missing tooth. So sad when a good friend dies young, but lovely that they all remembered him taking the lead in their game.

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  15. Alicia L. Jamtaas22/04/2018, 22:43

    Oh! I loved this. It brought back memories of the metal merry-go-round in the park beside the lake in the neighbor where I grew up. It was made from metal and was so very hot in the summer you had to be careful to not sit down when it really got spinning or you'd burn the back of your legs. We had no Carl but we had about ten neighborhood kids who got the job done. Thanks for the memory.

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    1. liz young23/04/2018, 10:04

      Glad it brought back memories, Alicia. You've reminded me of the bigger kids who would spin the roundabout and not let the smaller kids off!

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  16. Anonymous23/04/2018, 07:04

    A touching story.

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  17. brudberg23/04/2018, 14:13

    I wonder if a good team will ever die.

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    1. liz young23/04/2018, 17:50

      Have you ever been part of one, Bjorn?

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  18. Rochelle Wisoff-Fields23/04/2018, 14:31

    Dear Liz,

    Lovely story with lots of heart. You created a lovable character with so few words. Good job. BTW if it's a photo from our Mr. MacIlroy it has to do with disc golf. ;)

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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    1. liz young23/04/2018, 17:51

      Thanks Rochelle - I have never heard of disc golf, which left my imagination free rein!

      Delete
  19. Dawn24/04/2018, 03:53

    What a sweet story. I really enjoyed this one Liz.

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  20. Gah Learner24/04/2018, 12:53

    What a beautiful and vivid tale of a life-long friendship.

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  21. Lynn Love24/04/2018, 17:34

    What a lovely story, though the game sounds absolutely terrifying! Well written and poignant, Liz. Lovely

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    1. liz young26/04/2018, 09:56

      Many of the games I played in my childhood would give Health and Safety nightmares!

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