photo prompt by Roger Bultot
“I’m going to the ampitheatre.” Bhoudi stamped her foot. “I have to, if I’m to be saved.”
“We should go with her. What if the end of the world is nigh?” Bhoudi smiled her thanks to her mother. She didn’t expect the appocalypse but she did want to see Krishnamurti, walk on water. She looked at her father.
“Alright. We’ll all go.” They walked to the river and joined the throng of Theophisists chanting and praying in the temple. The non-believers mocked.
Suddenly the water smoothed. A mushroom cloud rolled in. The insults stopped. Bhoudi smiled. “Krishnamurti! I am saved.”
For other Friday Fictioneers
Historical note: Krishnamurti severed his ties with Theosophy in the 1920s and Theosophosists deny they ever expected him to enter Sydney Harbour walking on water. My Auntie Bhoudi, a theosophist, joined the throngs down by the harbour waiting for him to arrive.
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About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
All it takes is a little faith? Nicely done, Irene.
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If only faith could be rewarded with a definite sign now and then.
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But then it wouldn’t be faith….
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Dear Irene,
What a unique take on the prompt and an interesting bit of history.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle.
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The mushroom cloud seems to be a bit of a worry.
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Yes I think the apocalypse has come.
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A unique take on the photo.
Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you. The river surface looked solid and the cloud looked ominous and the story came to mind.
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Wow! Are you talking about J. Krishnamurthy? (Jiddu Krishnamurthy)
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Yes I am. The Order of the Star of the East was set up to prepare the way for his role of World Teacher. He came to Australia in 1925 and lectured at the ampitheatre at Balmoral but by 1929 he had distanced himself from this role and severed his ties from theosophy as he became an original independent thinker on matters philosophical, psychological and spiritual. The theosophists believed he would walk on water through Sydney Heads and according to my Father they sat down there to await the end of the world. This flash is very loosely based on that – I thought the water looked like glass and could be walked upon and the cloud – the end of the world and so there I was led.
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A unique take on what would be terrifying to most of us. Irene, you wrote a lot of story in a small number of words – well done.
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Thanks Sharon. Although the historical element was far removed from the photo the elements of the photo bought it to mind.
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Great use of the prompt, I nearly always enjoy historically based themes.
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Thanks Michael. The photo prompted memories of stories of my aunt waiting for the end of the world and waiting to watch Krishnamurti walk through Sydney Heads on water. This prompted a fictional take based very loosely on history.
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What an interesting relative to have, and the story, too. Loved it! 🙂
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She was a real character. I knew her as a child and she did some really bizzarre things. Thanks.
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Your Aunty had a lot of belief! A very interesting take on the prompt Irene
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Thanks Lynn. She was a strange character. I think all families have one but we loved her. She was exotic to us kids.
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My pleasure Irene
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If that mushroom clouds means what I think it does, I think she has a few more minutes before she can determine whether she’s been saved or not – I hope for her sake that she’s right!
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I think she is already in the process of going – she’s seen the equivalent of the bright light at the end of the tunnel. She probably has been saved and taken to an afterlife of some description.
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Ah, that’s a more positive interpretation, and I always prefer the positive view!
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Haha
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Thanks for giving us a little bit of your history wrapped inside world history. Nicely done.
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Thank you Alicia.
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A delightful snippet of faction! Nice one
Click to read my FriFic!
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Thank you Keith.
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So did really happen? 🤔🤔🤔
I am more curious about that!😊😊😊
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In reality they waited and nothing happened. 😂
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😂😂😂
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You draw a vivid scene of the throng of the faithful, and the mocking doubters. The denouement, with its suggestion of apocalypse, is most satisfying.
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Glad you found it satisfying Penny.
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Love learning something new. I didn’t know about Theosophy–heard the term, didn’t know the history. Thanks!
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I think there is a lot more to theosophy than I have here but glad it gave you a little introduction to it.
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Very nice.
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Thanks Dawn.
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That was a most interesting take. What a cool aunty to have 😉
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Thanks. She is certainly one aunt that we remember vividly.
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I enjoyed the effort. I especially liked the line about the non-believers. I have to listen to them myself as I am not a believer in organized religion but more of a believer in God and Spirit.
Scott
Mine: https://kindredspirit23.wordpress.com/2017/10/31/reckoning-friday-fictioneers/
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Thank you. I would like to think that we respect each others beliefs more in this day and age but I fear we probably don’t.
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I am finding a lot that we don’t. I would like to say it is mostly the older people having problems, but I see all ages dealing with the issue. It is sad that the most judgmental of all are usually those who are in a religious environment.
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I think fanaticism of any type creates dangerous situations. We have to be able to listen to other points of view without a closed mind and unfortunately for religious zealots of all persuasions they have difficulty opening their mind to others beliefs. I have also come across atheists whose minds are closed as well because they are so fixed on their antireligious views. We all need to learn to listen properly.
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Just had a Calvanist Southern Baptist talk to me a few days ago. While he was nice (insistent, but nice), polite, and interesting to talk to, his general voice was telling me why I was going to hell. I didn’t mind talking to him, I just found it rather unappealing.
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Yes you can’t have a conversation with a closed mind.
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Sure you can, but one side just isn’t listening!
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Isn’t that called a lecture?
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Some would say so, yes…
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