Flies buzzed. They flew in slomo before landing on the ham sandwiches and the pink cupcakes. How much shit had they sat on before touchdown? Was I going to be eating pure ecoli or no germs at all. I brushed them away. They rose as a black cloud, descending on food out of my arm’s reach. It was too hot to care. The fans did little to challenge the heat. Soon it wouldn’t matter – we’d all be baked inside this tin can. The sweat raged as a torrent flowing down the gullies of my face. The bride and groom must be boiling. They were clothed for occasion; not for comfort. They’d look like they were melting in the photos. I was no fan of swimming but I yearned for the river. They’d not miss me. I took off.
I was close to the river when I heard a loud kabooom. I turned. The shed had gone, engulfed in flames. Running, no longer caring about the heat. How I hated terrorists.
Thank you to our host Priceless Joy and to Yarnspinner for supplying this week’s photo prompt.
Word count 171
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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) 
Very well crafted.
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Thank you Yarnspinner and thank you for the photo prompt.
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To flies landing on food to the kaboom by terrorists. It wasn’t a short story, it was a thrilling joyride!
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Thank you very much.
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A perpetually difficult life punctuated by terrorism.
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That is true James. It is hard to imagine an ordinary life suddenly no longer being ordinary.
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I guess if it happens often enough, even terrorism can be “ordinary.”
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You have a good point there James. We here about it on the news all the time and we do turn off to it because it is happening so frequently. I guess that makes it ordinary. Sad state of affairs that that is so.
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I love the twists and turns of this story! You had me spellbound 🙂
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Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.
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I did. for more than one reason. I liked the plot, but I also enjoy your writing voice.
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I felt like I was in sweltering heat then my miraculous escape of terrorists! Wow, Irene, Great Story!
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Thank you Joy. I think the flies and heat would feel like bliss compared to Kaboom.
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I agree with you! 🙂
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I could feel the heat! And those flies…..eeeewww! The twist was also on point. Beautifully expressed.
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Thank you for your lovely comment. I’m glad you could feel it.
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The description of the grueling heat made me feel as if I was actually there, sweating it out with the narrator.
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Thank you. I’m glad you felt it. That is good news for me as a writer. Much appreciated.
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Yikes! That took a nasty turn. I was expecting something like the bride and groom running to the river as well. This one literally went up in fire.
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It wasn’t going there originally but I guess all those news reports are in my subconscious and it just came out. Thanks for reading.
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Oh, no! How horrible to think of the bride and groom – and most of their families, dying on the wedding day. It amazes me how anybody can think something like this is a ‘good’ thing.
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Yes it beggars belief but I hear it happening all the time – they seem to like weddings and funerals and I can’t understand the mentality that allows them to do it at any time.
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this was so good, your description of the heat was lovely and short as it may be, the story was a pleasure to read. I couldn’t take my eyes off the page!
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Thank you so much for this lovely comment. It will send me to sleep with a smile on my face.
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