The 100 Word Challenge this week is a photograph. Sometimes I see the prompt and an idea instantly jumps out at me. This is a subject I worry about even though the situation probably won't become drastic in my lifetime. Pop over to Julia's Place to read the other entries.
The girls crawled out of their three-tiered bunks, dressed, and folded away their sheets ready for the day sleepers.
Susie washed at the kitchen sink and grabbed a sandwich. There was nowhere to sit but on a bed even if she'd had the time.
In the streets two masses of humanity slowly moved to and from the station. The train, no seats, was jam packed.
The nine desks in the small office, four workers apiece, made it impossible to move without disturbing everyone.
"I had that dream again," Susie whispered to Jo.
"How strange, I wonder what it means?"
Yikes.....must appreciate all my space while I can! I used to work in an office that was gradually moving towards total "hot-desking" it was horrid. Great post.
ReplyDeleteThanks MumB. I sometimes panic and think and I should sell up here for a plot of land in Northern Scotland, before it's too late.
DeleteChilling and hopefully not prophetic.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm hoping for that theory that the world population will self regulate itself and either stop at a certain number or gradually reduce a little.
DeleteThis was a very original take on the prompt - a reverse to the theme of the picture (in my eyes) - I felt claustrophobic reading that - especially the train (I don't like packed trains) and the idea of sharing a desk with that many people. Not the kind of dream I would want to have! X.
ReplyDeletePs. I reread that again, and again, and realised I had read an entirely different meaning into it - I'm a bit slow on the uptake sometimes - So, I am not surprised she was having that dream given her very claustrophobic existence - scary thing, that it could one day be a reality!
DeleteYes very scary. Interesting that it could be read the other way as well. If it were the other way, though, I might have called it a nightmare rather than a dream.
DeleteOh wow I love this! A great take on the prompt and very chilling. To be honest when I worked in the city in London it felt very much like this going to work every day so perhaps it's not so far into the future after all! x
ReplyDeleteWhen I bought my flat one of the things that attracted me to it and that I still love, is that it's on the side of a hill facing the valley and there is a low school building opposite. I love looking out onto a view rather than another building across the road. I do feel hemmed in sometimes in built up areas.
DeleteI liked the different spin on the prompt. Rather that attacking what you see, using it to support what you have built around it.
ReplyDeleteI find myself dreaming of words sitting on a cliff...
do you think you might know what that means?
Randy
Hmmm words sitting on a cliff? Could you possibly have something to write that is just waiting to be launched into the world?
DeleteWe never appreciate what we have, do we. I like the different take on the prompt.
ReplyDeleteTrue but I'm not sure I can find much to appreciate in Susie's world. On the other hand a happy medium would probably be best.
DeleteGosh that is chilling, but very very well written x
ReplyDeleteThanks Liska. Interesting that you say chilling. I thought it was quite funny but no one else seems to have picked up on any humour. Oh well :).
DeleteI've often had that dream. My place is a turnoff in the road overlooking a place called Red Rock Canyon. I've spent a lot of time there. beautiful post!
ReplyDeleteThank you. I guess we all have our dream place. Mine is in the English countryside overlooking rolling hills or by a swiss lake.
ReplyDeleteOoh - very original interpretation! And "four workers apiece"? One on each side of each desk? Yikes. I'm sitting here feeling afraid to move my elbows in case I hit someone - and there's no one else but me in the room.
ReplyDeleteA very very effective story!
Thank you, frightening isn't it?
DeleteThis claustrophobic scene scares me. What a scathingly realistic picture of how awful the overpopulation problem could get. The only open spaces could become those like in the photo, where homes and offices couldn't be built. Was her dream the depiction in the photo?
ReplyDeleteYes the dream was the photo but I was thinking of it in a more symbolic way as if she were yearning for solitude but didn't realize it, or didn't even know what solitude was but yearned for it anyway.
DeleteWow, that's frightening... Thinking that this could be the future for our children (or their children's children)... I already feel like that when I have to catch the tube to work. Thank goodness I work part-time! I don't think I could live without open spaces to retreat to. How sad to only have that experience in a dream... Great take on the prompt - I've read some really original entries this week!
ReplyDeleteI am fixated on your comment: how sad to only have that experience in a dream. It's a Pandora's box of a comment in so many areas of life. You have really got me thinking about this now.
DeleteIntriguing post this one, and totally unexpected. The very opposite of the image - excess space versus an excessive lack of space... I've read and re-read it over and over, but can't find the funny in it! Very good post though
ReplyDeleteI suppose it's not that funny then. I was amused by the last line as it's patently obvious what the dream means.
ReplyDeleteOooh loved it, it has the makings of a great book!
ReplyDeleteThank you - it is a book, a very short one. ;o)
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