Legs pumping, heart pounding, Irgul thrust his way up the mountain path. He raced through the stone archway into the cloying fug of the memory chamber. Donba glared, strong arms corded as he stirred the thick vat.
Irgul bent, hands on thighs, gasping for breath. “Sorry, sorry, I’m late. Give me a minute.”
“It’s a solemn responsibility keeping the tribe’s remembrances mixed. Where were you?”
Irgul winked. ”Making memories.”
His friend had to laugh. “Yes, I saw them arrive. Crimson. Nice one, lad.”
He took the handle from Donba and ladled, lest the heavy elements separate out.
Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here.
Neil MacDonald Author 
Dear Neil,
That’s a different way to make memories. Intriguing.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle
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I take it those are someone else’s memories being mixed in the vat. Still, a sense of humour goes a long way when you’re up to your ears in work.
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The whole tribe’s memories
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There’s a lot unsaid in this piece – I like it. My take is that Irgul has been making memories with someone who arrived wearing crimson (a romantic or sexual liaison??) when he should have been working with Donba on stirring the tribes’ memories. Am I right?
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Absolutley right, Claire. You, like Donba, saw Irgul’s wink. It’s always hard to tell, as we discussed last week, how much information to give the reader. I love it when people read my flash fictions and understand what I meant. I love it even more when they see a story I hadn’t thought of
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Great idea and done with a lovely sprinkling of humour. Nice one.
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Thanks, Iain
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Can’t blame a person for getting a little before a hard day’s work. Nicely written.
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Thanks Caerlynn
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Very good, Neil, and for a second successive week I understood it.
Well done both of us!
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I must be doing something wrong then. Thanks so much
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Very cool. Like a red pensieve.
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Thanks so much
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Very Intriguing. but now I want more… 🙂 as usual 🙂
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Thanks, Morgan
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Can’t blame him for wanting to make memories instead of stirring them! Nicely done.
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Thanks. Clare
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Always good to make new memories to keep with the old ones! And it sounds like Irgul made a good one. Great and original take on the prompt, Neil
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Thanks. Lynn
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My pleasure 🙂
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Love the character’s names and the cloying fug.
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Thanks, Paul
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Making memories, that’s what we all should focus on. 🙂
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Thanks
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Just keeping memories is not enough… For some reason this reminds me of “The clan of the cave bear” and I’m not referring to just the thumbed pages.
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That’s an interesting book for this to remind you of
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I felt danger in this, heavy metals and crimson, perhaps a Roman legion is approaching.
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Thanks, Michael
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This totally made me think of The Giver. Heavy stuff written in a light-hearted way! Nice job.
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Thanks so much
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Memory maker plus purifier! “Pick one, pick two, pick me!” – I’m taking all the good ones and letting the to rest.;)
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Memories are sticky things. It’s hard to pick just one without a clump coming with it
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Try calling out good ones and watch for their buddies to show up.;)
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*the rest to rest.;)
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Heh, I think this time I got it. What I like most is that you can watch the memories arrive without having to add anything. I really like Imgur.
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He’s a very naughty boy
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Creative … VERY creative! The idea is good, but the way you write them always is original-sounding and not boring. You keep it moving. Bravo, Neil!
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Thanks so much William
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I do like this – very much. Ditto what William said.
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Thanks so much Alicia
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I like how Irgul’s response referenced memories, as if he’s trying to relate it to his work. But this is still part of the tribe’s memories, possibly contributing to continuing it for another generation.
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Thanks so much
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Making memories? Crimson ones? Figures! Quite sinister, to say the least!
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Thanks so much
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ooo I love that they are ‘memory vats’ and your play on ‘making memories.’ bravo!
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Thanks Melinda
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You’re welcome 🙂
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Brilliant.
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Thanks so much
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Wonderful story. I love the idea of memory vats and the interplay between the two characters is delightful.
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An interesting take on the prompt.
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Thanks, Dawn
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Well, I was right in what I thought. This is a magical piece. I’m not sure most people would want someone knowing what they thought, though. Good writing, Neil. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thanks, Suzanne
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