The air holds a limpid clarity. A goat, nibbling my hedge, looks in the window at me looking out. Birdsong resounds over empty streets. I skype my neighbours, even those I don’t like. In the highway’s asphalt, a crack widens and a seed takes root. There will be no going back to “normal” after this is over.
Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here
Neil MacDonald Author 
Everybody’s writings are on the them of our current existence atm! So interesting how us all being stuck indoors is freeing up the planet – air, wildlife, streets, cities. You can see the skies clearing and breath in fresher air when out on a walk.
LikeLiked by 2 people
And you can see kindess returning
LikeLike
That is ‘theme’ 🙂
LikeLike
Neil, can I ask – do you get a reminder about Friday Fictioneers – or do you just go to Rochelle’s site each week? I only remember (I know, something is wrong with me!) when I get the email from the people I follow 🙂
LikeLike
No, I don’t think there’s any reminder system. It’s just become part of my weekly structure to check the prompt on Rochelle’s site
LikeLike
Hi Trish,
Not sure it helps but I follow Rochelle and I’m emailed every Wednesday when she posts the prompt.
LikeLike
Just follow Rochelle’s blog and you’ll get the prompt on Wednesdays…
LikeLike
I just looked out my window to see 3 deer running around the cul de sac and thought of the wildlife taking over. Good story, Neil. I wonder if the duration of the event will make us more environmentally thoughtful?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Sascha. At the very least, it is making us more conscious of our interdepence, and that SHOULD make us more conscious of the world we live in and our obligation to those who come after us
LikeLike
Haha I remember reading goats were taking over Wales (I think it was Wales). Great descriptions :).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Tannille
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the picture
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Saania
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure! 💖
LikeLike
I can very much relate to this, I recall being hounded by a herd of goats at Cheddar Gorge.
LikeLiked by 2 people
On the other hand, there’s good eating on a goat
LikeLike
That’s true, but a little hard on the goats
LikeLiked by 1 person
Concise and beautifully poignant, Neil.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Susan
LikeLike
Dear Neil,
Skyping people you don’t even like? That’s desperation. 😉
Shalom.
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 2 people
I don’t. It’s a story. I’m not nearly as nice as my characters.
LikeLiked by 4 people
This is the new normal.
Life continues outside safely while we are inside safely.
Stay home. Stay safe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Anita
LikeLike
Anita, your comment sparked a thought. Maybe that’s where the humans need to stay. Locked safely away while nature heals.
LikeLike
Who knows where we will end up. I got my head round doing Zoom video meetings, then realised there was no one I particularly needed or wanted to talk to…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Try the Stay at Home Literary Festival. https://stayathomefest.wordpress.com/programme/ It’s on Zoom
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent allegory today. I agree. We must become adept at embracing change.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Joshua
LikeLike
This isn’t based in Llandudno by any chance, is it? Did you see the footage of goats reclaiming the streets? Marvellous. I can certainly hear more birdsong than usual. Loving that at least. As to how life will change, we’ll have to wait and see. Timely story, Neil
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I stole the Welsh goats
LikeLike
Lovely! They were amazing. Not sure I want them running round here, eating my garden though 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
C’mon, Neil, it doesn’t need to be so depressing!
You capture the mood with your usual assurance – ‘even those I don’t like’ made me grin.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much
LikeLike
Evocative. One hopes that “normal” will improve as a result of this ugly virus.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s my hope
LikeLiked by 1 person
One blessing of this disturbing period in our lives is that at least people have stopped bleating about how many types of gender there are and whether they’re in the right one for them at this point in their lives. Staying alive, whatever, is the main focus. A thoughtful piece, Neil and I loved ‘skyping people I don’t like”. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Sandra. I was quite pleased with that touch
LikeLike
No, there will be no going back to before. (I get your comment on mine 😉 )
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Dale
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Limpid clarity” is a perfect description of that sky. I agree we will never go back to normal again. I just haven’t figured out if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. Beautiful writing, Neil.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Jade
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are very welcome.
LikeLike
“In the highway’s asphalt, a crack widens and a seed takes root.” I love the way you use this as a metaphor to show the depth of the change that’s happening.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Penny
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is the hope, that in the end of this terrible event something good will come. I loved the way you described in so few words the conditions we all face. Excellent writing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Brenda
LikeLike
“normal” is a setting on a dish-washer, me say … 😉
And … yes, life is more about change than anything, though sometimes change happens a lot bit faster than we’d choose or anticipated …
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like that definition of normal
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
I felt a big sigh as I read this. Thinking of you.
Tracey
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Tracey
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve always had a warm place in my heart for “Earth Abides,” the ’49 novel by George Steward. Haven’t thought about it in years but it certainly fits into today’s situation. Cheers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well-spotted
LikeLike
God, I hope its not that long, but I doubt things will ever be back to “normal” again. Good stuff Neil
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much
LikeLike
ALREADY THE EARTH IS CLEANER. LOVELY SHORT SHORT.
LikeLike
Thanks so much, Liz
LikeLike
many years from now, we’ll look at this time with fondness as it has helped set our priorities right. I mean, if we’re still alive by then.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We will be alive, most of us anyway. This virus is extremely infectious, but not extremely lethal
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wonder! Will we think so and live without those items that once we could never live without? What does essential mean in our world?
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s hard to guess what will be changed when we emerge, But it’s fairly certain the world will be different
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nope! There is no going back, I hope. “Back” sometimes isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Forward, ever forward
LikeLike
Great writing Neil. Loved the goats looking in and you looking out and also Skyping the neighbours that you don’t like. The message of increasing loneliness comes across to me and the crack in the road with the new green shoot says it all. Superb.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Derek
LikeLike
Very true. Maybe the new normal will be better, friendlier. At least for a while.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s my hope
LikeLike
Ah, dread and freedom. Indeed I fear nothing will be the same again and I’m worried about whether it will be a good thing or not
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m pretty sure it will be a good thing (though perhaps not quite as good as I hope). Look at the social reforms that had to follow the two world wars
LikeLike
“even those I don’t like” 😀 That makes a vivid picture of loneliness.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Eugenia
LikeLike
Very evocative, Neil, you get the mood of silent isolation so clearly, not counting the Skyping of disliked neighbours !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much
LikeLike
The image of the goat nibbling your hedge speaks volumes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Magarisa
LikeLiked by 1 person
There are so many stories going around these days of the Earth rejuvenating. But you are right, there is no going back to normal after this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perhaps we’ll rejuvenate too
LikeLike