
Up to the edge of my hedge, I am safe. I stare out into the empty road—no cars, no people, only increasingly bold foxes.
Then there, at the bottom of the lane, a figure silhouetted by the early morning sun. It walks towards me, as if out of a dream. Another person. Tentatively, I raise my hand.
“How do,” it says, stopping at my gate.
Stranger danger! Who knows what the creature carries?
I run inside and bolt my door.
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
How do we know who to trust?
LikeLiked by 1 person
We don’t. That’s how teust works
LikeLiked by 3 people
The new PTSD for the general population. It will take us a while to get back to how we used to interact with people – if ever.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yup, I miss punching people
LikeLiked by 1 person
Everything was simpler back then
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wonder about a world where we have all learned to live without external human contact. Four months in, and it’s getting easier all the time…
LikeLiked by 2 people
In Southern Africa they say people become people through other people
LikeLike
Feels like May.
Nicely told.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much
LikeLike
Dear Neil,
Was the stranger wearing a mask? (So much controversy over it) Just curious. I like the tension and mystery in this.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope not. Masks are scary. Thanks, Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t blame you considering the times we are living in 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Moumita
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d be more worried about the increasingly tame foxes. They might look sweet when they’re little, but they grow up into nasty little bar stools. Good take on a telling image, Neil. You did it justice. I imagine it was only the postman.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Jilly. One thing is for sure–the narrator isn’t going to leave their DNA in the gene pool
LikeLike
Love this, it made me laugh.
Excellent black humour.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much
LikeLike
In some places one is better off taking chances with the foxes. Perhaps a guard fox would help?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now there’s an idea!
LikeLiked by 1 person
How unutterably sad. We have allowed a culture of fear to change our lives.
LikeLiked by 1 person
At the same time, the world is full of people who think the pandemic is all a hoax. And they’re out partying
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know why/how anyone can think it’s a hoax. Incredibly stupid, or totally blind. I just deplore the fear factor.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perhaps a casserole, but maybe the plague. Can’t be too careful these days.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Keep the body for a week and you can have the casserole without fear of contamination
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dangerous times. Hope the hero is safe at home!
Stay safe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Anita
LikeLike
The simplest interactions these days are suspicious.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And yet we all depend on each other
LikeLiked by 1 person
And frequently forget that as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fear is understandable until it becomes irrational. Happy days!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Calculating risk is essential. If only they’d give us the data
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s much we don’t know I’m sure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yikes, let’s hope this isn’t the shape of things to come!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hopefully, it’s the shape of things that were
LikeLike
Perfect peak into my mind! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
That made me smile, Tina
LikeLiked by 1 person
My good deed for the day 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good one. Is that truly the end or is more mystery lurking in a box?
LikeLiked by 1 person
The box is optional to the reader
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now you got me thinking about the TV advert with the talking box advising folks to mail in a stool sample. Dang. Now I want to rewrite it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sign of the times.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sadly, it may be, but I hope not
LikeLike
Sigh of the times too. I wish we could be more trustful. I know that sadly I am not always.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’ve learned a big lesson that we have to depend on each other
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stranger danger is my default mode during this pandemic. Nice allegory!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Paula
LikeLike
How sad that it may all come down to this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t think it will, but second lockdowns are going to be traumatic
LikeLike
A very relatable protagonist. Great story!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s the one thing I hate about this situation. Everything has become suspicious…
LikeLiked by 1 person
But also everyone has a greater sense of interconnectedness and interdence
LikeLiked by 2 people
True.
LikeLike
It’s going to take time before we switch back to human contact feeling normal.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Especially for those who’re touchy-feely
LikeLiked by 1 person
The new normal. You described it well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s the biginning of an intriguing story right here!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Liz
LikeLike
Maybe a ‘keep away’ sign would help?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good idea
LikeLike
Love the first rhyming line, “Up to the edge of my hedge, I am safe”…such a sad, but honest take on today.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much
LikeLike
it surely feels like living in the time of the pandemic. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think someone has been too long in quarantine. The new normal, at least for a while. An excellent eerie fell to this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Brenda
LikeLiked by 1 person
*oops … meant ‘feel.’
LikeLike
Oy, poor terrified dude … 😉
I think that’s how some people felt, and how some may still feel … and it makes me sad. Because whole precautions are important, and should be taken (and enforce, IMO), the terror is optional …
Then again, that ‘stranger’ may not be wearing a mask for ‘political statement of selfishness reasons’ and in that case … 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes there are still many people who feel this way.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know a few, yes. It is sad to me, because one can be careful without being scared. And yet … everyone manages differently.
LikeLiked by 1 person
These days you never know, though there may be a good surprise inside.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He’ll never know
LikeLiked by 1 person
A lot of people after quarantine. LOL. Still waiting for Mad Max to show up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Or Elvis
LikeLiked by 1 person
Unless they are from the Lottery Prize Patrol, stay off my steps, stranger! Did you mean bold foxes or fold boxes? 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
If you win the lottery I’ll raise a glass with you to our Quear deen
LikeLike
And not expeed the seed limit.
LikeLike
I like how this was set up. Looks like human contact is too much to handle for the narrator right now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So unusual as to be alarming
LikeLike
So well observed Neil, I can completely identify with your man. Like the early morning light.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much
LikeLike
Isolation has that effect sometimes…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed it does
LikeLike