Behind us, bright lights ho-ho-humming in the night, and the merry jingle of coins pinging into their slots, the city one immense pinball machine. Ahead, darkness.
Oh, they were good times! We didn’t know it then, but we do now. Simple times—the times before. We understood what to expect.
Anything can lurk in the obscurity to come. Maybe a dragon, but maybe also a unicorn. Probably nothing. But it’s the uncertainty we fear. Even if we believed cataclysm was coming, we’d be buoyed by the knowing, and step forward jaunty to meet it.
.
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 
“We didn’t know it then…” Spot on. And yes, the uncertainty, the inability to plan looms large in all our minds. A nostalgic reflection for different circumstances than has customarily been the case. Well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Sandra
LikeLike
And that’s the beauty of life- we didn’t know then, nor are we any wiser now 🙂
We just know- Christmas is round the corner & the New Year will come anyhow!
LikeLiked by 1 person
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
LikeLike
Life must battle on it seems. Greeting from a rather chilly Yorkshire
LikeLiked by 1 person
And we have to get used to uncertainty
LikeLike
Ah sweet simple times, how I miss you… I think society goes through waves. New normals will be embraced eventually.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If only we’d known they were sweet simple times then
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly. We humans tend to overlook the good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Neil,
The saying goes that hindsight is 20/20. Or how many times have we said, “If I knew then what I know now…” But we didn’t. We could only put one foot in front of the other and do the best we could. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Rochelle
LikeLike
What can bed done if it comes, or it does not come? There is a relief sometimes in not knowing and being unprepared.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s true. Though we naturally tend to prepare for all conceivable eventualities (if the rains come, I’ll plant my crops. If they don’t come, I’ll go to the city and look for work)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve been saying that a lot lately – ‘If I had known” – but in reality it wouldn’t have made a lot of difference. Life may change but it still goes on in some form, and there’s damn all we can do about it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s the thing about life. Just one damn thing after another.
LikeLike
Oh so true about uncertainty. It cultivates an atmosphere of dread. Good writing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Jade
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re very welcome.
LikeLike
I like that, “we understand what to expect.” Now, we don’t. I wish for simple times as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Brenda
LikeLike
Well done, Neil. Oh yes, to remember the past fondly while fearing future’s unknown.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Bill
LikeLiked by 1 person
We never know then what then will mean later…
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, we don’t. Of course, if we did, we wouldn’t do it
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly.
LikeLike
I think when I was younger, I never understood the consequences of uncertainty. Now-a-days I try to avoid uncertainty.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good luck with avoiding uncertainty, James
LikeLiked by 1 person
Uncertainty is the only thing we can be certain of these days!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exciting isn’t it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Or maybe run in the opposite direction to avoid the cataclysmic event.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So long as it doesn’t have us surrounded
LikeLike
True that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We probably had lesser, more manageable uncertainties before, especially those of us who have never had to live in a country at war. Strange to remember those lesser uncertainties now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And a diversion to contemplate the uncertainties to come
LikeLike
like they say, uncertainties favor the bold. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is that
LikeLiked by 1 person
An interesting take on the future. For me there’s little difference. When I was young, there was the constant threat of nuclear war. I lived and live in Germany and in the days of the cold war, that would have been the place of first strike. My friends and I would say, it’s good to live close to an industrial area, then we won’t have to suffer. Still, we looked forward to the future with hope and optimism, despite acid rain and the ozone hole, because we were young. Now we’re old and have similarly, or worse, things to fear for the future. It won’t be our future any more though and we don’t have the strength and optimism of youth any more. Maybe that’s why we’re more afraid of the uncertainty? Sorry for blabbing on so long…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember the constant threat of nuclear war. I don’t remember any fear though. Perhaps I forgot it
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was more like an uneasy feeling sitting at the back of our minds. Not fear that would paralize. Unlike now though, there was little we could do other than go to peace marches.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Quite a dystopia, when we look back nostalgically at the commercialisation of Christmas. Very effective writing, Neil. I like how you take each idea and push it just a little further than I expect; and how you use strong and effective vocabulary with precision.
It’s interesting though, following on from your story, how we’ve largely got used to the unknown of Covid. We’re mostly taking what sensible precautions we can then shrugging our shoulders; if it happens, it happens.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Penny for that thoughtful disection
LikeLike
Nicely put. Change brings uncertainty but we’d make decisions all the more confidently if we knew what was coming
LikeLiked by 1 person
The retrospectoscope is infallible
LikeLike
There’s nothing worse than not knowing. Even if we’re pretty sure we don’t actually want to know.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We like to think we can plan, even if no plan survives the first engagement
LikeLiked by 1 person
It starts at birth. The womb is warm, cozy, and comfortable. Then, we’re forced out into this big, cold, scary world.
LikeLiked by 1 person
At least death is certain and warmly reassuring
LikeLiked by 1 person
truly said, it’s the uncertainty of things to come that bothers us all the time
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much
LikeLike
A fascinating, evocative piece that left me asking: is this literal or figurative? And then, I wondered if that’s part of the point. Well told. I’m starting to think this time of year may bring out the best of you, Neil!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Anne. Maybe the best figuratives are literal
LikeLiked by 1 person