Her face was a shuttered barn. No light gleamed through the windows, no cattle lowed within. Was she sad? Angry? Shattered into pieces? He couldn’t tell.
If only she would talk, cry, he might put a hand on her arm and say, “I know, I know. This is terrible”; bridge the gulf of language, culture, experience.
A sudden anger flared and he took up the red stamp, printing Denied, on her paperwork.
“Next,” he called.
.
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 
The cold reality of bureaucracy, and a sad reflection on the world today.
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Isn’t it though! Thanks, Iain
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Very clever take, great story.
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Thanks so much, Mason
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You’re welcome!
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A sensitive illustration of how a person’s fate turns on a sixpence, Neil. To paraphrase George Michael, if she’d turned a different corner she would have met with a warmer heart. Chilling.
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Thanks so much, Jilly
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Dear Neil,
Talk about snap judgement. And through no real fault of her own, she’s denied. Rather sad.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s happening now on the UK border
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Cold.
I guess one would grow cold doing that sort of job.
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I think that’s probably true
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What ever shall she do next. That hurts.
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Her options are very limtied
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I could never do that job…
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I suspect it rots the soul
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Hardens the heart, in the least.
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I’m sure fear or shock kept her face impassive. Of course the petty bureaucrat never got past his ego to consider that. I wonder how many have been denied… Good writing, Neil.
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Yes, t
hat was exactly why I thought she eas impassive. Thanks, Jade
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You’re welcome, Neil.
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Ouch! That one packs a punch, Neil. Wonderful transition from the mundane to tragedy.
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Thanks so much, Penny
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Love it! Such an unexpected twist at the end and yet someone who has to give that kind of news over and over probably has practiced the right look and thoughts to do the job.
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Thanks so much
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There is so much left unsaid here, and it is painful to contemplate what that might be.
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With 100 words. we have to make full use of what isn’t said
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The terror that is war, you handled it so well. Sadly I may not post anything this week as currently all my current writing describes death
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Thanks so much, MIchael. I hope you reach a better place next week
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I can recall my grandmother & husband recounting their experience
as they were checked in at Ellis island. Impatient with their limited English,
his German name was changed to another because they could not be bothered
to listen as they protested. It may be a problem for the new refugees from Ukraine.
Stirringly sad, Neil.
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Thanks so much, Isadora. It is a story that keeps repeating
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Imagine having so much power of another person’s destiny… and allowing a flash of anger to misuse it. Chilling, Neil.
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Thanks so much, Sandra
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And then she pulled the gun and shot him. 🙂 Well done, Neil.
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Thanks so much, Bill
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Taking his anger out on another person, thus dictating how her life will go from this point on. Such power…
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It happens all too often
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it happens when someone takes his job too personally. 🙂
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You’re right
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It’s rough to think someone’s life could hang on someone’s whim like that.
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And yet it does so often
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Compassion is not in the job description or policy. If only she could get over her trauma enough to plead her case. Would he listen?
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Probably not. He’ll have quotas to meet
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Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
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Especially when it’s power only over one thing in one place
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Ah, brilliant. I love how you’ve done this. The woman is traumatised; the official expects a show of emotion, gratitude? He shows his true colours at the end. So clever.
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Thanks so much, Margaret. Exactly, she’s too traumatised to show any emotion
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Oh gosh, such a terrible end.
The twisted hand of fate
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Thanks so much, Laurie
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Wow, Neil. I was drawn into her plight and grief straight away and to have any glimmer of hope obliterated by one person’s anger and abuse of power was a real body blow. What cruel circumstances, made worse knowing it still goes on. Well done.
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Thanks so much, Heather
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