Beyond that door lies the future. Once through it, nothing will ever be the same again. The thought clutches at me with cold hands. They expect me to lead, but I don’t know how to be a hero. What if I pick wrong?
All that comes is images from movies. Once more unto the breach. Go, go, go. This seems to work. They follow: I play my part by playing the part. I’m even dashing. And it turns out, as we take the town for the Motherland, killing is pleasurable.
.
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 
They expect me to lead but I don’t know how to be a hero 🥺
Yeah story of my life 💔
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Play the part
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how do one play a role they don’t know how to?
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Amazing really. That modern countries demand peace, but only on their terms, which makes war inevitable with those who disagree. The First through the door gets a taste for destruction and know their time is numbered.
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But at least thet get to be heros
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It reminds me of a darling prince that claimed war is like playing a video game…
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It isn’t. of course, but young men can be made to believe it is. Briefly
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Live coward or dead hero – what lousy options. But, as Shakespeare wrote, all the world’s a stage – so whatever the choice, the playing of a part it is.
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Sometimes we get to choose the play
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A charismatic leading man can be a very powerful weapon.
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Thanks, Iain
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Dear Neil,
The progression of emotions is powerful here. From apprehension to killing is a pleasure. Yikes. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks so much, Rochelle
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That’s an interesting switch at the end, but I imagine not an unrealistic one. I enjoyed feeling the range of emotions with your character as they analysed. They can train you for everything except the real thing, right?
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I understand it’s rather hard to train most people to kill
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Oops, a tentative foot soldier becomes sociopathic monster. They don’t say “war is hell” for nothing. Great flipping the script, Neil.
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Thanks so much, Jade
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You’re most welcome.
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And through the door and nothing will ever be the same again. That’s a stark reality. Good stuff
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Thanks so much
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I taught history for many years. One thing you learn, if you’re paying attention, is that history is simply the record of man’s inhumanity to man. From the beginning, one people-group has decided it should own someone else’s land, and waged war to make it happen. People have been pushing other people all over the map forever. Nothing new. It’s just that here in the States, we’ve been somewhat isolated, until recently, from having it happen within our own shores–and I’m speaking of modern times, here, not ancient history. Since the Civil War, we in America have not waged war on each other–at least not with tanks and guns and nuclear bombs.
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Thanks, Linda
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Killer close there, Neil.
You are hereby invited to join the new Unicorn Challenge (Min Min no more!) hosted by Jenne and (sort of) me.
Photo prompt every Friday, up to 250 words.
Love to see you there, auld yin.
https://talesfromglasgow137065088.wordpress.com/2023/03/31/the-mother/
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Thanks so much
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A transition from novice to blood thirsty soldier
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And from coward to something else entirely
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That final line is chilling, and I’m afraid, quite true for some.
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I’m glad it worked
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Well done tale of a reluctant leader. At least, at first.
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Thanks so much. He worked his way into the role.
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I’ve often wondered how people can be trained to kill, then expected to return to normal society.
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The answer I think is, they csn’t
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hopefully, it was for a good cause whatever that might be.
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Perhaps not
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Ooooo
That last line. I was thinking this was going a different way with the poor unready, uncertain leader but then… enjoys killing. This is not going to end well.
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He was trying out his inner berserker
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Chilling ending!
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Thanks so much
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Very dark. A logical progression, too. If you’re getting so deeply immersed into the role of war hero, the humanity gets lost on the way. These deaths are real though and I don’t envy him coming to his senses eventually.
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Thanks so much. Yes, there will be a price to pay
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Very thoughtful. This stays with you past the 100 words.
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Thanks so much, Dawn. I’m chuffed
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Very well written, Neil. Made me think of Ukraine.
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Thanks so much, Penny
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Everyone’s always playing the part, whether it be the leader or follower. It’s the strange part of life.
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The presentation of self in everyday life
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