So, I was being a Chicken Little, huh? “The sky is falling, the sky is falling,” you mocked me. Well, who’s laughing now? Sure, asteroid 2024 YR4 won’t hit the Earth. But that won’t keep you safe, smartasses. It’ll smash into the moon in the biggest strike for 5,000 years.
And do you know what’ll happen then? A shower of impact debris, that’s what. Oh, it will burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere, you think? Yes, likely it will. But not before taking out a lot of satellites. Bye-bye, GPS. Bye-bye civilisation.
I’m stockpiling food. And I’ve bought a rifle.
.
Asteroid 2024 YR4 is real. It has a 4% chance of hitting the moon in 2032. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_YR4)
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 
Dear Neil,
What a crazy world we live in, eh?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Absolutely
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Is the rifle to shoot the asteroid? Or the debris? Just asking.
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To shoot the desperate survivors
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Ok. Got it.
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Thanks for the warning! See, planning for the apocalypse is not a waste of time. Lol.
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Use your remaining time wisely
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Depending on the size of the asteroid and its velocity, the Moon might not make it intact, and if it doesn’t, bye bye us.
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Now that’s what I like. Someone who looks on the bright side
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This site isn’t working for me at the moment – so I will email instead. Good story. Be Prepared. Everyone knows how safe food and a gun can keep him. Well done!
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That comment got through. Thanks so much, Jilly
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That guy sure is a pessimist. Everything I’ve read about the impact, should it happen, indicates that there would be very little to no effect on earth. I’m far more concerned about the space debris, all that satellite and rocket garbage we’ve created ourselves.
Good thought-provoking story.
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It takes a certain amount of pessimism to be a survivalist
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Neil thanks for the heads-up. I’m reading a series by Margaret Atwood, The Madd Addam trilogy, about the end times. She calls her stashes of survival items ararats.
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We’re probably OK. But get your stash in anyhow, just in case
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I just want to go in the first blast if that is ok with you.
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So noted, Violet
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Good writing, Neil. I hope you remembered to purchase adequate ammunition to go with the rifle. 🙂
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Thanks so much, Ergo
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Now there’s a man who doesn’t take any chance. Hopefully he won’t need the rifle and everything before 2032.
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It might be a good idea if he practiced
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Guess I’d better stock up on toilet rolls just incase I’m still around in ’32!
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It never hurts to be prepared
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well done and it reminded me of someone that wuld be featured on a show called the Doomsday Prepper s
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Thank so much
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well, as the sayings go, most of our worries never happen. 🙂
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If only he knew which ones not to worry about
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Oh come on Neil, we don’t need this right now!
Well written and now I’m terrified.
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It’s only a four percent chance.
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Sounds like a doomsday prepper’s Air B&B. Hope they have insurance…
Wait! Do they sell satellites down due to moon debris insurance?
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You can take a punt on anything (including insurance against alien abduction) provided you can afford the premium
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Oh no – I am no way prepared! – good write Neil
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Thanks so much
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Hmmm..something to think about.
Thanks Neil.
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I have somewhat magnified the threat, so don’t think too hard
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I read about this but with so many threats, missiles and bombs flying there is fear exhaustion, at least for me. And i would be more than happy to leave here, right now, the next world could hardly be worse! An engaging read, Neil.
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Thanks so much. Dahlia
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Woohoo! I’ll finally get to use our 65 yr old bomb shelter!
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Now thats’s looking on the bright side
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So, crunching the numbers… There’s a 96% chance it doesn’t hit the moon. I like those odds. There will always be doomsday prophesiers. Someday, they’ll be right. I just hope it’s not in my lifetime.
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Your reasoning is impeccable
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