When the world went dark, I was frying bacon and eggs. I didn’t even notice for an hour. The breeze continued to stir the sycamore leaves, and the dog next door barked insouciantly. Only when I needed to make a phone call did I discover the internet and power were down. Annoying, but not terrifying. It would be back up soon. Wouldn’t it?
When the taps ran dry, I began to panic, to the rising clamour of gridlocked motorists leaning on their horns.
My neighbour is a prepper. Pulling out his radio, he called, “Can you hear me?”
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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 
Panic at the dry taps – very relatable.
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Thanks so much, Jilly
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I do enjoy a good apocalypse, Neil!
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The ham radio enthusiats will get it all back up again
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Dear Neil,
The thought has crossed my mind about how dependent we are on the internet and technology. This really is a terrifying piece. Good to have a prepper in your corner at this point.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks so much, Rochelle
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I almost wrote one type of apocalypse and then settled for another.
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Decisions, decisions
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gorgeous picture 💯
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The picture is not mine, but thanks
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I’m not big in the prepper stakes, but you can put me down for a ton of baked beans. I like a bit of an apocalypse.
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Sorry. All out of baked beans, but we can do you for 1,000 tins of caviar
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Eerily imaginable Neil – it definitely gave me the shivers and made me think about getting a little bit more prepared I don’t think a couple of cans of beans and sardines will get me very far 😄
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Radio. That’s the thing. Bring it all back on a web of radio communication
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I have got a radio – but what about electricity and the battery won’t last forever??🫣
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GREAT LAST LINES. He has a chance.
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All will be well, I’m sure. Thanks, Lisa
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You are welcome.
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There will always be someone prepared, no matter what happens. Some of them might even be happy about it, just to have been right the whole time. Nice story, Neil.
-David
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Thanks so much, David
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I bet he was pretty much waiting for this day.
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Actually no. He had tickets for a concert
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Ah, what a waste then.
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The slow realisation that all is not well is palpable, Neil. And may he be friends with his neighbour!
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Thanks so much, Dale
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your neighbor must have been a boy scout, with the motto “be prepared always.”
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A prepper
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If mobile phones stopped working so would the world – what would young people do?
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Young whippersnappers!
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Oooooooo scary times! Love that it took an hour to notice. A cautionary tale.
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It’s ever thus. Our awareness moves in lurches
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No warning, just a slow realisation of doom. Did he managed to cook the eggs in time?
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The eggs were delicious
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Let’s hope your Prepper is more prepared than mine! I like the idea of not noticing at first.
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Thanks so much
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He fried his eggs on a wood stove, of course. 😉
A scary story, we’ve got far too dependent on technology. A bit more self-sufficiency wouldn’t hurt us.
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A gas stove
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the radio still works…??? thank god…
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Until the batteries run out
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I particularly like the realisation aspect of this story. A shrug to start with, and then the dawning panic. Nice.
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Thanks so much
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Oops! Sounds like it might be too late to rebound at this point. Well told!
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Thanks so much. Violet
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Thought provoking take Neil.. reminds me of the small level security we had having our own well growing up. Even without electricity we could draw water.
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Thanks so much, Roy
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Eerie. I’m not good at “prepping,” after 9/11 I tried to keep an “emergency kit” as advised, but failed at maintaining it or keeping up with the water. It’ll be panic at the dry taps for me!
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Thanks so much.
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