199 Words

Keith's Ramblings

Sunday Photo Fiction

 

drugstore-waltz.regular

 

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzHe was driving way too fast.

‘Are we there yet?’ called a plaintive voice from behind.

The tyres protested as he swerved this way and that.

‘Are we there yet?’ cried the little voice.

His ears were assaulted by the staccato rattling of rain on the windscreen. Gusts of wind hurled the car left then right as he fought to stay on the road.

‘Are we there yet?’

A fluttering owl shot towards him. He stamped on the brake and skidded to a halt.

‘Are we there yet? whimpered the little voice.

He spun around and gazed into an empty seat. No-one there. He began shaking. He was imagining things. Yes.

A Beethoven sonata wafted from the radio as he set off again passing the village pub then the crooked red post-box. Almost home.

‘ARE WE THERE YET?’ yelled a voice.

The headlights lights went out. Darkness. Pitch darkness.

.

A ringing telephone brought him to his senses with a start.

Ring-ring.

It had just been a stupid dream.

Ring-ring.

He stood and crossed the room

Ring-ring.

He picked up the phone and pressed it to his ear.

‘Are we there yet?’ whispered a voice. ‘ARE WE THERE YET?’ it shrieked.

 

 

Sunday Photo Fiction is hosted by Susan Spaulding. To read what others have written this week, click on the blue amphibian!

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spf-09-16-18-anurag-1Thanks to Anurag Bakhshi for the photo. I’ve taken the liberty of reversing the picture as we drive on the left in the UK! I’ve also moved forward 12 hours or so!

 

34 thoughts on “199 Words”

  1. Abhijit Ray Sep 23, 2018 / 12:58

    Should he drive under influence or when he is not well? Probably not.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Keith's Ramblings Sep 23, 2018 / 13:28

      Not to be recommended and fortunately, he wasn’t as it was all a dream. Thanks for dropping by.

      Like

      Reply
  2. ceayr Sep 23, 2018 / 13:34

    Still dreaming, or something more ominous?
    Creepy stuff, Keith

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. Iain Kelly Sep 23, 2018 / 14:33

    Scary stuff. An evil spirit, or a glimpse at a tragic past. Tense read Keith.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Keith's Ramblings Sep 23, 2018 / 16:35

      In my first draft he’d caused an accident in which his child had died, but I couldn’t get it down to 200 words with out cutting that bit out. So yes, a tragic past! Chere Iain

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  6. athling2001 Sep 23, 2018 / 17:58

    Oh, man! What a horror story. I love it. Great pacing to keep just enough fear building to the end.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. hilarymb Sep 23, 2018 / 21:47

    Quelle Horreur – could see that being part of a horror plot … not nice! Cheers Hilary

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  10. Jules Sep 24, 2018 / 15:35

    Give folks a curve in the road and they’ll offer up curve balls!
    Well done.
    Thanks for the link.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  11. syncwithdeep Sep 24, 2018 / 16:13

    until the last my heart reads are we there yet.. scary and tensed read

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  12. michael1148humphris Sep 25, 2018 / 00:16

    This is rather a scary tale, not bed time reading, if one wants to sleep.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  13. deborahsdeliberations Sep 25, 2018 / 02:09

    Well crafted tale, Keith. Creepy too. I agree with Michael, not a bed time tale, for sure 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  14. anuragbakhshi Sep 25, 2018 / 06:32

    He should just reply- It’s the journey, and destination 🙂 And I can’t believe you actually flipped the pic for the driving side. Ha ha ha ha ha.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
      • anuragbakhshi Sep 29, 2018 / 05:02

        Being from India, it troubles me too, especially when I see it first-hand 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

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