IAIN KELLY

DAFFODILS IN AUTUMN

Detective Anders Strand stood on the edge of the lake in Frogner Park. There was a chill in the air, but for a November morning it was mild weather for Oslo. He remembered the old days when this time of year saw the start of winter and below freezing temperatures. Now he looked at the daffodils blooming and the leaves still green on the trees.

The extinction of the Polar bears, no ice at the North Pole, the year-long spring temperatures and the disappearance of hundreds of small islands round the world due to rising sea levels were some of the effects of the warming global climate. The thinner ice on the lakes in Oslo in autumn was another.

He looked at his watch as the sun began to weakly peak over the horizon. 8.30am. The city may be warmer now, but the sun still only shone for a few hours each day. The city was stirring around him, but the cordoned off area of the park remained still.

He took a final gulp from his lukewarm coffee and tossed the unfinished cup into a bin. The frogman dived off the boat again to start his next search. The mother waited anxiously sobbing on the bench, waiting to reclaim her child’s body from the murky water.


174-09-september-25th-2016
© A Mixed Bag

Written as part of Sunday Photo Fiction. Write a story of around 200 words based on the photo prompt given (above). For more details visit HERE.

For more stories based on this prompt, have a look HERE.

26 responses to “DAFFODILS IN AUTUMN”

  1. Sunday Fiction Avatar

    That was dark. And it won’t be that great amount of years before something like this happens if we don’t stop the global warming. Good story Iain.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks, a bit grim I admit 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  2. vibesofacalcuttan Avatar

    An important message conveyed through a photo-prompt of daffodils, and they bear testimony to both the regressing climate and the fictional chilling crime that took place near the lake.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Many thanks for reading and commenting.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. vibesofacalcuttan Avatar

        🙂 sure

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Keiths Ramblings Avatar

    Not the ending I expected. A timely reminder of the way our world is going.

    Visit Keith’s Ramblings

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Keith.

      Like

  4. NK Avatar

    I liked the juxtaposition of his thinking everyday thoughts while searching for this woman’s kid.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks for reading and commenting Nancy, that was part of the idea while he stands and waits.

      Like

  5. angietrafford Avatar

    This was a chilling reminder of what our future could hold. Let’s just hope it remains fiction. Nice work.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Angie. A picture of daffodils in September got me thinking this way. Let’s hope people come to their senses in time.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. mandibelle16 Avatar
    mandibelle16

    Great write but so sad Ian.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I know. This is not a happy one :-/ Thanks for reading.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Sascha Darlington Avatar

    Excellent, but dark read. You did so much with 200 words! 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Sasha 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Jesse Raven Avatar
    Jesse Raven

    Great changing of gears at the end! I’ve been reading some Jo Nesbo (I don’t have the right keys to make his name look correct- ha ha) lately and Oslo jumped out at me.

    Nicely done!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Jesse, that’s what I was aiming for 🙂

      Like

  9. shehannemoore Avatar

    Another excellent piece.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks 🙂

      Like

  10. patriciaruthsusan Avatar

    This was dark but good writing. It’s another tragic result of the thin ice. There’s an interesting site on the web showing the worldwide result of the melting polar ice caps. In the U.S., almost the entire state of Florida would be under the water. Now that’s scary. 😦 — Suzanne

    Liked by 2 people

  11. Joy Pixley Avatar

    Oh no — as soon as you mentioned thinning ice, I had a bad premonition. A dark piece, with an important message; well done!

    Like

  12. jademwong Avatar

    Oh no…that’s heartbreaking sigh 😦

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Dahlia Avatar

    Impressive how you highlighted a major global problem. And of course the twist (and the sting) in the tale.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Many thanks.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. lowkeydarling Avatar

    I love reading these prompts by you!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks very much, you’re very kind 🙂

      Like

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