October 28th 1962, the town of Midwest, Wyoming, USA.
‘But why clothes pegs?’
‘Very useful things, you never know when you might need one.’
Jack looked again at the selection of jars and packets on the shelves.
‘It doesn’t seem like much. Wouldn’t we need to stay underground for months or years?’
Victor sighed. ‘It’s a start.’
Jack picked up a bottle of brandy that was only half-full and looked at Victor.
‘Aunt Doris been round, has she?’
‘We can replenish,’ Victor paused and glanced at the top shelf with a guilty look. ‘We might need to top on the red wine too.’
‘Let’s just hope they can hold off the missiles until you get back from the store then.’
***
Later that night the news announced that Krushchev had agreed to withdraw Soviet missiles from Cuba.
Sitting among crates of supplies piled up in the living room, Jack consoled a crestfallen Victor. ‘At least we’ve got plenty of brandy and wine to celebrate with.’
Written as part of Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. The challenge is to write a flash fiction story, in around 150 words based on the weekly photo prompt. For more information visit HERE.
For more stories based on the prompt this week, visit HERE.
The Liver doesn’t like this… 😀 Lovely story!
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Thanks Joy 🙂
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Best to be prepared, though eh? Jack would have been grateful for those clothes pegs if the world had gone bang. Nicely written with a wry sliver running through. Great stuff Iain
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Thanks Lynn, one of those ones where I’m not sure how I ended up with this story, but it seems to work okay! 🙂
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The mind wanders to some strange places … Great story 🙂
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A timely reminder I feel in these troubled times. Nice story.
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Might be a good time to have an old bunker in the back garden that can be dusted off and restocked! Thanks Graham.
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I lived in Switzerland where bunkers were compulsory in every house built but even the Swiss have relaxed the obligation these days.
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Interesting, especially as they were a neutral country.
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Still have compulsory military service though and mountains hollowed out like gruyere cheese with military installations 🙂
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During the Cuban Missile Crisis, I was a little boy in the hospital having my tonsils removed. My Dad was in the Air Force, and many years later, I learned he was in a missile bunker with a fellow serviceman waiting for orders from the President to fire their nukes.
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Wow, must have been some experience to live through. Thankfully the order never came. Would be the basis of a great story as well.
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I was only made aware of it by my parents when I was an adult. As a child, I was totally oblivious to the crisis. All I knew was that I had my tonsils out and my throat hurt. Ignorance is bliss.
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Sometimes it’s definitely better not to know some of the things going on, or we’d all be stocking our bunkers I’m sure!
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Well written. I hope things do not come to this in part of the world.
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Thanks, I hope so too.
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Hahaha! They knew what they needed the most in that nuclear bunker! Good thing they got to enjoy the liquor as a celebration and not because of nuclear fallout. Great story Iian!
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Thanks PJ – indeed they did – the alternative title could have been The BEST Nuclear Bunker, depending on how you look at it! 🙂
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Hahaha! That’s true! I think they planned on staying drunk through the fallout!
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🙂
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Red wine for oblivion – good thinking Jack and Victor! (THAT Jack and Victor?)
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A small tribute to that Jack and Victor that a few Scots will pick up on, as they’re back on the telly now! 😉
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Very cleverly done 🙂 I think alcohol would be the most important thing to stock up on to be fair!
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In that situation I think it might be the only thing to help! Many thanks.
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Definitely.
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Much better to celebrate than the alternative! Fun story, Iain!
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Indeed, I’m sure they’ll get over their disappointment 🙂
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I’m sure they are thankful they get to enjoy all that wine in peaceful times and not in the bunker! This day and time, I often think we should start stocking up our safe haven….our world is changing rapidly and it is not for the good! Great story and a reminder (not that most of us need it) of the serious decision to be made soon.
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Many thanks. It’s strange that we fail to learn from history and keep making the same mistakes – which made this feel like a relevant story to write.
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lol! loved this story, Iain.
Cheers!
Ellespeth
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Thanks Ellespeth 🙂
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Many years later, I discovered my father had a brochure on how to build a bomb shelter. We never did, but dad wasn’t the DYI, fixer-upper type.
Great story. With lots of humour and timely thoughts.
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I do wonder how much use a DIY bomb shelter would be in the worst case scenario. Might be fun to build though 🙂
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Good family bonding weekend project, lol.
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🙂
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This is sweet and brilliant at once.
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Many thanks 🙂
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Brilliant. Loved the punch line
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Thanks, made me laugh too 🙂
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I liked the story for the neat way it highlighted common human nature. We tend to focus on the immediate and personal losses/gains without considering the larger picture. They are more worried about the piled up food rather than being relieved that there wasnt any need of it! Good writing 🙂
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Thanks for reading and commenting 🙂
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a very wise take, Iain! proved better be ready! 😀
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Let’s hope it doesn’t come to this! Thanks 🙂
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*fingers-crossed*
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I well remember all these worries in the ’60s, and the relief when it all eased off. I like the way your story takes a look at those times in a fun way, and blaming poor old Aunt Doris for the lowered brandy level was a gem. Let’s hope such shelters are never needed again – although I’m sure there are still plenty around today, just in case. Well written, Iain. 🙂
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Thanks Millie. Some might be restocking their bunkers just now, hopefully not needed as you say 🙂
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At least they’ll be able to enjoy their provisions in a more celebratory situation. Great story, Iain. 🙂
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Thanks, i’m sure they will cheer up once they open a bottle of wine or two 🙂
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Well, they have their stash to give them some comfort 🙂
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🙂
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