TUCUMCARI

~ Iain Kelly

‘A road that goes all the way to Chicago.’ Danny said. ‘Think we’ll ever get that far?’

‘I doubt it,’ answered Bill, ‘unless we steal a car.’

‘We’d run out of gas before getting out of New Mexico.’

‘Guess we’re stuck here then,’ Bill laughed.

They sat under the town’s water tower, drinking beer. An occasional car passed along Route 66.

‘One day I’m getting out of here,’ Danny declared. A drop of water landed on his head. The tank above them groaned.

‘What the…’ Bill uttered, before gallons of water and tonnes of metal crashed down on them.

jean-l-hays
© Jean L. Hays

Written as part of the Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).

Tucumcari is a small city in New Mexico. In 1951, a water storage tank collapsed in the city. Four were killed and numerous buildings were destroyed. Wikipedia.

To read more stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

Published by Iain Kelly

39 year old writer, avid film viewer and book reader, employed in the media industry as a television editor.

82 thoughts on “TUCUMCARI”

  2. I visited the same page, but gleaned a different piece of the town’s history for my tale! It sounds like it was devastating. If only they’d stolen that car – they might be introuble but they’d be alive. Nice snippet of conversation Iain. A mini tragedy

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thanks Alicia. Sounds like a tragic incident, although haven’t found much info on what really happened, but thought it made for a bit of a different twist to a Friday Fictioneers tale!

      Liked by 1 person

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  11. Well done! You are taking a page from our FFF’s book by inserting real history into your story. Love it… Bummer for those boys, though…

    Liked by 1 person

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  16. Looks like they’ll never get out of New Mexico on route 66. : )
    Tragic. I love historical writes. Yours was on-target with the photograph.
    I love New Mexico ( from afar). I have land there. I haven’t decided to build yet. Probably, won’t. Too dry, no water. LOL
    Have a great weekend.
    Isadora 😎

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  17. Oh no, that’s so sad. One moment they let their imagination run free, the next they’re gone. Good reminder not to take anything for granted. Great story.

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  22. Love the feeling of ambivalence, wanting to leave but not enough to actually do something about it. I like how you introduced the historical event of the water tower collapsing.

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  30. Made me think of the 1960s TV series “Route 66”. Back in the day, it ran all the way from San Diego to Chicago. The series was about two young men to travelled up and down Route 66 having adventures and helping people. Don’t remember much about it. I was only a kid when it was on the air.

    Liked by 1 person

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