IAIN KELLY

TUCUMCARI

‘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.

82 responses to “TUCUMCARI”

  1. neilmacdon Avatar

    Hope they were alright

    Like

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Afraid not Neil, see the historical footnote…

      Like

      1. Iain Kelly Avatar

        Quite 😦

        Like

  2. Lynn Love Avatar
    Lynn Love

    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

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Lynn, enjoyed your fun take. Seems like a little place with a bit of history. Good point about stealing the car – if only.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Lynn Love Avatar

        And if only they could have seen into the future – thinking of leaving town just a day too late. Great story

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Iain Kelly Avatar

        Isn’t life like that sometimes. Thanks Lynn 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Lynn Love Avatar

        🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  3. rogermoorepoet Avatar

    Nice ending: so muh packed into so little!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Roger, much appreciated.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Sandra Avatar

    An interesting gem of information there. And the ending came as quite a surprise. Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Sandra – amazing the little things you learn doing Friday Fictioneers!

      Like

  5. Jade M. Wong Avatar

    Whaaat. So…are they injured or dead? I’m impressed by how much story you managed to pack in so few words!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Jade – I don’t fancy their chances of surviving I’m afraid 😦

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar

    Ouch.. who said that stealing is a bad choice. But I guess they did get out of town.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Ha, true Bjorn, it’s an escape of sorts I suppose!

      Like

  7. ceayr Avatar

    You are now an official Friday Factioneer, Iain.
    Neat story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I am honoured! Many thanks.

      Like

  8. Louise Taylor Avatar

    Horrible end for your characters but a great twist.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Louise 🙂

      Like

  9. aliciajamtaas Avatar

    Well, shoot! You’re walking on the dark side this week. I said a spontaneous, “Oh no!” when I read the last line. Nice (?) bit of history, this.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      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

      1. aliciajamtaas Avatar
  10. Emily Livingstone Avatar

    Well, I didn’t see that coming!–and historical fiction–thanks for including the link. How sad with Danny just imagining getting out of town.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      You never can tell when your time is up I guess. Thanks for reading.

      Like

  11. Dale Avatar
    Dale

    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

  12. draliman Avatar

    Oh no 😦 I was just picturing a couple of chaps hanging out, shooting the breeze, making plans…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Yes, I was a bit sad to cut them off like that. Thanks for reading.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. rochellewisoff Avatar

    Dear Iain,

    Nice use of history. I guess that’s one way to get out of town. 😦
    Well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Rochelle. Not the best way to go, must have been a tragic ccident when it happened 😦

      Like

      1. rochellewisoff Avatar

        I’m sure. Kudos to you for following the research trail. It’s my favorite way to travel. 😉

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Iain Kelly Avatar

        Good to learn a little about the places we find in the photos. 🙂

        Like

  14. TraceyDelaplainMD.com Avatar

    Everyone thinks they have more time. Thanks for the history Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      You’re welcome 🙂

      Like

  15. Laurie Bell Avatar

    Oh oh…. well they were probably in need of a bath… road to Chicago? Go Cubs!! A great sense of age to this one.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      🙂 Yeah, go Cubs, my adopted baseball team after visiting Chicago a couple of years ago. Thanks Laurie.

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Inside the Mind of Isadora Avatar

    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 😎

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Nice to have the option if you ever feel like a change. Never been myself, only been on the Chicago end of Route 66. Thanks Isadora 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  17. gahlearner Avatar
    gahlearner

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks, make the most of every moment I guess 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  18. plaridel Avatar

    oh, i didn’t expect the sad ending. 😦

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks for reading 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  19. Indira Avatar

    Horrible end, no one deserve this. Well written with great unexpected twist.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Many thanks, sometimes life can be very unfair.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Indira Avatar

        So true.

        Liked by 1 person

  20. helenmidgley Avatar

    nice little bit of history 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Helen 🙂

      Like

  21. wmqcolby Avatar

    Gee whiz! Everyone’s fascinated my Tucumcari. I had never heard of it. Thanks, Iain for this story. I learned a lot … got entertained, too. 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Hadn’t heard of it either. Another bit of useless knowledge gained through Friday Fictioneers 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    2. rgayer55 Avatar

      My only recollection of Tucumcari was from the song “Willing” by Little Feat.

      Liked by 1 person

  22. Life Lessons of a Dog Lover Avatar
    Life Lessons of a Dog Lover

    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.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Many thanks, glad you liked it 🙂

      Like

  23. michael1148humphris Avatar
    michael1148humphris

    So sad, yet a great bit of writing.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Michael, much appreciated.

      Like

  24. lingeringvisions by Dawn Avatar

    Be careful what you wish for!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Indeed, thanks Dawn.

      Liked by 1 person

  25. Michael Wynn Avatar

    Nice take and interesting bit of history I would never have been aware of without your story. Well done

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Michael. Nice to pick up a little knowledge along the way.

      Like

  26. Clare Hempstead Avatar

    I guess Danny left there… in a box! Interesting piece of history. Well written.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Clare, not the way he meant to go I’m sure!

      Like

  27. ottilliah Avatar
    ottilliah

    Oh no! Good one😊

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Many thanks 🙂

      Like

  28. Poppy Peacock Avatar

    Like both the ‘true’ backstory and the twist. Nice one 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  29. yarnspinnerr Avatar

    Reminds me of a Hindi film – Sholay. Clever take.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Not aware of that one, will have to look out for it! Many thanks.

      Liked by 1 person

  30. James Avatar

    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

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Interesting idea for a show based on a road. Not sure it was ever shown here in the UK.

      Like

      1. James Avatar

        It ran from 1960 to 1964 in the US and made red Corvettes insanely popular. Here’s the Wikipedia page for the series.

        Like

      2. Iain Kelly Avatar

        Excellent – I do love a Corvette, but more the 80s style – see The A Team, which did run over here and Face’s car 🙂

        Like

  31. Amy Reese Avatar

    Such an unexpected end! Great storytelling. Looks like they’re not getting out of there anytime soon.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Afraid not, thanks Amy 😉

      Like

  32. Dawn Quyle Landau Avatar

    Whoa, that’s sucker punch! Call me sucker.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Dawn 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  33. patriciaruthsusan Avatar

    Poor guys. That’s a horrendous example of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Good story based on a true event, Iain. Thanks for the link. —- Suzanne

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Suzanne, interesting things you learn sometimes doing these short stories! 🙂

      Like

  34. Snow's Fissures and Fractures Avatar

    Oh my, talk about dreams crushed . I didn’t see this coming.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It does come out of nowhere. Thanks for reading.

      Liked by 1 person

  35. The Mom Who Runs Avatar

    Yikes! I’m never one to advocate for grand theft, but maybe stealing the car wouldn’t have been such a bad plan… Nice flow and natural dialogue. Clever (but terrible!) end.
    Happy trails! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Many thanks :+)

      Liked by 1 person

  36. neelwritesblog Avatar

    Lovely little fictional touch to history though a tad tragic. Great write up, as usual.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Many thanks for your kind comment. Thanks for reading.

      Like

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