IAIN KELLY

GRADUATION PARTY

Balloons hung on the streetlight outside the Patriots Diner. Neon shone in the grey dusk. Warm lights inside glowed.

Sam stood behind the counter. A police car sped past, followed by an ambulance. He had stayed open in case he could be of any use. There would be no celebration tonight.

‘The police are now confirming there are 16 dead, including 10 students and the gunman, named as Michael Bradford. We understand he was a student at the school in his final year.’

Sam clicked the radio off, locked the door to the diner and extinguished the bright neon lights.


diner-roger-bultot
© Roger Bultot

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).

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

66 responses to “GRADUATION PARTY”

  1. neilmacdon Avatar

    I wonder how large the total body count will be, come the end of this challenge

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Something about the empty diner has us killing in large numbers this week…

      Like

  2. Jessie Ansons Avatar

    Sad stories this week! You capture the mood well 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Jessie

      Like

  3. rochellewisoff Avatar

    Dear Iain,

    All too realistic and timely. You wrote it well.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Rochelle

      Like

  4. Holly Ann Kurt Avatar
    Holly Ann Kurt

    How morbid!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I’m afraid so, an antidote to the festive cheer 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Holly Ann Kurt Avatar
        Holly Ann Kurt

        I wish there was a warning 😕

        Liked by 1 person

  5. patriciaruthsusan Avatar

    Good story and writing, Iain. Sadly, your story is timely. I hope these are Happy Holidays for you and yours. 🙂 — Suzanne

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Suzanne. Sorry to be so down at holiday season! Hope you have a Happy Holidays too 🙂

      Like

  6. J Hardy Carroll Avatar

    Oh man. An (unfortunately) all-American story. These things are becoming so common that the word “another” is permanently appended to “mass shooting” in the media. Well told.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks. Afraid it is very American, we just don’t have the guns over here, but I do think it’s something more than that too, something in the psyche, who knows? Man, it’s a depressing story for this time of year!

      Liked by 1 person

  7. paulmclem Avatar
    paulmclem

    Christmas does seem to be a time for writing something excessively sugary sweet, or depressing. What with Berlin it’s been another brutal year for people losing loved ones at the hands of lunatics. You have to wonder where it will all end.

    Merry Christmas,

    PaulC.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Indeed, a lot of the responses this week are lacking in happy holidays feelings… Here’s hoping to a better 2017, but I think it may be wishful thinking. Merry Christmas to you too, Iain

      Like

  8. patrickprinsloo Avatar

    A tight piece of writing, full of atmosphere.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Patrick

      Like

  9. wmqcolby Avatar

    Ah, yes. Unfortunately, this sort of thing is becoming all-too common anymore. You reported well, Iain. This about sums it up.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks, a bit depressing for this time of year, but it’s the reality I’m afraid…

      Like

  10. Sandra Avatar

    Topical, sadly. And all too common. Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Sandra

      Like

  11. FabricatingFiction Avatar

    Really well portrayed for such a limited word count.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Louise

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Snow's Fissures and Fractures Avatar

    When you think about it, it is such a sad fact that we live in such a beautiful world and still we do such bad things to one another. I liked the focal point of your story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I agree wholeheartedly. Thanks for reading.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Alicia Jamtaas Avatar

    You caught the vision of the diner perfectly. BUT, a sad, sad story! Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Yes I admit it’s a bit of a depressing story this week.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Alicia Jamtaas Avatar

        Heck, that’s ok. Wherever the muse takes us! Merry Christmas.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Iain Kelly Avatar

        🙂 Merry Christmas

        Liked by 1 person

  14. J.A. Prentice Avatar

    Very powerful story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  15. Indira Avatar

    Everyone is in festive mood but some are preparing for their next target. Happening everywhere. When will it end?

    Like

  16. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    Sadly this remind me of so many tragic events, and the powerlessness that good people feel following them.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Mike, I agree with the powerlessness, there seems to be no way to stop these things happening.

      Like

  17. nonsmokingladybug Avatar

    I love your writing and your style but not the topic and I hope that’s alright. It’s too common these days. Sometimes I feel like I can’t take any more news about another shooting, but then I can. I start to feel numb and I hate that even more. Wishing you a Happy Holiday -forgive me my honesty.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks for commenting, although I don’t think we should avoid writing about certain things because they make us upset or uncomfortable, especially when it is something that happens in life. I’ll make my next one a happier topic 🙂 Happy Holidays.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. nonsmokingladybug Avatar

        Oh Goodness never avoid these subject. Write about it whenever you feel like it. Some books or some stories have to hurt. I still read publications about WWII, sometimes, when I feel overwhelmed, then I have to close the book for a few days. But I always go back to reading afterward.

        Liked by 1 person

  18. mandibelle16 Avatar
    mandibelle16

    It’s a sad, a horrible situation you write about. And as others say, timely and common. I think it’s important we write about it,. It is not hearing the story repeated that makes us numb to it. We do that ourselves when those people become a statistic not real human beings. Great write.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Mandi, glad you appreciated what I was trying to do.

      Liked by 1 person

  19. draliman Avatar

    Chilling and all too real. Great piece!

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Liz Young Avatar

    This story is far too near the knuckle for comfort – well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Liz, I’m glad it made an impression.

      Like

  21. Dale Avatar
    Dale

    Yet another American tragedy… They are too many to count. One day, we can dream, this will be a nightmare of the past and not a daily occurrence…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I do hope so Dale, it’s not a happy story to tell, but sadly it is not unthinkable, it happens all too often. Thanks for reading.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Dale Avatar
        Dale

        Way too often…

        Liked by 1 person

  22. Rowena Avatar

    I’m not sure whether I’m the only Australian contributing to Friday Fictioneers but I am quite conscious of how different things are here reading through the stories. Bad things happen here too but we don’t have the heavy presence of guns and I’m sure that’s helped. We had a big shooting at Port Arthur many years ago and the Australian government almost immediately banned forms of automatic weapons.
    I am a firm believer in human kindness and the ability for the goodness in humanity to triumph over such horror. Indeed, as I write two sunflowers are flowering in my backyard which were salvaged from the crash site in the Ukraine where MH17 was shot down. An Australian journalist and photographer brought the seeds back via quarantine. You can read the story here: https://beyondtheflow.wordpress.com/2016/12/22/sunflower-a-christmas-miracle/
    xx Rowena

    Liked by 1 person

  23. plaridel Avatar

    sad thing to happen on what could have been a happy occasion.

    Liked by 1 person

  24. Sascha Darlington Avatar

    I like the way you did this story. You stepped back and let it happen as a viewer. Very well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Sascha

      Liked by 1 person

  25. Michael Wynn Avatar

    Very poignant and topical. Nice take on the prompt

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Michael.

      Like

  26. yarnspinnerr Avatar

    The mood is quite blue this Christmas. A topical take.
    Merry Christmas.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It certainly is. Maybe 2017 will be merrier. Happy Holidays 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  27. Laurie Bell Avatar

    Gosh such a tragic story. There are good people out there. A good man for staying open wanting to help if he can. So sad. Well told story

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Laurie

      Liked by 1 person

  28. The Reclining Gentleman Avatar

    An all-too-regular occurance it seems. The contrast of the bright lights and balloons against the tragedy nearby was particularly poignant.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Many thanks.

      Liked by 1 person

  29. lingeringvisions by Dawn Avatar

    This has become so common place we are barely shocked anymore. Your story reminds us of the good.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Dawn.

      Liked by 1 person

  30. k rawson Avatar

    Grisly, sad and only too timely.

    Liked by 1 person

  31. rogershipp Avatar

    So sad… Well written.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Roger

      Like

  32. BarbCT Avatar

    Powerful and sad story that happens too much in real life. 😢

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you for commenting. Afraid so.

      Like

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