SUNRISE / SUNSET

Peter Jones was born at sunrise on a summer’s day.

He enjoyed a happy childhood, living with his loving parents and two older siblings in their small one bedroom tenement flat.

He enjoyed playing with his friends, kicking a football up and down the street. At school he enjoyed sports and reading stories of lands far away.

The war started when he was 14. When he turned 18 he was called up for military service.

He enjoyed the camaraderie of his fellow soldiers during brief training with the infantry. His first trip abroad was part of the D-Day landings. He looked forward to seeing a foreign land for the first time.

On Gold beach, near Arromanches, he survived the onslaught while many of his new friends perished.

Two days later Peter Jones was shot by a German sniper while enjoying a cigarette watching the sunset over the town of Bayeux. As he took his last breath he thought it was the nicest sunset he had ever seen.

He died alone in the field and was buried in an unmarked grave next to a church.


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Copyright Footy and Foodie

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. Thanks as always to the challenge host Priceless Joy. For more information visit HERE.

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

57 responses to “SUNRISE / SUNSET”

  1. Sunrise to sunset…story of one life in a nutshell…great job lain…loved the flow of the story.

    Liked by 3 people

  2. A tale told well Iain. Lovely descriptions.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Lovely table showing the circle of life.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. The full narrative from start to end. Wonderful Lian.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Absolutely amazing!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Most kind, thank you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  6. A beautifully woven story!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Joy, always appreciate your kind comments 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You are welcome, I appreciate your stories. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Loved this story! Probably happened in real life. Wonderfully descriptive.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Rosemary, I’m sure it probably was a true story for a few.

      Like

  8. Ahh and life comes full circle. Beautifully writtten Iain, as always!

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Incredible storytelling in 150 words, Iain!
    So fitting for the picture. 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Annie 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  10. kalpana solsi Avatar
    kalpana solsi

    a simple tale told in an extraordinary way…. born with the Sun and died in harness seeing the Sun. the war has snatched a budding life.

    http://ideasolsi65.blogspot.in/2017/06/the-dark-night.html

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Such a touching story Iain! As sad as it was that he was killed it was nice that the last thoughts he had were of something beautiful to him. Great story!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you PJ. A reminder that there is beauty in the world even when humans are intent on making horror.

      Like

      1. That’s so true Iain!

        Liked by 1 person

  12. michael1148humphris Avatar
    michael1148humphris

    I echo what others have said, I am pleased that you gave him a calm end, when I saw Gold Beach …

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Excellent writing – I felt involved from start to finish and really needed to know what was going to happen to Peter. The ending was sad, of course, but at least he died happy.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, glad it made you feel for him.

      Like

  14. Excellent story Iain, how often did this very thing happen, young men’s lives taken away from them like that…

    Liked by 1 person

  15. So sad for Peter . He was too young to bid a final goodbye . So many more lands he could have explored , so many more things he could have done .
    We can only admire the heroic sacrifices of the bravehearts sleeping under anonymous graves . So very well written .

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Well said Moon, thank you.

      Like

  16. I loved how you started the story with sunrise and ended it with sunset. Unfortunate that he was killed but at least his last thought was a happy one. Beautifully written, Iain!

    Liked by 1 person

  17. He seemed so peaceful amidst the chaos of D-Day.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Enjoyed the story very much!
    DJ

    Liked by 1 person

  19. Great story, Iain. Sunrise to Sunset. A life in the span of a day…

    Liked by 1 person

  20. You described it so well. I love reading your Blogs.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Very kind, thank you.

      Liked by 1 person

  21. Oh, another tear jerker. This bright boy survives lives a wonderful childhood, survives war on the beaches of Normandy, only to be shot relaxing and having a cigarette. I guess vigilance is always required in the war, even if it’s not only possible. I like the circular theme of the story, born during a beautiful sunset, which is the last thing he sees as he dies. 😢 Wonderful writing!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, very kind and always appreciated.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You’re so welcome 🎈

        Liked by 1 person

  22. The matter-of-fact delivery of this makes the fact of his death all the more poignant. Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

  23. From birth to death, sunrise to sunset – a nicely woven tale, Iain. 🙂

    Like

  24. A well told story, Iain, and very poignant. I like how you’ve compared
    Peter’s life to a journey sunrise and sunset.

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Beautifully written!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, much appreciated.

      Like

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