There were six of them now.
Jimmy had been the first. He had been strolling along until he came upon the sign: ‘Sidewalk Closed – Please Use Other Side.’
The sidewalk appeared to be passable, but the sign told him otherwise.
Jimmy had waited for a break in the traffic. It was an eight-lane highway. Cars and trucks shot passed at ferocious speeds. He’d managed to get two lanes out before an artic sent him scurrying back.
Angie had been the next to join him, then Cassandra, Bill, Jason and Siobhan.
They took it in turns to dart out into the road, walking, pausing, sprinting – then turning and retreating. Cassandra had made it halfway, but a succession of buses brought her back.
Jimmy finally gave up. He looked at the closed sidewalk and strode past the indignant sign.
He got five paces before the ground began to fall away. A massive sink hole opened up and swallowed him. The hole spread across the road. Two cars failed to stop and crashed over the edge.
The dust settled. The traffic was blocked. Angie, Cassandra, Bill, Jason and Siobhan crossed over to the other sidewalk and carried on their way.

Written as part of Sunday Photo Fiction. Write a story of around 200 words based on the photo prompt given (above). Hosted by Al Forbes. For more details visit HERE.
To read more stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
33 responses to “LEMMINGS”
And to get to the other side…
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’ll do it haha. Good story Iain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
Whoa! Poor Jimmy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
‘Fraid so.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Shame Jimmy ignored the sign. Did he manage to climb out of the sink hole
LikeLiked by 1 person
Alas, I’m not sure he survived.
LikeLike
Oh, poor Jimmy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Afraid so Annie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Patience is a virtue they say! 🙂 Guess Jimmy learned the hard way!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Afraid so 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pretty close to the actual situation on that street, as I recall 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ha, thanks, hope you weren’t caught up in it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great take, Iain! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
Says a lot that the others just carried on their way. Guess Jimmy was no one special.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Pretty much. There is a reference there to a computer game from the 80s and 90s called Lemmings, and that was pretty much what they did – kept on walking regardless of how many were falling off cliffs, being squashed and so on!
LikeLiked by 3 people
They sound like really close friends – not! Nice one Iain
The Other Side – my SPF
LikeLiked by 1 person
Funny take! At least Jimmy’s sacrifice wasn’t in vain — the other Lemmings were finally able to cross. As a weird coincidence, there’s a sign just like this in my neighborhood, and I can’t for the life of me see why the sidewalk is closed for that one block — there’s nothing there! Clearly what I need is a Jimmy, to go test it out for me and make sure it’s not a sink hole situation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Make sure it’s a Jimmy and not you that tests it out first!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes, I’m crafty that way. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Omigosh, this was filarious, Iain. Brilliant. And with a twist at the end to punctuate the whole story. Nicely done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks John, hope you’re well.
LikeLike
I am well, thanks. I have buried myself in editing my ms. Getting close, so I’ll be able to venture into the real world again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Look forward to hearing more about it when it’s ready.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Guess it’s really important to pay attention to those signs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You never know when the sign you ignore is really the one you should’ve paid attention too.
LikeLike
Jimmy must be hearing the tune, Welcome to the other side or Signs by Tesla..
LikeLiked by 1 person
This happens when warning signs are ignored. This could be applied to real life when one ignores bodily changes and the disease takes over.
http://ideasolsi65.blogspot.in/2017/08/a-game.html
LikeLiked by 2 people
A very realistic take on everyday life. Pity they ignored Jimmy and chose to walk away. The last line was a killer. Brilliant Lian.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Neel
LikeLike
Good story. Poor Jimmy, but at least the others could make it safely across.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Sascha – some good came from his mishap!
LikeLike