Full body scanners rang alarms sporadically, accompanied by flashing red lights. Body and bag searches caused extended queues.
Once past the security gate the hollow muzak was interrupted to remind people not to leave their luggage unattended.
Security dogs snarled. The guards walked around with hands on machine guns. CCTV cameras kept a watchful eye from the high ceiling.
The air of suspicion infected fellow passengers, eyeing one another, judging threat levels based on appearance.
Parents hushed noisy children lest they draw unwanted attention to them.
Cowed and paranoid: the perfect way to start a relaxing holiday getaway.
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 stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
My novel, ‘A Justified State,’ is available now
Iain Kelly 
78 responses to “AIRPORT ’19”
Oh, how well you have projected a scenario that might very well happen.
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Thank you
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You’re welcome 😊
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Sad and already true!
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Thank you
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So, where was the “fiction” part of the Friday Fictioneers story? 😉
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Fair point!
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Lovely irony, Iain. Airports are just so scary!
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Thanks Jilly, a mix of anticipation and fear 🙂
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We’re so near that now
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In some places I think they’ve arrived – without even the need for an airport to experience something similar.
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Alas… we are never meant to relax… I think I will take the train instead.
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Now trains I love 🙂
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Good choice of incidents and people to show how disturbing some people can find flying nowadays. Nicely described scene.
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Thanks Penny – it certainly has lost some of its lustre as the exotic way to travel!
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LOL that’s funny. Thank goodness that’s not how I see it. Flying is still a great adventure to me.
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The flying is the best bit – the getting to that point is the struggle 😉
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So true, never thought of it that way before.
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Air travel really isn’t the romantic exotic experience it used to be!
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Bloody hell Iain, that is absolutely spot on! Roll on August, we’re going to Turkey for some more of this!
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Enjoy! 🙂
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what the hell we go through on the way to our vacation destination and back. sometimes i wonder if it’s all worth it as the brochures say. 🙂
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Better to holiday somewhere nearer home 😉
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Great take on the prompt, Iain. Traveling has become a scary and stressful thing nowadays.
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Thank you Deborah
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Nice one, Iain. Yes, airports can be pretty scary.
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Thank you
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Isn’t that the truth!
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Thanks Danny
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Security details can be intimidating. But a lapse can be deadlier.
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Very true
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The contrast made me think of pre 9/11 days. Travel felt safe and fun. I don’t recall a security presence although I’m sure it was there. Something deadly occurring wasn’t on the radar. Now I expect the possibility of an attack. Sad world.
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That date certainly changed a lot of things.
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It is a bit like entering a war zone! Better safe than sorry though.
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True Keith, an unfortunate necessity.
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For me there’s always a general air of suspicion and unease at airports – but maybe my imagination works overtime too much. 🙂
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I think you are not alone in this feeling.
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There’s a reason I haven’t been near an airport for over 15 years. Well described!
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Thank you
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Ooh, I really enjoyed this. I felt tension rising and kept trying to anticipate the ending. It left me hanging.
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Thank you, that was the idea – tension where there really was no reason to feel any.
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We are so there now… so much for fiction, eh?
You wrote it perfectly.
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Thanks Dale
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Sadly true in most airports here in Asia. Big dogs and big guns. Love the irony of your story.
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Thank you Brenda
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This is so true, and not only at the airport. Stuff happened on trains and buses. I travel by bus every week for 3+ hours, and sometimes people watch each other with suspicion. I always think, mantra-like, I’m not afraid, they must not win…
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Unfortunately we live in a world of fear and suspicion now.
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[…] Iain Kelly (short story author and novelist) [twitter: @ianthekid] […]
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Yes, traveling today can be a stressful exercise in patience and tolerance. It’s not for the weak at heart, mind, or body, not to mention those lacking funds. Amusing while still realistic, Iain. Well written. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thank you Suzanne
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Vivid description of our airports now, tense making and recognisable. Hope the subsequent holiday is fun.
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It better be worth getting there!
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Nice commentary. 🙂 I think back to the days when people would dress up for flights like they were going to a party. Today it’s closer to a cattle car, then add in all the security checks and other dehumanizing procedures.
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Not quite the glamorous sheen it once had for sure.
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And it’s getting worse. Everyone is scared. We need to start caring again
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Wouldn’t that be nice? 🙂
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Airports in England are stressful enough without the addition of guns!
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Guns do tend to make for a sobering experience
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The first time I flew to Heathrow, about 30 years ago, I was shocked to see the guards with their assault rifles. After 9/11, everything changed in America. We have the guards, too. We have beeping scanners and everything else you’ve described. What a world.
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I think they’re commonplace everywhere now, a constant reminder.
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Ouch! Wait till they roll out the mandatory body cavity searches….
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Probably coming soon for certain ethnic groups…
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Not far from reality. Maybe taking the ship across the Atlantic will come back into fashion!
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Now that actually sounds quite nice 🙂
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One of the many reasons I dislike flying….anywhere, anytime!
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It’s certainly got a lot of anxiety attached to it now!
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You’ve captured the feelings and atmosphere very well, Iain. As other commenters have said, how sad that we’ve come to this in our world.
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Thanks Margaret
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You’ve hit the nail on the head.
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Thank you
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The build up there was great.
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Thank you
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This reminds me of your book, and how much I liked it.
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Thank you so much Dawn! 2/3 of the way through the sequel 🙂
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I look forward to it.
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Well done Iain, it seems we’re not far off this.
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Afraid so, thanks Michael
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[…] Iain Kelly (literary short story author and novelist) [twitter: @ianthekid] […]
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