The initial idea had been so simple.

Now it was a reality.

Dale stood before her innovation. Three giant prongs extending into the sky.

The metal forks would extract moisture from the atmosphere and turn it into electricity.

She proudly hit the switch to turn it on.

***

It took Montreal months to recover from the damage that Dale’s Hydro Extractor caused.

The swirling mass of clouds drawn towards her machine had caused an atmospheric storm that brought cyclones, monsoons, flooding, severe electric shocks and untold misery.

Buildings were swept away, thousands perished.

The three-pronged extractor survived. Dale didn’t.


hydro-dale
Copyright Dale Rogerson

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.


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91 responses to “DALE SOLVES THE ENERGY CRISIS”

  1. may hem Avatar
    may hem

    Oh, no! Why Montréal?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Dale lives there, simple as that – just bad luck for Montreal!

      Like

  2. neilmacdon Avatar

    Wonderfully and whimsically inventive, Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Neil

      Like

  3. Sandra Avatar

    I think Dale’s going to be gunning for you when she wakes up Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I’m hoping she’ll see the funny side…

      Like

    2. Dale Avatar

      Muahahaha!

      Liked by 4 people

  4. rochellewisoff Avatar

    Dear Iain,

    Poor Dale. I have it on good authority her intentions were honourable. Fun story. You made me smile.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Rochelle, always nice to know I have spread a smile or two 🙂

      Like

  5. Susan A Eames Avatar

    Yikes! What an ending! Great story, Iain.

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Susan

      Like

  6. trentpmcd Avatar

    Poor Dale. I’m sure she meant well…. We’ll see if she still means well when she responds 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Yes, I am bracing myself…

      Liked by 1 person

  7. J Hardy Carroll Avatar

    I was just reading about electric cars the other day and something like this story was in the comments.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I can only see electricity produced this way leading to disaster.

      Like

  8. bearmkwa Avatar
    bearmkwa

    Oh, man, you are such a meanie… killing Dale that way. (shakes head, closes eyes, and prays for your wayward soul.). Great story, though… and an interesting idea…what if we could extract electricity that way… without the damages, of course.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you, of course, I am only killing a fictional Dale – I may have to take cover later! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  9. ForgivingConnects Avatar

    Oh my gosh! Macabre and funny all at the same time. 😎 Thanks Iain, I really enjoy these.
    Blessings
    Debbie

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much Debbie, glad you enjoyed 🙂

      Like

  10. pennygadd51 Avatar

    Oh, that made me chuckle, Iain! A literal use of the prompt that manages to be very original – how beautiful is that? Kudos!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much 🙂

      Like

  11. aheartforafrica641064503 Avatar
    aheartforafrica641064503

    Your story made me chuckle. Poor Dale. Her heart was in the right place.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you! 🙂

      Like

  12. Reena Saxena Avatar

    Cloudbursts and storms do occur in nearby areas, after nuclear tests are conducted in deserts. Linkages have not been established, and will probably never be.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      For all that science can tell us, we still don’t know exactly what causes lightning, so who knows what else nature has in store!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Reena Saxena Avatar

        If we live till then, there is something to learn.

        Liked by 1 person

  13. notestowomen Avatar

    This was a fun story, Iain. Although it might get you in hot water with Dale 🙂 Just kidding. Dale is one cool lady. I’m sure she’ll get a chuckle out of this.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I do hope so!

      Like

  14. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    What an interesting take… one can’t blame inventors if nature misbehave can we. :0

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      We still try to control nature, even after we should have learned long ago that it cannot be tamed.

      Like

  15. ceayr Avatar

    Oh dear, what a shame, never mind…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      You sound heartbroken…

      Like

    2. Dale Avatar
  16. larry trasciatti Avatar

    Such nice humor. Dale should have been a smidge more careful with such an extreme innovation~

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      A lab test first would have been wise!

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Fandango Avatar

    The best laid plans….

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      …of mice and Dale.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. msjadeli Avatar

    I like the way you show the double-edged sword of technology.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. msjadeli Avatar

        You are welcome, Iain.

        Liked by 1 person

  19. Dale Avatar

    Yanno, Iain… that Dale is a tad precocious to say the least. No lab tests? No testing on American soil near the Whitehouse? Honestly… to blow up a lovely city like Montreal is blasphemous. You sure she didn’t make it to her home on the south shore of Montreal? She’s done for, for good?
    Sad day…
    😀

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It seems she is still out there, lurking around… 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Dale Avatar

        😂🤣

        Liked by 1 person

  20. Abhijit Ray Avatar

    That is why it is important to do a pilot before introducing an innovation for mass consumption. Poor Dale did not have many good advisors.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      True, a test may have helped!

      Like

  21. draliman Avatar

    Oh no, poor Dale! Good job it’s just a story. OR IS IT…?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Only Dale knows the truth…

      Liked by 1 person

  22. Rekha Rajgopal Avatar
    Rekha Rajgopal

    Very good use of the prompt…macabre yet funny story!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Rekha

      Like

  23. patriciaruthsusan Avatar

    Oh, poor Dale. Montreal will never be the same. Wednesdays on this blog will never be the same. Check again and see if she’s still there somewhere. If it was me, I’d be in hiding. Funny disaster story, Iain. Even Dale enjoyed it. 😀 — Suzanne

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Suzanne, it appears, thankfully, that Dale has survived after all! 🙂

      Like

  24. Russell Gayer Avatar

    Instead of Dudley Do-Right of the Royal Canadian Mounties, we have Dale Do-Right of the Montreal Mistake-Prone Canucks. I love it! Well done, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Russell, a new name for Dale that I’m sure will catch on!

      Like

  25. Tannille Avatar

    Poor Dale! She is missed 😂.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Not by all those poor souls in Montreal 🙂

      Like

  26. Brenda's Thoughts Avatar

    I’m sure Dale meant well. Very creative​ story, love it!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Everyone starts out with the best of intentions! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  27. Bernadette Braganza Avatar
    Bernadette Braganza

    Ouch! Poor Dale 😦

    Liked by 1 person

  28. James McEwan Avatar

    Oh Dale! Perhaps some good will come out of the Dale’s Hydro Extractor, modified; it could be used to control the weather and the climate. So who’s working on the invention now?
    A fun and light hearted read.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks James, true, Dale has sacrificed herself so someone else can pick up where she left off!

      Like

  29. Nobbinmaug Avatar

    Energy crisis solved! If we destroy civilization, we don’t need energy. It’s kind of an odd workaround, but good job, Dale. Problem solved. Next job, try to solve American politics. The same method is acceptable.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      That’s one way to look at it 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  30. Liz Young Avatar

    That was pretty drastic, killing the inventor!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Dying for their science!

      Like

  31. Keith's Ramblings Avatar

    It seemed a good idea at the time. A Dalectable tale!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Keith 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  32. patrickprinsloo Avatar

    Oh dear. One Friday Fictioneer less. But a fun experiment.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      She still seems to be writing, must’ve been another Dale.

      Like

  33. JoHawkTheWriter Avatar

    It wouldn’t surprise me if Dale didn’t resurface with new plans for destruction. Best keep your head down Iain. (Great story)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I may be a target…!

      Liked by 1 person

  34. plaridel Avatar

    she took the risk and failed. hopefully, someone can learn from her mistakes.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Without the risks we would never get anywhere.

      Liked by 1 person

  35. dragonwarrior07987 Avatar

    Really a great read!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much 🙂

      Like

  36. gahlearner Avatar
    gahlearner

    Now we know, it’s all Dale’s fault. But killing her off? Tsk… Iain… 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I know, I’m in trouble!

      Liked by 1 person

  37. lisarey1990 Avatar

    Great ending.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  38. Laurie Bell Avatar

    Oh no! Gosh what an ending. Hilarious but could it happen I wonder? A weather machine? Love the idea

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I’m sure someone will be trying it!

      Like

  39. csheldonblog Avatar

    Interesting take on the prompt… We are all being sucked in hell…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Something like that!

      Liked by 1 person

  40. Sascha Darlington Avatar

    Gulp. You did Dale in?! (It’s a darn good thing she’s so good-natured or there could be repercussions.)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I think there still could be repercussions for me!

      Liked by 1 person

  41. magarisa Avatar

    I can see from Dale’s comment that she does indeed see the humour in her fictional demise. 😊
    Engaging writing, as always.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thankfully, she does! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  42. Inside the Mind of Isadora Avatar

    I have to admit, lain, I had a good chuckle at the end. I wonder if it’s because of the fact that I know who Dale is. LOL GREAT take on the prompt. Hopefully, this doesn’t really happen.
    Isadora 😎

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I certainly hope it doesn’t happen! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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