They wait.
Rain starts to fall, umbrellas unfurl.
The leaves overhead are golden-brown, autumnal. It seems appropriate.
The mood is patient. They’ve waited this long, what’s another hour or two?
Most are elderly. The young can’t stand around like this, they have to keep moving, keep hustling, to get through the day.
A shuffle forward, a false alarm, they remain standing.
After a lifetime it’s worth the wait. Perhaps there will finally be some answers. Perhaps not.
Finally, the gates open smoothly.
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.
NEW NOVEL ‘STATE OF DENIAL’ RELEASED ON FRIDAY
My second novel is released on Friday and you can now order the paperback or Amazon Kindle version by following the links:
U.S.A. / AMAZON.COM UNITED KINGDOM AUSTRALIA CANADA
Intriguing, as always.
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Thank you
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It is better to wait hopefully than to arrive
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I fear they are going to be disappointed here.
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I wonder how one counts the age of a soul.
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As old as it feels?
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Hmmm. I must be a couple of centuries old 🙂
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Dear Iain,
You leave me wondering, gates to where? Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you Rochelle, perhaps it is for each individual to decide where those gates will take them.
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And everyone breathes a sigh of relief that the waiting is over …
Waiting in line can be so difficult.
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I don’t have the patience for it! Thanks Colline
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It looks like the kids that stand in line for the newest iPhone. Nice take on the prompt.
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I thought about making light of it at the end with something like that…but I seem to remember I’d done that in a story before!
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Saint Peter, perhaps? Tantalizing.
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Perhaps, or maybe something less final. Thanks.
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Oh, another intrigue – you tease, you!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thanks Susan – I guess you’ll just have to join the queue…!
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We took a similar view, different angle.
Nice one, Iain.
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Thanks CE, look forward to your take.
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Wonderfully open, Iain. Beautifully described.
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Thank you Dale, I was in a vague mood 😉
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Nothing wrong with that!
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I love the biggest answer left to our imagination. Depending on one’s perspective and mood it could be anything!
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Exactly, could be innocuous, could be something a lot more serious. Thanks Joe.
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That is always my wish with stories. I learned that when I read the Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The imagination is a much more effective device at conjuring the unthinkable!
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Wonderfully written! Makes me wonder what they are waiting for, but I like that you left it open ended, so many possibilities!
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The reader’s state of mind might determine the answer 🙂
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Eager to get there yet fearful of the decision… 🙂 (I went with “Pearly Gates”). Nice one!
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Thank you
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Whatever they are waiting for, I hope the young MISS OUT!!! 😉
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It’ll be there turn soon enough 😉
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LOL! Yep!
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This I think is not a queue to try jumping. 😉
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Could be right, best to try and stay at the back…
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I’m hoping it’ll be just gates after gates after gates, different music playing in each queue. Good story Iain, I shall be buying the state of denial next week, I enjoyed the first.
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A musical mystery tour. Thank you so much, do please let me know if you enjoy this one.
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Im not sensing a happy ending. I’m intrigued. Wish I could watch the rest of this movie 🙂
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Thank you Linda
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The elderly need those walkers they can sit on. My feet hurt looking at this pic. 😀
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That’s true, they have come unprepared! 🙂
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The gates to where? I hope it’s someplace good.
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I think it depends on your state of mind as to whether it ends up being good or not. Thanks for commenting 🙂
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Gate has opened. So the wait is over. At least some of them may find answer they are looking for.
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Thanks Abhijit
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I wonder what happens when the gates close again. An intriguing tale Iain.
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And are you allowed back through them? Thanks Keith
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To wait that long for only the possibility of an answer is beyond me. Perhaps they seek medical help or something?
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Ha, that could easily be the answer 😉
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With St Peter on the other side?
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Could be, or something better or worse!
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Ha, I don’t like waiting in lines. Think I’d be skipping that one.
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Probably wise 🙂
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Good one that leaves an opening to interpretation that could go many ways. Like it!
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Thank you so much
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The Wait, so suspenseful. I wonder what they are waiting for so patiently.
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Thank you 🙂
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Love the rhythm of this!
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Thank you Sascha
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The Beatles cover band was well worth the wait… until they started to play. The answer to the question was, “No.” No cover band will ever be as good as the band they’re trying to emulate.
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Ha, no refunds either!
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Seriously? Come on. The submarine was purple. Dang it!
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I am intrigued—wonder where they are all headed to? I think waiting in that line would be tedious but hopefully worth it, after all!
Nice take on the prompt.
Cheers
Esha
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Let’s hope it’s worth it! Thank you Esha
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You leave us wanting to know more.. intriguing one.
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Thanks Aks
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Oh I hear ya. It’s the wait without knowing… well done
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Thanks Laurie
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I accept that an orderly queue is a sign of civilised respect.
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Thanks James
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hopefully, it’s all worth it. sometimes, it ends in disappointment.
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More often than not.
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Is this a gate to heaven? That’s what my mind conjured.
A place that opens the doors to a good after-life.
Intriguing take on the prompt, Iain.
https://natashamusing.com/2019/09/the-show-must-go-on-friday-fictioneers-natasha-musing/
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Thank you Natasha – your guess might be right 🙂
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A good story, Iain. I hope the long wait was worthwhile. Well done. You might want to add India to your list for ordering your book as some of us can only order through in.Amazon ( Amazon India). —- Suzanne
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Thanks Suzanne, my books are available on Amazon India, if you go to these pages:
A Justified State –
State of Denial – https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07VXLK7YB
You will find all the territories you can get my books on my ‘Available Now’ page of my blog – there are just too many to keep listing – I wish Amazon would have a one page for all the different territories!! Do let me know if you get a copy and what you think of the books. Best wishes, Iain
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Let’s hope it’s the Gates of Heaven. I’m not interested in seeing the other place.
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It might be quite lively 🙂
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The older I get…the sadder this becomes
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Alas, the same fate awaits us all in the end…
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