Iain Kelly

A TALE OF TWO WORLDS

Palm trees and bright lights and smiling people.
The glamour. The glitz. The full Hollywood razzmatazz.

Over-turned cars and burning fires and desperate people.
The injustice. The violence. The full social unrest.

Cameras clicking and flashbulbs sparking and the crowd cheers.
The gowns. The radiant idols. The elite on show.

Cameras clicking and flashbulbs sparking and the mob riots.
The disillusioned. The disadvantaged. The blood on the streets.

A city divided.
A country collapsing.

A world lost.

hollywood-crowd
Copyright Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Written for Friday Fictioneers 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). Come on everyone, just wear a mask.

To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

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Iain Kelly

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67 responses to “A TALE OF TWO WORLDS”

  1. neilmacdon Avatar
    neilmacdon

    Let’s hope your grim vision doesn’t turn out to be a prediction

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      It’s already happening, and no one seems to be capable of stopping it.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. rochellewisoff Avatar
    rochellewisoff

    Dear Iain,

    I only hope you’re not writing our epitaph. Well done in any event.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Rochelle. Next week, something more positive, it’s almost become too easy to write about how bad things are…!

      Like

      Reply
  3. trentpmcd Avatar
    trentpmcd

    It does seem to be the way we are heading.. I hope it’s stopped before the collapse is complete and the world lost.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Who knows where we will end up, I don’t think anyone can really predict where this will stop.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. trentpmcd Avatar
        trentpmcd

        No, nobody can predict. Who would have predicted this year?!

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Susan A Eames Avatar
    Susan A Eames

    Great writing, Iain!

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you Susan

      Like

      Reply
  5. pensitivity101 Avatar
    pensitivity101

    Brilliant Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you Di

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. pensitivity101 Avatar
        pensitivity101

        you’re welcome

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Michele Jones Avatar
    Michele Jones

    How very true.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Michele

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  7. Gabriella Avatar
    Gabriella

    A tale of two cities and the reality of many places. Very true depiction.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you Gabriella.

      Like

      Reply
  8. Danny James Avatar
    Danny James

    Pretty well says it all. Is this why a lot of us are depressed?

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      It’s like we’ve woken up to it and can’t deal with how awful it has become.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  9. notestowomen Avatar
    notestowomen

    Iain, I really liked how you contrasted the two worlds–one of glitz and glamour and the other of disillusion and harsh reality. Dickens would be impressed 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you so much – high praise indeed! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. notestowomen Avatar
        notestowomen

        You’re welcome. It’s well deserved 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  10. msjadeli Avatar
    msjadeli

    Even Hollywood can’t build an illusion to cover up what’s going on.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Nope, in fact it could be what finally ends the dream factory altogether.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  11. Nobbinmaug Avatar
    Nobbinmaug

    It always seems to be the best of times for some and the worst of times for some. Though, things do seem to be tilting toward the worst.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      The worst for the majority. Maybe it will get so bad that real change might happen?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  12. Na'ama Yehuda Avatar
    Na’ama Yehuda

    I hear you, though thankfully I don’t think we’re there yet (though we may be, if change in leadership does not come soon …). There is more order than disorder still, and more hope than hate. I’ll hold on to hope.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I would like to as well, but it’s a struggle!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Na'ama Yehuda Avatar
        Na’ama Yehuda

        We do what we can, eh? May things get better and be what they CAN be, for the GOOD.

        Liked by 1 person

  13. plaridel Avatar
    plaridel

    as long as we have leaders who thrive in fomenting division, i don’t see how we can get out of this cycle of destruction.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I agree. We need new leaders with new ideas and better judgement and understanding.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  14. Indira Avatar
    Indira

    Things are in bad shape, indeed. Well expressed but is there no way coming out of it?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I really hope so, but it’s hard to see at the moment.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  15. Tannille Avatar
    Tannille

    Love this. Hollywood is pretty on the outside, rotten on the inside.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      As we have seen in the last few years. I’m sure there are many more horrible stories that remain hidden.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  16. draliman Avatar
    draliman

    The two sides of every big city the world over. Nice one!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  17. Keith's Ramblings Avatar
    Keith’s Ramblings

    The glamour and glitz can only hide the reality for so long. What then?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I hate to say it, but I think we are discovering that at this moment, and it’s not very pretty.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  18. Bill Avatar
    Bill

    And I thought I went dark. Good one, Iain. And so horribly true.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Bill, I’m aiming for a light-hearted one next week.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Bill Avatar
        Bill

        Me too.

        Liked by 1 person

  19. Liz Young Avatar
    Liz Young

    Oh my word! This is excellent and deep.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you Liz

      Like

      Reply
  20. granonine Avatar
    granonine

    Excellent comparison/contrast in response to the prompt. Two sides to every story. I find it somewhat ironic that all the Hollywood glitz-and-glamor crowd includes many voices raised in condemnation of said glitz-and-glamor.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Yes, they do like to have an opinion these days, on everything.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  21. Psychic-Medium-Author Ronda Del Boccio Avatar
    Psychic-Medium-Author Ronda Del Boccio

    Sad commentary on life.
    Ronda

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Ronda

      Like

      Reply
  22. siobhan1967 Avatar
    siobhan1967

    I’m just reading a book about the history of LA, including the notorious riots and the massive economic discrepancies in the city / county, so this piece feels really apt. It feels like such a two-faced (in all senses) city.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you, it really is a city that highlights the difference between the rich and poor.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
  23. Laurie Bell Avatar
    Laurie Bell

    Ouch. I hope it doesn’t end like that. A grim hint of the future playing out.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      We’re not far off it at the moment 😦

      Like

      Reply
  24. Paula Sue Bryant, Writer Avatar
    Paula Sue Bryant, Writer

    Paradise lost. This reminded me of Nathanel West’s The Day of the Locust and the burning of Los Angeles. Nice.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks so much Paula.

      Like

      Reply
  25. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    So many injustices end in strife, it is sad.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Afraid so. Thanks Mike

      Like

      Reply
  26. Inside the Mind of Isadora Avatar
    Inside the Mind of Isadora

    A tale of the sign of the times, lain. Please say it isn’t so.
    OK it is looking grim for the future but let’s not give up hope.
    Well done … Have a wonderful weekend … Be Safe
    Isadora 😎

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Isadora, hopefully we can turn the corner for better times.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  27. Russell Gayer Avatar
    Russell Gayer

    Excellent piece, Iain. I’ve been to Hollywood, and less than a block from Hollywood Boulevard it’s a whole different world. There are a lot of poor and homeless people everywhere you look. The stars donated to starving children in Africa (which is good) yet ignore those in their own backyard.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Russell. Exactly, as with this pandemic, we in the West seem very good at lecturing others about what they should have done or should be doing, when our own response has been woeful to say the least.

      Like

      Reply
  28. gillyflower Avatar
    gillyflower

    A scary, chaotic and heartwrenching climate, succintly described. Thank you, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you

      Like

      Reply
  29. subroto Avatar
    subroto

    Nicely done. Great contrast between the worlds that exist side by side.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you

      Like

      Reply
  30. Norma Avatar
    Norma

    It seems to be a reality not to far ahead of us.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      No, we’re living it right now.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  31. magarisa Avatar
    magarisa

    Scary! Excellent writing.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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