Walk the Plank: New Voyages Writing Challenge
Every month, the motley crew of pirates over at YA Buccaneers challenge writers to come up with some flash fiction based on the month’s theme. This month, the theme is “New Voyages,” and that’s what they want us to write about. To make the challenging that bit more challenging, there are extra points for:
- Starting with the words “It was the first day of…”
- Ending with the words “I feel _____ about the next day…”
- Hitting the word count exactly
They’ve given us fifty more words this month. So, in 250 words, here’s my take on “New Voyages”:
It was the first day of 1966; so said the sign on the Allied Chemical building. Seconds before we were chanting the countdown, all eyes on the ball gliding down, its yellow lights glittering against the night sky. I held Lisa’s hand while around us the crowd erupted into euphoria. My ears rang with the noise, muting all other sound; blind to street signs, buildings, and neon lights. All I could see were people dancing, jostling, holding their loved ones.
I pulled Lisa into my arms and kissed her. I didn’t care about the crowds, or our parents only feet behind us. All that mattered was being here, now, with Lisa. Tears filled our eyes. We held each other, fighting the forces that would tear us apart. But even as I pulled Lisa closer to me than skin, I could feel the draft notice in my coat pocket come between us.
Here we were, beginning a new year, surrounded by thousands of people making resolutions, planning, hoping, wishing, full of expectation and excitement, and all we wanted was to live the moment. I tried to lock every second into my memory. The smell of Lisa’s hair, the warmth of her breath, the hopeless longing in her eyes, the grip of her hand.
In eight hours I’d report for induction. In twenty-four I could be shipping out. I didn’t want this day, this minute, this second to end. I felt so alive right then. I feel numb about the next day.
If you want to take part in the challenge, you have until the end of the month (next week) to join in. You’ll find details on the YA Buccaneers’ blog.
What a powerful moment before he had to go to war.
Thanks, Medeia. 🙂
This is really good, Colin! But then, you always seem to rock the flash fiction whenever you do it, so that’s not surprising. 🙂
Thanks, Jaime, that’s very kind of you to say. I’m still a little flummoxed as to why my brain went in this direction for the prompt, but it seemed to work. There really was no compelling reason I can think of why 1966 came to mind. The fact of what that year might have meant to a young man in the US at the time only struck me after.
I’m looking forward to see what you wily buccaneers have for us next month! 😉
Colin, I LOVE IT!!
What a cool take on the prompt! And you’ve captured a moment perfectly. I love that it is a bittersweet moment too, with the draft notice burning a hole in his pocket.
I agree with Jaime, you are rocking the Flash Fiction! 🙂
Thank you, Kris! I enjoy writing flash fiction, partly because it *is* hard, and it’s a real challenge to say what you want to say in a limited number of words. Especially when you’re as prone to verbosity as me! 😀
Wow! This is great, Colin. I didn’t expect the twist of the draft notice at all, and it gave the story such a unexpected weight. Thanks for participating in the YA Buccaneers Walk the Plank Challenge!
You’re welcome, Bridgid–and thank you! I really didn’t know where I was going to go with 1966. Then, thinking about “first day of 1966” took me to Times Square. It so happened there was a clip on YouTube of that very night as part of a New Year’s Eve show (it might have been Dick Clark, but I’m not sure). Anyway, the voice-over talked about what 1966 might bring, and mentioned Vietnam. That was my light bulb moment. 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed it! I look forward to next month’s. Make it a doozie… 😀
Aw, so sweet and sad. I liked this. With this challenge I was trying to think of all sorts of happy and exciting new voyages but it never occurred to me that some new voyages aren’t always positive and can be quite scary.