Xenophobia
For the A-to-Z Blogging Challenge this year, I’m posting a 100 word piece of flash fiction every day. It might be a self-contained story, or a scene–whatever, it’ll be fiction, and it’ll be over in a flash! Today’s story is…
Xenophobia
After six days, we parked the ship and disembarked, glad to be on solid ground. The place we came to was full of lush vegetation. Our team walked toward the native dwellings, hoping to make contact. This intention was greatly hampered by the reluctance of the natives to meet us. Some emerged from their domiciles, but they screamed, and quickly retreated.
“Did you see them?” said Bargs.
“I did!” I replied with equal enthusiasm.
“They only have two eyes,” said Angip.
Bargs turned to me. “Do you think we can take one back home?”
“We’ll have to catch one first…”
Check back tomorrow for Y…
A visit from the “stranger’s” perspective. We would be xenophobic to something like that wouldn’t we.
I think so, Cely–that’s the thought that inspired this little piece. We often think of xenophobia as an extreme form of antisocial anxiety… but what if the stranger was alien in form as well as nationality? We probably would be very xenophobic and not think it a bad thing.
LOL! Will they succeed in catching one? 🙂
I guess that depends on how xenophobic the natives are… 🙂
“They only have two eyes.” Lol!
I’m glad you liked that Melanie. This was actually my subtle way of telling you something about these “visitors.” Hopefully from that one line you get that 1) they have more than two eyes, and therefore 2) they are not of this world (though the running and screaming hopefully hinted that too). When you only have 100 words, opportunities like this to imply a bunch of details in just five words are priceless. They’re even more special when they elicit an lol, so thanks! 🙂
This is great, I love the perspective you chose 🙂
Thanks, Laura! 🙂
Great job! Tight writing. 🙂
Thanks, Jess! 😀
I totally got it, Colin. 🙂 Loved it!
Thanks, Linda–I’m glad you liked it. 🙂
Okay, I loved that. At first I was confused because how do you park a ship, but that “two eyes” line made it obvious. Did they catch one?
Thank you, J.E.! I was trying to mislead you at first, which is why I said “parked” and not “landed.” And given the xenophobia of the natives, I think the visitors will have a hard time catching one. 🙂
I snickered at the two eyes comment. Great piece.
~Patricia Lynne~
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, YA Author
Thanks, Patricia–I’m glad you liked that. 🙂
Love the twist!
https://www.colindsmith.com/blog
I’m pleased you like it, Yvonne. Thank you! 🙂
I hear those two-eyed creatures can be ruthless. Maybe the visitors should proceed with caution. 🙂
They certainly can be ruthless, Chuck. Agreed… 🙂