
PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot
Some smiled at the young man. Others noticed his shivers and asked if they could help. Most were friendly. This was their place, carved out ages ago by their families. The building the young man watched had welcomed their parents, their grandparents and, even, for a few, their great-great-grandparents.
But there were some who didn’t smile.
Josh made a few calls on his mobile, had a few whispered conversations.
When the stranger pulled out the AK-47, the police were ready. Not a shot was fired.
All anyone could ask was how could this safe place, their place, become so dangerous?
***
With another recent shooting I had to go to a dark place. It is so awful that hatred seems to have taken over so much of our country.
***
Word count = 100
Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. This week’s prompt is here and uses a photo © Roger Bultot. Read more or join in by following the InLinkz “linky“.
Very sell written and timely too, Trent
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Thanks, Neel. Yes, sadly it is a timely story.
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A well-written story, Trent. I wish more attacks that begin with violence would end without injuries though. —- Suzanne
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Thanks. yes, I agree that I wish more could be stopped before injuries or death. I just couldn’t let myself go too far in that direction when I was writing this…
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Young man was an assassin. The faith based animosity continues. Even places of god are not spared.
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Yes, sadly that is something that is still happening in our world.
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The chances of the US banning guns is as great as that of Germany (where I live) setting a speed limit on the highways and limiting the use of cars. I’m glad your story had a peaceful ending, well told. The kindness of the congretation was warm and clear.
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Yeah, that was one point I wanted to bring across was that the people of congregation weren’t just nice people, but people of compassion as well. You are right, I won’t hold my breath waiting for the US to give up its guns, or even make them harder for criminals and haters to get.
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I like how you made us sympathize with the temple-goers from the get-go, all smiles and helpfulness, sheep to the slaughter.
Your hero Josh was not so trusting, thank goodness. The old “See something, say something” mantra gives me the shivers, with its echoes of 1984, but in this case, it was a good thing.
By the way, guns in the hands of teachers just got passed here in FL, and the teachers, more than anyone, are, so to speak, up in arms about it.
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I can’t think of anything quite as sad as that we are arming teachers. How much the world has changed…
I don’t know if the haters that can commit atrocities have the ability to see the victims as real people. To me that was one of the best part of New Zealand’s response to the recent attack there – the Prime Minster not only showing sympathy for the victims, but identifying with them to show her support. We always need to put a human face on them.
Yeah, it is too bad that in this day and age we do have to keep a look out for extremists of many varieties. “See something, say something” does seem a little scary, but is so necessary to stay safe.
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Excellent and timely story. The last line made me pause. Places that once were thought off limits and safe are no longer. It truly is a scary world.
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After last week’s attack I read some witness reports where the person would say that their family moved to the US because it was safe, but that it is no longer true, that it is becoming one of the places to avoid because of how dangerous it now is. That is a very sad and scary.
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😓
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Luckily the police had an informant, but how tragic that one was needed.
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It is tragic that these types of attacks aren’t history or fiction. I just could let myself go too far and so had to have at least one person call the police before he struck.
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Wonderfully done, Trent.
If only they could all end in this manner…
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Thanks, Dale, I agree. Better yet, I wish these types of attacks would be relegated to history and fiction.
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Glad you wrote what you did given what is going on.
Glad it was a happy ending in this case.
Randy
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Thanks. It is unfortunate that it was the first thing that came to mind when seeing the photo… I wish more of these types of things turned out with as good of am ending.
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Great post, Trent. Very timely. It’s so sad unfortunate that these things are happening in places where people ought to feel safe.
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Thanks. It is very sad that stories like this do have a ring of truth today. I don’t understand random violence or hate crimes of any type, but there seems to be something even more evil in attacks at places of worship.
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It certainly is a sad truth. It’s so unfortunate to have such a place of love tainted by such hate. Well done, Trent.
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Reading through the different Friday Fictioneer stories, it is very sad how many people went down similar paths. There should be more happy stories full of love when presented with a picture like this! Thanks.
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I noticed that too. I wanted to do a Jewish wedding, but I’m afraid it’ll take a little research as I’m not well versed on the Jewish religion/wedding traditions.
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That was my other problem – I do know a little about ceremonies and such, but not enough to have it come out authentic.
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Sadly this s becoming commonplace but too often without the satisfactory conclusion that your story provides, and not just in your country.
Keith’s Ramblings is but a click away!
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Deep divisions, hatred and violence does seem to be a worldwide problem these days and it doesn’t seem to be getting better. Yeah, I just couldn’t let myself write too tragic of an ending… Occasionally they are caught before the shooting starts, but not often.
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Frightening, Trent. No one is safe here anymore, not in restaurants, movies, religious institutions, or kindergarten classrooms. I’m glad this one ended well, though most don’t.
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We do live in a scary world. How did it ever come to this? Remember in Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy where a joke was made about school teachers carrying guns? At that time the joke was they carried them to protect themselves against the students, but it is so chilling that it is no longer a joke, that people want teachers to carry guns. I just couldn’t end this with tragedy….
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I don’t know many people who haven’t experienced gun violence in their communities. I’m glad you didn’t go there.
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I agree, just about everyone knows someone who has been touched by it.
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An excellent story, sadly realistic. The biggest tragedy of our times is the enmity that politics has created among us.
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There is only right and wrong, good and evil, so if I am good, you must be evil…. Luckily I don’t know anyone who would harm another, but I know those who feel that extreme political disjoint. You are right, the divisions and enmity between people is a huge tragedy.
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It’s what leads to civil wars.
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I haven’t been watching the news much today, but yesterday it looked like a few civil wars in the making around the world…
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Time to ban guns
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Yes, or at the very least, make them harder to get, particularly military style weapons.
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Dear Trent,
A sorry state of affairs, isn’t it? The world has gone insane. Well written story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The world has gone insane. I hope sanity starts winning out again. Thanks.
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At least in your story the Police were there in time. If only it were so.
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Yes, it is true. Occasionally people are caught early, but most of the time nobody suspects until the first shot rings out. I just couldn’t write the more realistic version…
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A sign of the times today. Good Story.
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Unfortunately it is a sign of the times. Hopefully better (less hateful) times are coming soon! Thanks.
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