Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers ~ Writing challenge. The goal is to write a story between 100-150 words (give or take 25 words) based on the provided photo.
- Thank you Ady for our prompt photo this week
The boatman’s organisation were paid thousands to smuggle the family onto the mainland. They were escaping from a brutal regime that would have jailed Mr Shah and sold his wife and children into slavery. When they saw the transport for the last leg of the journey they were shocked. The boatman assured them all would be well as they would never be considered suspects on a paddle boat. That would be considered a pleasure trip.
A patrol boat sped by as they were halfway across the bay and ignored them. The family raised fishing rods and pretended to fish when a helicopter flew overhead. They reached land-fall, when a patrol ordered them to stop and produce their papers. With their hearts in their mouths, Mr Shah reached for the forged papers in his wallet. A radio crackled into life and the patrol instantly sped off on their motorcycles in the direction of the waterside. The family breathed a united sigh of relief and made their way ashore to a new life.
(175 Words)
Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved
This is in response to a challenge hosted by Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. If you would like to participate in this challenge or need more information, please click the following link:
johnandmargaret1607 
All paths for the new life.. nice one! 🙂
Thanks Prakash ~ I’m glad you enjoyed his 🙂
Indeed! 🙂
I’m so glad yours was a happy ending too John! I really liked your story!
Thanks Joy ~ I’m glad you enjoyed it ~Thanks for providing such an interesting prompt~ Have a nice week 🙂
You too! And thank you!
sweet beautiful ending. In few words you expressed so many emotions, glad to get a chance to read your work 🙂
Thanks for your great response ~ I’m glad you enjoyed this ~ 🙂
My pleasure
The things many have to go through for a “better” chance at peace and another way of living with the ones they love and want to protect. Thanks for this story and the emotions evoked. Excellent job!
Thanks so much for your lovely comment Izzy ~ I appreciate your thoughts and feedback 🙂
Whew that was a close call
The last hurdle can often be the worst ~ The escape was successful and paid off in the end ~ 🙂
Oh this sounds frightening! How fortunate so many of us are. Nicely written piece, John
Ellespeth
Thanks Ellespeth ~ Sometimes the imagination can explore situations that reality never throws our way~ Fortunately!
Good read. Happy ending is always good.
True ~ Sadly a rarity ~ Engineering is all part of the writing process ~ Thanks for reading and commenting ~ 🙂
I wonder about that unfortunate name choice? (Youngsters may not remember the last Shah of Iran, who fled Iran to escape the Ayatollah Khomeini coup. On a yacht, if my memory’s good?) Not a sympathetic parallel.
Mr Shah is quite a usual family name in many parts of the East. The Shah, as in the Shah of Persia is a totally different title ~Thanks for reading and commenting ~
Yay!
I do love a happy ending 🙂
Thanks for responding Dawn~ Glad you enjoyed this ~ 🙂
Great story! I enjoyed the suspense and I especially enjoyed the happy ending!
Thanks Jesse ~ A sigh of sweet relief ~ 🙂
Lots of heart-stopping moments! So good to read that they made it!
Thanks for readng and commenting Phylor ~ 🙂