PHOTO PROMPT © J Hardy Carroll
The fire was quickly contained in the small apartment building. Most of the damage was from smoke. The adjacent buildings were sprayed to protect them from sparks that could jump like fleas from dog to dog.
The firemen searched from one apartment to the next, checking for tenants. Finally, they found an old woman with a small child on her lap. Her oxygen machine was unattached, her eyes open but empty. The child patted her cheeks, crying, “I’m sorry, Nana, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
The matchbox lay empty by the chair.
Just Writing! 
I liked the sparks jumping like fleas
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Neil.
LikeLike
Sparks of ruin in this case. What a sad story! In the hope that future only spread spark of love and happiness! Amen Granonine!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A tragic ruination of 2 lives.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for catching that–both lives, not just Nana’s.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Linda,
Tragic story and much layered between the lines. I liked the flea from dog to dog analogy. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks.
LikeLike
I thought it was something on the news but soon realised its your own writing. It’s beautiful
LikeLiked by 1 person
These Friday Fictioneer stories are always fiction for me, unless I clarify differently. Fact is, most fiction reflects true life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
True
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh no. That is horrible. So sad and tragic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. It really is sad.
LikeLike
A tragic tale indeed, and beautifully written. Excellent as ever.
Click to read my FriFic!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your kind comments, Keith.
LikeLike
Tragic that a young life could be destroyed by such a silly accident. I too loved those ‘fleas’ .Great writing
LikeLiked by 2 people
‘fleas’ are annoying…but there are also always the sparks of hope, to avoid such dramatic situations! Shanti
LikeLiked by 2 people
thanks 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, Lynn.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh no! Poor nana – poor grandchild.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed.
LikeLike
Good story. A poor child who would never forget
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. Never forget, for sure.
LikeLike
Engaging from the get go. I thought she had given him the oxygen, but keep reading, wham, double whammy the poor kid.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much.
LikeLike
Sad. Exquisitely crafted.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicely written and poignant tragedy. Well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So sad. I hope the kid can get over it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sadly, this kind of trauma can circle back around over and over. The child will need some TLC and some expert counseling.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was tragic for both. Loved the line “…sparks that could jump like fleas from dog to dog.” and “…her eyes open but empty. ” so sad and terrifying.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for your kind comments.
LikeLike
That poor child will never get over the guilt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Linda,
I was with D Avery, thinking Nana had sacrificed her own life to save her grandchild from the smoke – until I read the last line. And, tbh, I think if you’d omitted the last sentence you would have had a stronger story. Mind you, I loved your simile about the sparks being like fleas – really original and effective.
With best wishes
Penny
LikeLiked by 1 person
Penny, I appreciate your insights. I rarely get constructive criticism–and I hesitate to give it, as well. You make a good point.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Linda
Thank you for accepting my constructive criticism so graciously. I hope very much that you will reciprocate. Criticism from a writer such as yourself is particularly valuable. I will always take it very seriously because, even if I disagree with it, there has been something about my writing that has caused the response.
BTW you’ve written a very touching story; I liked it a lot.
With very best wishes
Penny
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the compliment, Penny. This 100-word story project has helped in so many ways!
LikeLike
I disagree about the last line, Penny. I don’t think I would have made the connection without it. For me, it was the switch that turned on the lightbulb.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmm. I would kind of like to keep that line, because it draws the story together the way I had imagined it. Good input.
LikeLike
Oh darn, that took a twist I didn’t expect. Either way it is heartbreaking.
LikeLiked by 1 person
it is. Thanks for your comment.
LikeLike
Holy cow…that is tragic..I feel sorry for the child..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too. He had no ill intent.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great use of the prompt, Linda. I would have never thought to go there. This is what makes FFF so much fun. Heartbreaking conclusion to the story. Well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agreed. So much diversity in our responses!
LikeLike
Oh no. So much packed into this story. Tragic but beautifully done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautifully written, Linda.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a sad tale Linda and beautifully written. Love the metaphor of the sparks and fleas.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A very sad ending… though of course it could have been even worse it the fire had spread… I hope there will be a way to forgiveness.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. Bjorn.
LikeLike
This works very well. Lots of powerful images. Espacially those fleas!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The fleas seem to have appealed to many others, as well 🙂
LikeLike
Beautifully written – so tragic and moving. I too liked the sparks/fleas analogy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Clare.
LikeLike
You wrote such a tragic and emotional story. I instantly felt sorry for the child as she would remember this event years to come.
By the way, good technically correct method of containing an out of control building fire by watering down the adjacent building. Nice work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Mike. I appreciate your noticing the details 🙂
LikeLike
Dear Granonine, I love your vivid description of fleas jumping dog to dog. This is a well written story and very emotional. The little girl will feel guilty for the rest of her life as she has already shown . I feel sorry for her, and how did she get her hands on the matches? Wonderful story!
LikeLiked by 2 people
yes I also wonder, where she got the matches!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Children are amazingly capable of getting their hands on things they shouldn’t 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Nan. You are very kind.
LikeLike
So sad!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This was heartrending but could easily happen. Great descriptive writing, Linda. —- Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Poor little boy, feel really sorry for him the most
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh so very sad. That poor child to have to live with that horrid accident…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. He’s going to have a tough time.
LikeLiked by 1 person