Kids playing in the park. People holding meaningful discussions. Debates sound and respectful. Families enjoying a beautiful day in the warm sun.
Sam sensed the explosion before he saw it first hand. He looked around incredulous as everything evaporated quickly. It was as if lightning grew from nothing, demanding its dirty ions to denounce the peaceful resolutions that had been occurring in the sunshine. Suddenly explosive tirades assaulted the calmness. Voices rose to unexpected levels, exalting and condemning inarticulate thoughts that weaved their way through his five senses rendering him static in disbelief. Bodies flew through the air in repulsed formations, delivering physical tirades on tired souls. All respect was gone in the world.
“Sacrilege,” voices cried out, cursing the outburst in tongues not fit for a moral man to hear.
“Pompous fools must stand up for what is right,” demanded another voice before it was vehemently discharged.
Sam stood in disbelief staring at the carnage before him.
“Do we change, adapt the worst of the past making it more unthreatening and commonplace?” Sam wondered as armaments rained down on him. “Is this how man succeeds?”
“Sam,” a quiet voice rose from the obloquy. “Are you alright?”
Sam blinked twice, focusing on the noises of children playing in the park. He looked at the adults in serious discussion before returning his gaze to his fiance who was sitting quietly with concerned eyes.
“You were looking scared. Your eyes were way out there,” she continued.
“The idea of personal growth only extends as far as one's comfort level. To push any work or idea past that faces rejection as being “weird or out there,” Sam said, replying to her question before all this started. “I hope this was an untrue vision,” he thought quietly. “This one was really a stretch. I need to write it down.”
“What?” Melanie asked. “Ideas being weird or out there? What are you talking about?”
Sam looked into her eyes as he took her hand. “I am fine. We are here. Happiness is surrounding us.” He counted to three. “I had a vision.”
Melanie gasped, startled. “Another vision?” Her eyes became laser attentive.
Sam looked away towards the kites flying and listened to the laughter across the field. “People don’t like change. Change begats uncertainty. Uncertainty is chaos for people.”
“I hope this is not like your last vision.” She looked at him with concern. “You are talking in riddles. Explain what ‘uncertainty is chaos’ means?”
He smiled glumly. “If my vision is true then we are looking at bad times ahead. Some people can’t live up to their words.” He thought for a second. “People crave a common ground where they feel comfortable. Upset that comfort and they rebel in blistering ways. This vision is worse than any other. Much worse. I hope it doesn’t come true but I have a feeling about it.”
"Let's go home,” she said as she rose, still holding his hand.
He reflected on his vision. “We may need to find another park to hang out at. I’m done with this one.”
They walked quietly along the path, two ships in a growing storm.
Calling on lightening… yikes!
A lighthearted treatment of a potentially deadly phenomenon. You’ve done that well.
Your words paint a picture I see as a video of this scene. It made me laugh!
Great! I wanted to take something deadly and make it a little goofy. Kind of just took an idea and ran with it. Glad you enjoyed it.
Two Ships In A Growing Storm
Kids playing in the park. People holding meaningful discussions. Debates sound and respectful. Families enjoying a beautiful day in the warm sun.
Sam sensed the explosion before he saw it first hand. He looked around incredulous as everything evaporated quickly. It was as if lightning grew from nothing, demanding its dirty ions to denounce the peaceful resolutions that had been occurring in the sunshine. Suddenly explosive tirades assaulted the calmness. Voices rose to unexpected levels, exalting and condemning inarticulate thoughts that weaved their way through his five senses rendering him static in disbelief. Bodies flew through the air in repulsed formations, delivering physical tirades on tired souls. All respect was gone in the world.
“Sacrilege,” voices cried out, cursing the outburst in tongues not fit for a moral man to hear.
“Pompous fools must stand up for what is right,” demanded another voice before it was vehemently discharged.
Sam stood in disbelief staring at the carnage before him.
“Do we change, adapt the worst of the past making it more unthreatening and commonplace?” Sam wondered as armaments rained down on him. “Is this how man succeeds?”
“Sam,” a quiet voice rose from the obloquy. “Are you alright?”
Sam blinked twice, focusing on the noises of children playing in the park. He looked at the adults in serious discussion before returning his gaze to his fiance who was sitting quietly with concerned eyes.
“You were looking scared. Your eyes were way out there,” she continued.
“The idea of personal growth only extends as far as one's comfort level. To push any work or idea past that faces rejection as being “weird or out there,” Sam said, replying to her question before all this started. “I hope this was an untrue vision,” he thought quietly. “This one was really a stretch. I need to write it down.”
“What?” Melanie asked. “Ideas being weird or out there? What are you talking about?”
Sam looked into her eyes as he took her hand. “I am fine. We are here. Happiness is surrounding us.” He counted to three. “I had a vision.”
Melanie gasped, startled. “Another vision?” Her eyes became laser attentive.
Sam looked away towards the kites flying and listened to the laughter across the field. “People don’t like change. Change begats uncertainty. Uncertainty is chaos for people.”
“I hope this is not like your last vision.” She looked at him with concern. “You are talking in riddles. Explain what ‘uncertainty is chaos’ means?”
He smiled glumly. “If my vision is true then we are looking at bad times ahead. Some people can’t live up to their words.” He thought for a second. “People crave a common ground where they feel comfortable. Upset that comfort and they rebel in blistering ways. This vision is worse than any other. Much worse. I hope it doesn’t come true but I have a feeling about it.”
"Let's go home,” she said as she rose, still holding his hand.
He reflected on his vision. “We may need to find another park to hang out at. I’m done with this one.”
They walked quietly along the path, two ships in a growing storm.
That last line feels perfect to me!