December Flash Fiction Contest

[chillibreeze]

Our Flash Fiction Contest is back. The theme for the contest was based on the winning response received for the Issues Close to Your Heart contest. The task is to use a couple of unrelated words and a picture prompt and come up with a story with a message. Are you up for it??

Rules for the contest:
Theme: Traffic Safety
Writing prompts: children, playing, traffic and safety
Picture Prompt:

MP900443837.jpg

Word Limit: 300 words
Last date to send in the entries: Dec 16, 2011
One entry/contestant.

We will be announcing the results on Dec 23, 2011 and the winner will be featured on our new website.

[parwatisingari]

hi I have mailed my story through email.

[chillibreeze]

hi I have mailed my story through email.

Hi Parwati,

You can post your story here on the forums.

Thanks,
CB Team

[Sreelekha]

The sun duly rose in the east and languorously climbed up the clear blue sky; a bright red glowing orb of fire threatening to burn all that dared to trespass its fiery orbital path. It was just like any other day in May; hot and sultry in the small steel township of Bokaro.
This morning, nothing had changed other than the scenario in the home of the Sharmas’; the dawn brought no solace to the pain left behind from the day before. The children did not wake up noisily, they did not bang doors, they did not rush out with their bicycles and there was no sign of dogs playing in the garden. What continued as usual was the highway traffic; it droned on deafeningly and there was no stopping that murderous, metallic sound. The modest bungalow of the Sharmas’ was the on the NH-23 that passed through the city. The neglected newspaper fluttered in the wind, its pages scattered at the doorstep while the headlines seemed to scream 'Wavering Trailer Mows Down Twins'.

Was it too late to teach children the safety rules? Was it too late to confiscate the licenses of irresponsible heavy vehicle drivers? Was it too late to procrastinate?
Yes, it was too late as any of the above actions will not bring back the Sharma twins, and no, because it would henceforth save many innocent lives.

[Aatmanika]

I don’t like sad ending stories. I don’t like sad anything. I have cried a lot because of being sad and the fault was mine. No one else is to be blamed. I now want to have a positive mental attitude towards everything around me.

Rahul is a 14 year old boy. Born in the techie age, techno gadgets are a part of his life. Characterised by the untied shoe lace, backpack with zip open and jeans that hang so low. The wires of the gadgets hang from his body like tentacles of an octopus.

Rahul, can you please tie your shoe laces? Also please put away your music and that phone! It is getting late for school!

Multitasking is my forte lady! Don’t you get it???

Rock on! Rock on!! Superb song! Bling..a text message just arrived. I held my pants that were falling off and tried to text back a reply with the other hand. I crossed the road to take the bus while texting and moving backwards. I tripped on my own shoe lace and fell on the road.


It was a rainy day. Visibility was bad on the roads.

Thud! Screech! I could hear my mom say...,

Oh, My God, Rahul, the bus...watch out!

I am very fortunate that I am alive to tell this story. I wanted to be in with the crowd by doing things that other kids did, so I could look hep and cool! Now, I am all alone, in the hospital bed recovering from my injuries. Three months since the accident and my left leg has had several surgeries after that.

A matter of time, say the doctors. I am prepared to wait. I will overcome this. I know I will because I don’t like tears and I don’t like crying.

[rajani_nair]

Rukmini placed the smooth, white stone on top of the sand temple, sat back and clapped her hands in joy. With her unkempt curly hair, dirty clothes and bare feet she looked like any of the countless street children. But if you gave her a second look, you would see the sparkling coal black eyes, the toothy grin and you would end up stopping to look once again, charmed by all the mischief in that innocent face. Her mother, who sold toys at traffic signals, had gone to collect firewood. She had been warned to stay within the confines of their blue plastic tent. But when a truck dumped a small hill of sand it had proved too tempting and she rushed over to play in it. The temple done, she sat satiated, flinging sand over her little person. A firefly twinkling in the early dusk caught her attention and she followed it saying “tara, tara,” lost in the wonders of a flying star. She stepped off the curb and onto the road busy with rush-hour traffic, unaware of the children playing on the opposite side calling out to her. She neither saw nor heard the car till the squealing of the brakes broke her trance. She turned, saw it looming; screamed and fell backwards! The car stopped within inches of her. But her terror still lived and sobbing, she called out for her mother. Her mother who now saw her baby in the middle of the road had dropped her firewood and flown across the road. She now had her hugged tight in her arms raining kisses all over her face, gratitude and relief gently subduing the terror that had numbed both hearts.

Our spacecraft has landed on the moon, but will we ever have safety for our children?

[Prithvi]

“What is your name, child?” “B.Manjula Devi.” “What class are you in?” “First Standard B section.” “I heard that you score good marks.” “Yes, Sir.” Manju kept trembling while she looked up at the man sitting behind the tall desk. The cold air made her shiver but she stood straight. Mom had said she must not slouch. She was already getting nervous and bored. Manju had been playing happily with her friends Tina and Raju. The ball had gone out on to the road and she went to get it. The next instant somebody took her on a Pale Horse’s back and brought her to this place.”What are your ambitions?”, he continued “I want to become a Doctor and a Scientist.” ”Really? Both?” “Yes, like my Dad. He holds a special degree.” Taking a moment to figure it out,”Oh! You mean a PhD!”. “Good girl”, he smiled and stamped the papers and called over an attendant to assist Manju. When she was past the Pearly Gates, St.Peter sighed,”Yet another road accident.”

He looked at the form: ‘Specify SINS if any and ACTIONS REQUIRED’. “Being careless about children’s road safety; Recommend sending them down to Hell”, he wrote and shut the file.

[Prithvi]

Er....the ending actually means recommending elders who are not careful about children's safety to be sent to hell!! Not the child as many understand it!!

[radhikakollu]

Rohan dragged his feet on the way back home. He again scored less marks in English. He was upset. English was considered an easy subject and he had scored less marks. His mother would scold him. His mom was forever complaining. ‘Study well’, ‘wash your hands’, ‘tidy your bed’, ‘get up early’... Throughout the day she was reeling out instructions. Rohan didn’t want to face her today. His eyes fell on the children playing cricket on the road. He wanted to join them. He could hear his mother’s voice in his head “Don’t play on the streets. Play in the park”. He would have listened to her on any other day and walked to the park which was two hundred metres away. But not today. Rohan wanted to rebel. He wanted to join the other children. He left his school bag on the pavement and started playing cricket. There were vehicles whizzing past, but he didn’t care. None of the other children cared either. Some of the wary motoroists were careful not to hurt the children. A few others screeched to a halt in case of an emergency. Not withstanding all the hurdles, the children continued to play. It was the last ball of the game and the opponents needed a six to win. The batsman hit a shot and the ball flew high. Eager to catch the ball and get him out, Rohan moved backwards. The ball landed in his hands and he fell because of the impact. Before he could shout in joy, a bike screeched to a halt. A collective scream erupted from the children. It missed him just by a few inches. His heart started thumping wildly. Disaster averted. But Rohan learnt his lesson. He would follow his mother’s advice and never play on the roads.

[jayashree]

It was the weehours of Monday. The street was hustle bustle with activities. Men,women and children were seen busy on the streets.
A volgo bus moving on NH22 came in full speed. The board distinctively showed that it was a school zone . Karan , a seven year boy from Springdale school came out running from the premises. The children were supposed to play in the school premises but this boy ignorantly came out. Sampath, an elderly gentleman , suddenly saw the child and jumped towards the child. He literally dragged him by his hand to the other side. As the child was dragged down the street it did suffer minor injuries but its life was saved. Had the child died, the management and principal of the school and the bus driver would be answerable to the poor parents. But a life lost cannot be restored.