Friday Flash Fiction
  • Home
    • Opportunities at FFF
    • About Friday Flash Fiction
    • Terms & Conditions
  • 100-Word Stories
  • Longer Stories
  • Poetry
  • Authors
    • A
    • B
    • C
    • D
    • E-F
    • G-I
    • J-L
    • M-O
    • P-R
    • S-V
    • W-Z
  • Submissions
    • 100-Word Submissions
    • 500-Word Submissions
    • Short Poetry Submissions
    • Writing Good Flash Fiction >
      • How to complete the Entry Form
    • Appeals/Feedback Request
    • Contact FFF
    • Technical Stuff >
      • Terms & Conditions
      • GDPR Compliance
      • Duotrope
    • Support FFF

Lost, by Jim Bartlett

21/8/2020

 
SHORTLISTED, EDINBURGH FESTIVAL COMPETITION, 2020
With tearful eyes, Asako watches the flames burst through broken panes, lost as to why the rioters would cast their destructive anger upon her tiny Japanese pastry shop. Lost as to how any of this relates to BLM, the real message that needs to be delivered.

Lost as to what she’ll do now.

She turns away, only then remembering how her great-grandparents lost everything as they were herded to the internment camp. How lost her grandfather seemed returning from the Vietnam War, only to be spat upon.

They rose from their ashes. So will she.

But somewhere far from Seattle.

Mary Wallace
21/8/2020 09:56:08 am

A message of courage that has echoed through the decades. Well done Jim.

Jim link
21/8/2020 03:34:20 pm

Thanks so much for the comments, Mary!
Jim

Pamela Kennedy
21/8/2020 01:49:21 pm

Well written...our history has certainly had its unfortunate moments.

Jim link
21/8/2020 03:35:40 pm

Unfortunate - yeah, that pretty much covers it ;-)
Thanks for reading and commenting, Pamela.
Jim

Marjan sierhuis
21/8/2020 02:14:28 pm

Thank you, Jim for this beautifully written story.

Jim link
21/8/2020 03:36:22 pm

You're too kind, Marjan. Thanks so much.
Jim

Michael McCarthy
21/8/2020 03:28:04 pm

a story for our times with a reminder of the past. Powerful and a great example of flash fiction

Jim link
21/8/2020 03:37:13 pm

Thanks Michael! Appreciate the comments!
Jim

Doug
21/8/2020 07:28:30 pm

That was nicely done Jim. Thanks for sharing that with us

Jim link
21/8/2020 07:45:08 pm

Thanks Doug, appreciated the read and nice comments!
Jim

Dougdobartlett
21/8/2020 04:50:09 pm

Nice job Jim. Thanks for sharing that with us. Doug

Jim link
21/8/2020 04:51:34 pm

Thanks so much, Doug. Appreciate the kind words.
Jim

Georgeanne Borjon
21/8/2020 06:46:41 pm

Well done Jim. Thanks for sharing.

Jim link
21/8/2020 06:48:59 pm

Thanks so much, Georgeanne!
Jim

Mike B
21/8/2020 07:51:26 pm

Well done Jim!!! Fiction? Yes, perhaps, but very much a reality for so many in our world and nation...

Jim link
21/8/2020 07:58:34 pm

Thanks Mike. Hopefully we'll all begin to heal from this soon and the world be a better and more compassionate place.
Jim

Sue Clayton
22/8/2020 03:45:40 am

My eyes were as tearful as Asako's as I read this. So many innocents suffer around the world in trying times at the hands of warped thugs.

Jim link
22/8/2020 04:37:51 am

So true, Sue. Thanks ever so much for the comments. I really appreciate them.
Jim

Sarah Blum
31/10/2020 07:50:43 pm

You may have rushed this through but it is great and so right on. The importance of hope and good role models.

Jim link
31/10/2020 08:23:49 pm

Thanks so much for your kind words, Sarah. Hope is what drove me to write it.
Thanks again.
Jim


Comments are closed.

    "Classic"
    100-Word
    Stories


    Friday Flash Fiction
    Rules
    Kinda obvious, really...
    • Fiction only
    • Stories of 90-100 words only
    • Don't be nasty or cheat
    • Include your name and a story title

    EDITOR'S CHOICE
    Each week, our editor selects a story or (occasionally) a poem as 'Editor's Choice'.
    ​
    It's a personal favourite, no more. Do you agree?

    Please feel free to comment (nicely!) on any stories – writers appreciate it.
    Naturally, we reserve the reserve the right to remove comments we feel are inappropriate, or where there's a possibility they may come from a source associated with online spam or abuse. If you have one, please switch off your VPN and don't post from a public server.

    Since Friday Flash Fiction began in September 2013, 100-word stories have remained its 'beating heart'.

    Normally, 100-word stories are scheduled for 07.00 BST (GMT in the winter) on the following Friday. However, where a larger number of stories (more than 25) are due to be published on the same day, we publish the later ones EARLIER around 4.00 am. On the rare occasions where there are more than 50 stories, we'll post an even earlier set, probably around 2.00 am UK time.

    We have a FACEBOOK PAGE where regular contributors can share ideas and discuss stories. Why not join in?

    We occasionally send out little newsletters running competitions – and subscribers are also our voting panel. If you'd like to join us, please click the Subscribe to newsletter button below.
    Subscribe to Newsletter
    No spam, we promise!

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013


Picture
Website by Platform 36

Photos from YLegrand, Tony Webster