Friday Flash Fiction
  • Home
    • About Friday Flash Fiction
  • 100-Word Stories
  • Longer Stories
  • Poetry
  • Authors
    • A-C
    • D-F
    • G-I
    • J-L
    • M-O
    • P-R
    • S-V
    • W-Z
  • Siderius Contest Entries
    • 100-Word Entries
    • 500-Word Entries
    • Short Poetry Entries

Retrospective, by Don Tassone

19/6/2020

 
It began when James bought a new car. There were so many cool features. The one he loved most, though, was the blind spot indicator on his side mirrors.

James knew most car accidents happen from the rear. He himself had been sideswiped. Now he had plenty of warning. He was convinced his favorite new feature had saved him more than once.

Unfortunately, James became so fixated on what was coming from behind that he began to pay far less attention to what lay ahead.

One day, a flash caught his eye, and he never saw the semi stopped ahead.

Pamela Kennedy
19/6/2020 11:01:38 am

Good one, Don..liked it a lot.

Paritosh Chandra Dugar
19/6/2020 01:30:53 pm

An extended meaning of the story could be: In life's journey, it is erroneous, even dangerous, to focus too much on one thing and ignore other things equally relevant to life. A large number of people commit this error. Well done, Don.

Mary Wallace
19/6/2020 01:33:08 pm

Important message Don.

Jim link
19/6/2020 03:37:53 pm

There's a reason the rearview mirror is small and the front window large. All of life's future lies just ahead, and we can't enjoy a single moment of it if we're stuck looking back into the past.
Nicely done, Don
Jim

Swapan k Banerjee
19/6/2020 04:29:39 pm

Knowing exactly how much room to leave for reader's imagination to heighten the impact is quite an art. You've mastered it, Don.

Bobby Warner
19/6/2020 05:49:21 pm

It's almost always not what you see but what you don't see that gets you in the end. Good one, Don!

Kathy K
19/6/2020 05:50:34 pm

Woah! Great insightful comments. I can only say ditto.

Marjan Sierhuis
19/6/2020 10:34:06 pm

Nicely done. Don. Perhaps if the driver had a Forward Collision Warning System or Collision Avoidance System which monitors a vehicle's speed, the speed of the vehicle in front, distance between vehicles, etc.his life could have been spared. The CAS is mandatory in some countries.

Don Tassone
19/6/2020 11:12:03 pm

Good point, Marjan. Thank you.

Sue Clayton
20/6/2020 02:51:59 am

You always write such wonderful flash fiction, Don. They are a joy to read.

Don Tassone link
20/6/2020 01:07:05 pm

Thank you all for your thoughtful comments.

stella gaucher murovic
25/6/2020 01:46:47 pm

Excellent - great metaphor for life - ruminating about the past and the future hits us in full face like this Covid.
Thanks


Comments are closed.

    "Classic"
    100-Word
    Stories

    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 large number of stories (more than 25) are due to be published on the same day, we publish a second batch around 10.30am.
    Recently, we've welcomed a lot of newcomers and found that even two batches doesn't cover them all. Wherever that happens, we'll simply be publishing 'as and when' during the course of the day.


    Each week we pick a story or (occasionally) a poem as 'Editor's Choice'.
    It's a personal favourite, no more. Do you agree?
    Editor's Choice

    NEW: 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!

    Friday Flash Fiction
    Rules
    Kinda obvious, really...
    • Fiction only
    • Stories of 75-100 words only
    • Don't be nasty or cheat
    • Include your name and a story title

    Archives

    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 used under Creative Commons from YLegrand, Tony Webster