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
  • Submissions
    • 100-Word Submissions
    • 500-Word Submissions
    • Poetry Submissions
    • How to complete the Entry Form
    • Writing Good Flash Fiction
    • Contact FFF
    • Appeals/Feedback Request
    • Technical Stuff >
      • Terms & Conditions
      • GDPR Compliance
      • Duotrope

Optical Illusions, by Jim Bartlett

25/9/2020

 
Using a routine he’s refined over the course of three years and better than twenty-five hundred patients, Dr. Jim Jones, wearing his white standard-faire lab jacket and broad celebrity smile, shakes the hands of Johnny Arnold’s parents, then escorts the young man to the chair at the front of his desk. The seating, of course, is positioned such that the parents and patient will face the wall of framed diplomas, certificates, and accolades, cementing his reputation as the finest Ocular Perceptual Modification Specialist on the East Coast.

“Well, you must be excited,” says the doctor, sitting at his desk.

“I guess.”

“Guess? It’s your big day, young man! After all, it’s not every day one turns sixteen! And today we begin the journey that helps you ‘see’ the world in the proper manner.” Spinning around, he grabs a small display case from the credenza behind and places it on the desk. After waving his hand across two rows of frames mounted within, a sort of “nothin’-up-my-sleeve” move he’s made a thousand of times before, he pulls out a stylish black frame located dead center. “I handpicked a few frames based on the preferences you and your parents selected at the orientation, but this one is extremely popular with the boys at your school.” Leaning over the desk, he offers it to Johnny with a wink. “You might call it a sort of ‘cool’ aid to help you see things right.”

The young man looks at the frame, but remains still, hands tucked to his side.

“Remember, it’s only for one year,” encourages the doctor. “It takes about that long for the sensory optics to train your brain, thus providing the perceptual adjustment you need to see things the way they are intended to be seen.”

Johnny’s eyes widen and he catches Dr. Jones’ gaze. “Intended? Intended by who?”

“Whom,” corrects his mother.

Dr. Jones smiles. “Well by our leaders, of course. They and those before who have worked so hard to enrich our lives and country. You have to be careful...there is just so much misinformation on the Infoweb. Without the proper, uh, filtering, we might be inclined to see things the wrong way.”

“Filtering? Geesh, isn’t that exactly how we help THEM stay ‘enriched’?”

“JOHNNY!” His mother jumps from her chair. “You take that frame NOW. That attitude of yours needs to be adjusted, young man.”

“But that’s what this is, right? We’re simply being ‘adjusted’.” Standing, Johnny turns for the exit. “No thanks. I’d rather be my own person. We shouldn’t have to be told what to think, what we’re seeing.”

With the slam of the door, the doctor, shaking his head, looks across to Mr. and Mrs. Arnold. “I’ll be sending you the glasses when they’re complete. I’m sure you know what you have to do.”

“Yes...yes we do.”

As he watches them leave, their shoulders slumped, Jones pulls up Johnny’s report. He scrolls to the “Conclusions” section and, with a heavy sigh, checks the “HERETIC” box.
Susan Reid
25/9/2020 02:45:56 pm

I completely agree. We shouldn't be told what to think or what we see. We also shouldnt be told what to say!

Susan Reid
25/9/2020 02:52:20 pm

P.S. I was so moved by this story, I forgot to mention how cleverly it was written. From a literal view, the doctor sounds like Big Brother's optometrist or optimologist.

Jim link
25/9/2020 03:31:39 pm

Wow - thanks for the nice comments, Susan. I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

Jim

michael McCarthy
25/9/2020 04:48:28 pm

that is a very interesting story, I was drawn into it straight away.
great writing and I think Johnny's a would be rebel.

Jim link
25/9/2020 04:57:12 pm

Thanks so much, Michael. I do hope that Johnny Rebel is up to something good.

Take care
Jim

Doug
25/9/2020 06:56:00 pm

Well written Jim. I wonder how our future generations will be affected when our leaders have seen how easy it was to diminish our rights. Nicely done.

Jim link
25/9/2020 08:50:06 pm

Thanks so much Doug.
It's really so hard to "see" where we're going without the right lens on...
;-)
Appreciate the comments and read.
Jim

marjan sierhuis
25/9/2020 07:05:56 pm

The Twilight Zone was a popular american anthology series shown in the 50s and 60s. As of Sept. 28 it has returned with an updated version featuring horror, science fiction, etcetera. I feel your story has the potential for an amazing television episode. Great work, Jim. Of course this is only my opinion. You may have other plans for it.

Jim link
25/9/2020 08:54:06 pm

I practically know every episode of Serling's series by heart. (Uh-oh...does that make me that three-letter word, OLD?) I did not realize that it was being rebooted. Usually my only plan for any of my stories is to hope someone will read and enjoy them. Thanks ever so much for the kind comments and, the read!
Take care
Jim

Sarah Blum
25/9/2020 07:19:26 pm

So sad that our world has come to this. I am with Johnny.

Jim link
25/9/2020 08:54:58 pm

Thanks Sarah. I'm with Johnny Rebel as well, and not drinking any of that Jim Jones Kool Aid...

Take care
Jim

phyllis souza
25/9/2020 09:57:58 pm

A sign of our times. Soon they'll impact a micro-chip that records our thoughts. Great story and very well written

Jim link
25/9/2020 11:34:31 pm

Thanks Phyllis - the chip is closer than we care to think about.

Carol Garrasi
25/9/2020 11:08:06 pm

Did you have a particular news source in mind when you wrote this? Perhaps something named after a furry forest animal? I really enjoyed it. Hard hitting but in a very imaginative and interesting way. However I'm a little disappointed that you couldn't come up with a more creative name than Jim Jones for the doctor. 🙂

JIm link
25/9/2020 11:36:29 pm

I thought about the Jones connection (and the cool aid glasses) for a bit, and sort of liked the connection. But, maybe I could have been a little more imaginative ;-) Thanks for the read and comments, Carol!
Jim

Drew Lackovic
25/9/2020 11:25:25 pm

Chilling.

Jim link
25/9/2020 11:37:22 pm

Thanks Drew! I guess that was sort of my intent...

Appreciate the comments and read!
Jim

Sue Clayton
26/9/2020 05:33:53 am

I guess Dr. Jones didn't have any rose-colored glasses on his racks. A combination sci-fi/horror story in the making.

Jim link
26/9/2020 03:23:44 pm

Not a one to be seen...
Though, that said, I wear only Maui Jim's Rose-lens sunglasses - try my darnedest to see the world in a better light. ;-)
Thanks for the read and comment, Sue.
Jim

Mike B
26/9/2020 07:33:05 am

Well done Jim!! There are lots of messages between the lines. I really like the name of the doctor and the reference to koolaid as “cool” aid. A Great example of brain washing. Some of what is going on today caused me to think of part of the lyrics of an old song,”Clowns to the left of me,
Jokers to the right, here I am,
Stuck in the middle with News.”
Well, I did change the last word...
Enjoyed the story!!!

Jim link
26/9/2020 03:25:29 pm

Thanks for catching what was said between the lines - and so glad you enjoyed the story. Indeed we are stuck in the middle sometimes, eh?
Thanks, Mike!
Jim

Mary Wallace
26/9/2020 07:55:50 am

I hope there are more Johnny's left in our world. The scenario is way too close to home. Well written Jim.

Jim link
26/9/2020 03:27:33 pm

And I do as well, Mary. Many thanks for the read and taking a moment to comment!!
Take care
Jim

Mike U
26/9/2020 03:35:41 pm

Good job Jim, too bad he left !

Jim link
26/9/2020 04:22:02 pm

I'm sure that he will not go gentle into that good night...

Thanks ever so much for the read and the comment, Mike!
Take care
Jim


Comments are closed.

    Longer
    Stories

    Longer Friday Flash Fiction Stories

    Friday Flash Fiction is primarily a site for stories of 100 words or fewer, and our authors are expected to take on that challenge if they possibly can. Most stories of under 150 words can be trimmed and we do not accept submissions of 101-150 words.


    However, in response to demand, the FFF team constructed this forum for significantly longer stories of 151-500 words. Please send submissions for these using the Submissions Page.

    Stories to the 500 word thread will be posted as soon as we can mange.

    Picture

    One little further note. Posting and publishing 500-word stories takes a little time if they need to be formatted, too.
    ​Please note that we tend to post longer flash fiction exactly as we find it – wrong spacing, everything.

    Archives

    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

Picture
Website by Platform 36