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The End, by Doug Bartlett

29/7/2022

11 Comments

 
Russia and Ukraine continued to escalate to heightened tensions due to Russia’s stubbornness and Ukraine’s resolve.

Thousands of miles away, somewhat Oblivious to that fact was Adam who groped around for his glasses in order to read a book from his personal library. He was as blind as a bat without them and he absolutely loved his favorite activity which was reading his books.

One pleasant day in the month of May his favorite pastime of reading was interrupted as bone-chilling sirens screamed throughout the atmosphere signaling a nuclear attack was beginning. All week long the news had threatened that this could happen. The Russia/Ukraine situation was worsening and it looked like the inevitable would soon happen. A chain-reaction of destruction was now spreading around the world. Within minutes the skies were filled with nuclear warhead missiles.

The threat of nuclear war had been around for decades. However Adam was well prepared. He had the most sophisticated bomb shelter money could buy. His pantry was stocked with food that would far outlast his lifetime.

As he entered his luxurious shelter he realized he would probably never surface from this tomb. His private collection of books would rival the library of congress. He would live out his life quite pleasantly as he would delight in reading his collection of books for the rest of his life without interruption.

That evening he sat down with a book and started to read it but discovered he couldn’t. Ah yes, his glasses, where had he placed them? He got up and retraced his steps as he groped around.

The side of his hand accidentally bumped them and pushed them off the table and he could hear them fall to the floor.

He immediately got on all fours and crawled around searching for them. He found them fairly quickly which put a big smile on his face. He immediately put them on. His face changed from a smile to stark terror as he realized both lenses were severely cracked rendering his glasses completely obsolete.
11 Comments
Jim Bartlett link
29/7/2022 05:19:56 pm

Poor guy!
Jim

Reply
Doug
29/7/2022 05:29:03 pm

Yes, what do they say about the best laid plans.........

Reply
marjan sierhuis
29/7/2022 07:05:02 pm

Perhaps subscribing to an audiobook service is an option. If it is available that is. Well done, Doug.

Reply
Doug
29/7/2022 09:29:40 pm

Thank you Marjan. I appreciate your comment.

Reply
Michael Borjon
29/7/2022 10:14:34 pm

Great story Doug!!
For what ever reason, it brought something from the Bible in the book of Luke to my mind; And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you;

Reply
Doug
30/7/2022 02:01:32 am

Thanks Michael for taking the time to read and comment on the story.

Reply
Sue Clayton
30/7/2022 07:14:23 am

I died a thousand cracked deaths with him as he realised eternity without the written word.

Reply
Doug
30/7/2022 04:52:31 pm

Yes, it would be terrible to have your life end that way.

Reply
Chuck
30/7/2022 11:06:13 pm

A wise man does not live only for himself.

Reply
Doug
30/7/2022 11:41:14 pm

Thanks for your comment Chuck.

Reply
Teddy Entwisle
8/8/2022 01:51:42 pm

An interesting finishing twist.

Reply



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