More RATTLER’S TALE Stories
by Anthony North
for
Friday Fictioneers
Poets & Storytellers United
The Sunday Muse
in association with
KEYUDOS
PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson
DINERS
Empty restaurants.
Well, what did we expect? After the pandemic.
The trees had surrounded them, you see. Cut them off.
And when loads of people turned up at hospital with no nose …
… roses, you see. Sharp petals. And wheat whiplash could hurt, too.
Still, online shopping got through – meat only.
Which was a surprise, what with cows rearing on hind legs. Even sheep got bristly.
No one asked what was in the sausages.
If only I could make it to the bar.
Get drunk on mature wine.
Plenty of that.
Except chianti.
MASK: A DIALOGUE
I: We all wear a mask.
ME: Speak for yourself.
I: I am – it’s for the pandemic.
ME: Another one?
I: The real one – the virus of individuality.
ME: But we’re two.
I: Exactly. But so many have forgotten.
ME: Forgotten what?
I: That there’s me and I. Me is me and I is the me I have to be to be accepted.
ME: Well I couldn’t give a &%*!
I: But I have to, or I’m weird, an outsider, an outcast.
ME: Is that why you won’t let me out?
I: I can’t. Freedom won’t allow it.
ME: But that’s mad!
I: Aren’t we all?
ME: Come on, take the mask off. Place it down on the table. Look up!
I: I want to – I really do – but I have to thrive; to succeed; to be accepted.
ME: So you deny your inner nature.
I: I deny everything to do with nature. I have no choice.
ME: But we and nature are the true one.
I: I know that! But I can’t know it. Not … outside.
ME: So you is you and I can’t be part of you.
I: That’s right. Except for my screaming.
We’ll never go back to exactly how it was. But hopefully we won’t go on to this
Ah, just a reminder that the eco-problems haven’t gone away – in a tongue in cheek way.
At least there is wine…
Indeed, lol
Nothing would surprise me any more.
Me neither, but I don’t see it getting this bad, lol
Dystopian cynicism, what’s not to like!
Thanks for that. Hopefully done tongue in cheek.
Dear Tony,
No noses? That’s a visual. Ah Dystopia, how close are you? Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks for that 🙂
Restaurants and pubs will be the last places to reopen I imagine, and who knows what we will be eating by then…
What indeed.
Much is going to change.
People chopping off noses? How will they smell the roses?!
Take care.
And you take care, too, Anita.
Eek! All too believable, Anthony!
But I certainly hope not, though.
Let us just say that things are never going to be the same again.
Agreed, but not this bad.
Good heavens, I hope not! Change, yes, I’m sure. But we’ve weathered worse than this, and I hope we can relax very soon.
And so do I, Linda.
Wow! funny, but awful, hope it doesn’t come to this.Nicely done.
Thanks for that, Dom.
Covid-19 has dinged a new tone for nature. The slaves have revolted.
I like the way you put that.
We’re no match for nature. We can push and push, but when Nature decides to push back, “Off with their noses!”
Very true.
truth can be stranger than fiction.
It can indeed.
Oh yikes! This would be a very bad ‘after’ one!
It certainly would. Hopefully it isn’t that bad.
Man, how long is this going to last? Sounds like the world has become Nature’s plaything!
It always has been – we’ve all been delusional in recent decades.
My wine has no nose.
Really how does it smell?
Ba-dum-tish!
This is a novel take on the prompt, Anthony. Surreal and poetic.
Thank you Penny.
I enjoyed this
Thank you for that.
I love the image of restaurants surrounded by overgrown trees. Wonderful story!
Thanks for that. Much appreciated.
It sure is a messed up world
It certainly is, Michael.
I love how you tried in nature and our struggle for identity! I really enjoyed the self conversation in this Anthony! Always enjoy your writing!
Thank you for that, Carrie.
Fascinating dialogue with me, myself and I. (screaming now.) ♥️
I know the feeling. Many thanks.
The I in me is saying hi to the I in you! We are all a product of our ids , ego and superego and our identities are multiple if not dualistic. You brought that out well.
Many thanks. Much appreciated.
I enjoyed the banter between I and Me the internal conflict of being oneself. The new masks are something we wear for the pandemic, but we all wear a mask of our own making.
Thank goodness for curbside wine pickup, I put on my mask and picked up 3 bottles. I just wished I could invite someone over to share a glass or two. I guess it’s just I and me and a bottle of Cabernet.
Many thanks. I’ll have a virtual drink with you.
“The virus of individuality”. I love that! So clever, the not-knowing of nature, which is what got us here. Wonderful poem!
Thank you, Sherry. Very kind.
Split personality comes to mind.
I am me, nothing more and nothing less.
It was a fun, but hard to keep things straight read.
..
Thanks for that, Jim.
What happened to the chianti? Has it all been drunk?
Ah, a reference to Silence of the Lambs, there, Kim, and Hannibal’s famous lines.
As I thought! One of my favourite films!
One of mine, too.
Although it’s somewhat disturbing, I love your mask dialogue—except, of course, for the screaming. 😉
Thank you. Much appreciated.
I like the nod to Dr. Lector in the first one. I really ought to pick up one of the books while I’m in quarantine.
Thanks for that – they’re well worth the read.
These dig into the discomfort. The conversation in the second, I could almost feel the houselights go down and the restive silence as the argument commenced.
Thank you. Glad you liked it.
A nice banter that helps lighten the mood in these gloomy times. Brilliant write!
Many thanks, and welcome here.
Things are never going to be the same again, but I am not one to think negatively 🙂
Neither am I. I’m an eternal optimism, even though my writings may not always reflect this.
The microbes have flown in and our noses have dissapeared oh and our mouths too.
How clever are we
Happy Sunday Anthony
Much💛🌺💛love
Thank you, Gillena.
Not sure this is appetizing… but maybe we will accept more in times to come.
Appetizing – I like it!
I really loved the style of the first one, the pondering s and the inner dialogue of the second one. I think a lot changes for the bad but going back to a simpler lifestyle which would be good.
Many thanks for that. Hopefully that simpler life beckons.
Sadly we all do wear a mask … and it has nothing to do with the pandemic. Interesting write, Anthony!
Thank you Bev.
You must have your nose – It sniffs out the good and the bad. Such a unbelievable story is written last winter, but How things have changed. Nice story Anthony!
Changed indeed. Thanks for the comment.
Your poem gives me some kind of reassurance and an element of humor to my perspective. You have such a creative mind.
Thank you for that. Very kind.
“I: I know that! But I can’t know it. Not … outside.” – Yep. Truth in that.
Yep, it seems so to me.
Given the way it is, anything can turn up in the plate. They need to claw back on the the business loss for the years to come. It may look savory and prepared deliciously but what are they, anyway!
Hank
Valid point, Hank.
It’s a wonder the plants and animals don’t rise up and retaliate … oh, wait.
Ha ha, indeed.
Am guessing two of me will be drinking that non-chianti!!! Love the take on masks!
We’ll both join you in that 😉
Both of these pieces hit me with their sincerity. the first is ironic and dry, yet somehow also quite terrifying, while the second holds a very uncomfortable truth most of us would like to cover up and never think about–except when we scream, of course. Excellent work.
Thank you for that. Much appreciated.
What! No chianti! Probably no fava beans either…..
Ha ha. No, just those sausages.
Mask: A DIALOGUE is beautifully and consistently done. I hope at home Mr. Nature gets to play a little!
Thank you for the kind words. Much appreciated.
Mask art photo is done in such a clever way. The dialogue was a perfect way to go.
Many thanks, Sara.
“Diners “ is brilliant.
Very kind. Much appreciated.
Cows on hind legs? “Two legs good, four legs bad?” The bleating chorus of sheep are ringing throughout the land. The next few weeks should be telling.
Indeed – but not this bad, me thinks 😉