He wove the wires around the bolts and turned them once; she jumped.
“What is this? Some sort of flame?” she asked.
He smiled in the strange white light.
“This, my love, is called electricity.” Then he reached into his pocket.
He opened his hand, and she picked up the ring of bright gray metal. She gasped.
“What is this? It’s so light!”
“A ring.” He smiled. “It’s made of aluminum metal.”
“Aluminum..you are so full of surprises,” she murmured, and pulled him close.
“You don’t even have to ask. The answer’s yes!”
———
I return after two weeks! Better than two years, right? My wife suggested the idea for this story, but I washed it in my standard post apocalyptic worldfeel. Anyway…Every Friday, writers from all around the world write 100 word (or thereabouts) flash fiction based on a photo posted that Wednesday on Rochelle Wisoff-Fields’ blog.
I welcome constructive criticism; without it I cannot grow as a writer. The weekly photo that inspired this story is below:
What a proposal. What a response. What a couple. Great la’ll story, glossarch.
I like postapocalyptic fiction where people don’t go back to the stone age. The rediscovery is great.
Thanks! Imagine what electric lights would look like if you’d never seen them!
Thanks!
Aluminum? What a cheapskate! Surely there’ll still be silver and gold?
And why would aluminum be dull Gray?
But now that I’m done nitpicking, it’s a great scene. Infinitely happier than mine.
Dull grey – yes, I’ll go change that. Thanks!
Dear Danny,
I was pretty much going to say what Christine did. 😉 Aluminum seems a little chintzy. But perhaps it’s a different world. At least it has a happy ending. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
It is said that Napoleon served his most honored guests with aluminum, since at the time it was more precious than gold itself. This was because the means to make it cheaply had not yet been invented. Granted, in the ruins of our civilization, aluminum would be easy to come by. Then again, so would silver and gold. Maybe just a flaw in my thought process? I’m not sure. I threw it in with Napoleon in mind.
This sounds like a world in decay. Yet people somehow carry on. Nice writing.
Thank you!
Lovely take on the prompt. I could totally picture this
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Hey… if aluminum is the way to go in these times, then kudos to him! What a sweet story!