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Flash Fiction Friday – Who Is To Blame?

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Hugh W. Roberts

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May 30, 2022, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story behind a memorial. Is it a structure, plaque, or something else? What does it seek to remind those who view it? Go where the prompt leads! Click here for details.

Who Is To Blame? – by Hugh W. Roberts

‘What are the crowd looking at?’ Ingrid asked herself as she came out of her final writing class.

It was too crowded to find out, so she returned later.

As Ingrid’s eyes peered hard at the poorly-made brass plaque in the moonlight, her life changed instantly.  

In memory of the brave authors who fought and gave their lives to stop the outlawing of hardcover and paperback books. 

It wasn’t the lack of trees but the use of fossil fuels to charge up electrical devices that almost destroyed our planet. 

But is it writing or reading that is the crime?

***

Written for the 99-word flash fiction challenge hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch.

***

Enjoyed this piece of flash fiction? Then you’ll love ‘More Glimpses.’

***

32 short stories and flash fiction pieces take the reader to the edge of their imagination.

More Glimpses

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36 responses to “Flash Fiction Friday – Who Is To Blame?”

  1. Did You Miss Any Of These? Monthly Round-Up – June 2022 – Hugh's Views & News   avatar
    Did You Miss Any Of These? Monthly Round-Up – June 2022 – Hugh's Views & News  

    […] Flash Fiction Friday – Who Is To Blame? […]

    Reply
  2. nightlake avatar
    nightlake

    Who knows? Anything may happen in the future. Reading and writing may even be declared as criminal activities. Nicely written:)

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Thank you. I can’t imagine a world where reading and writing were a crime. The human race would eventually stop talking other than by drawing.

      Reply
  3. Memorials Collection « Carrot Ranch Literary Community avatar
    Memorials Collection « Carrot Ranch Literary Community

    […] Who Is To Blame? by Hugh W. Roberts […]

    Reply
  4. dgkaye avatar
    dgkaye

    That is definitely a scary thought Hugh. When reading and writing become criminal, that’s the end. :)

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Scary thought, indeed, Debby. Thank goodness for fiction.

      Reply
      1. dgkaye avatar
        dgkaye

        No kidding! :)

        Reply
  5. Norah avatar
    Norah

    That’s an interesting, and original perspective, Hugh.

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Thanks, Norah. I’m glad you think so.

      Reply
  6. Aimer Boyz avatar
    Aimer Boyz

    Talk about thinking outside the box…wow!
    The idea that reading could be considered a crime? Too awful :(

    Another unique piece of flash fiction, Hugh.

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      I love to think outside of the box, Aimer. Glad you enjoyed this piece of flash. Although if reading is now a crime, you shouldn’t be reading this.

      Reply
      1. Aimer Boyz avatar
        Aimer Boyz

        LOL!

        Reply
  7. Mimu avatar
    Mimu

    Food for thought! 👏🏼

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      I agree.

      Reply
  8. Terri Webster Schrandt avatar
    Terri Webster Schrandt

    You may be on to something with the idea of the loss of the power grid, Hugh. My neighbor was just telling me that electric companies are trying to charge more for drivers who use public charging stations for their electric cars currently for free. I wondered how this was rectified…we shall see. Great twist to the story!

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Thanks, Terry. Electric cars are popular in the UK, but I’ve not heard of any charging stations where you can charge the car for free (not yet, anyway). However, owners of electric vehicles do get some incentives for going electric with free parking, free tolls, and not paying car tax.
      I would hope that solar power is used more to power up charging stations, but it’s slow progress, especially here in the UK.

      I’m glad you liked the twist in my piece of flash fiction. It certainly sent a shiver down my spine when I wrote it.

      Reply
  9. Erika avatar
    Erika

    Wow, that’s brilliant, Hugh! The last paragraph even topped the one before. Fantastic!

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Thanks, Erika. Glad you enjoyed it. When I wrote that last line, a shiver went down my spine.

      Reply
      1. Erika avatar
        Erika

        So, it seems you very clearly guided. Truth always sends shivers down our spines. That gave me shivers.
        Hugh, I know we talked about creating a blog page by linking to categories. I also did it already with my Quotes for example. I wanted to make a page that shows all my travel posts but I have no idea anymore how to do it. I could not find someting in the WP information either. Did you write a post about it? And would you be so kind to share the link? That would be awesome.

        Reply
        1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
          Hugh W. Roberts

          Hi Erika, are you referring to adding ‘Travel’ to the menu bar on your blog so that when anybody clicks on it, they see all your travel posts on one page?

          Reply
          1. Erika avatar
            Erika

            Yes, exactly that!

            Reply
            1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
              Hugh W. Roberts

              This should help, Erika.

              https://wordpress.com/support/menus/add-categories-to-a-menu/

            2. Erika avatar
              Erika

              Thank you so much for your effort, Hugh, you are an angel 💖

            3. Erika avatar
              Erika

              Thank you again, Hugh. I managed to make it but you really have to know how to. I thought, I got it but found out that my whole menu disappeared…. gosh. But now I know how to create this whole thing into detail… lol

            4. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
              Hugh W. Roberts

              Oh, no! I’m sorry to hear you lost the menu on your blog. But I see it’s back now, Erika.

            5. Erika avatar
              Erika

              It too me a while but I found out how to get it all back. Gosh, what shock moments that were 😅

  10. JT Twissel avatar
    JT Twissel

    What would the world be without books!

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      What would the world be like without trees? I do hope we find a solution.

      Reply
  11. Liesbet @ Roaming About avatar
    Liesbet @ Roaming About

    Brilliant, Hugh. Like with everything – it’s all about supply and demand. Maybe both are a crime. But they are part of living and survival.

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Thanks, Liesbet. Books will always be around while there is a demand for them. I see them as I do vinyl records. We almost lost them, but they’ve made a huge comeback. As it seems, have cassettes (tapes). What comes round goes round. A bit like fashion too.

      Reply
  12. willowdot21 avatar
    willowdot21

    Oh! My Hugh there’s a thought 💜

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      When I wrote that last line, I knew I’d cause myself a dilemma, Willow.

      Reply
      1. willowdot21 avatar
        willowdot21

        Me too now looking into the future 💜

        Reply
  13. Sadje avatar
    Sadje

    How sad.

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Whoever was to blame, at least the world was saved.

      Reply
      1. Sadje avatar
        Sadje

        Hypothetically! I hope people do it for real too.

        Reply

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