The Friday Fictioneers is a friendly writing challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. The task of the challenge is to write a story in 100 words or less. You can find all the Fictioneers’ stories when you click on the little frog. Reciprocation is the life of this challenge!
Move With The Times
Hurricane’s only left me a pile of bricks and shattered glass. Who’d have known that the old factory was so ramshackle? There go my lofts.
Building’s been in the family for generations. 4x great-grandpapa owned a cotton mill: the foundation of our wealth. Later, Great-Grandpapa manufactured weapons, as did Grandpapa and Daddy.
It’s mine now. Renting the lofts out was good money but that’s over. Should I rebuild? This kind of housing is going out of style quickly. Moving underground is all the rage now.
Earth homes with brick walls, fancy and luxurious, who wouldn’t want one?
It’s a plan.
(100 words)
This will be the future.
Write already! 
Building down costs more, of course
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’ll be returns. Rich kids will snatch them up. Thank you.
LikeLike
Hurricane as a chance for a fresh start.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If you have the money… Thank you Iain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d be so in for him to rebuild… I’ll rent one (once it is less ramshackle, of course)
Love this, Gabi!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A fancy, expensive earth loft, eh? Well, if you cook for me, I may give you one for a discount… 😉 Thank you Dale.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh! I do love a good barter! We’re on!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
living underground is the future as the sun ages and grows hotter making living on the surface impossible if not intolerable at best.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If by that time we’re still around and haven’t found another planet, we’re doomed and all life on earth with us. Thank you Plaridel.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What an excellent story, showing how the rich stay richer by questionable means. The main character is subtly drawn, not just saint or villain. You’ve squeezed a lot into 100 words!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Penny. I think it may have been a tad too subtle…
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, I don’t think it’s too subtle, Gabi. You don’t need to spell it out to the reader; let them do some of the work!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
A thing is worth what another will pay for it. Many see trends and buck them, to do quite well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s true. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Building downwards not up, hey? It could solve a few problems.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! It would be energy efficient and protect from storms (and floods if you build in the right place).
LikeLiked by 1 person
You need to organize a start up promoting this idea. I love it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Too late. 😀
https://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/a27359564/build-your-own-hobbit-house/
https://blog.allplan.com/en/earth-houses
and many more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great. We will have to get on board. Although I imagined you actually meant below ground at first.
LikeLiked by 1 person
With climate change it might solve a few problems from hurricanes and wildfires.
Tracey
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly that. Wildfires I don’t know but it certainly would be energy efficient.
LikeLike
I’d rather be high up than low down. Maybe not in a hurricane zone, though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
High up is nice but in a hurricane… scary. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a new beginning for him.. good one
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Vartika.
LikeLike
I like the idea of taking the bricks and building underground. With all of the weather havoc coming, including flooding, make sure the chambers are waterproof and air tubes to the surface are really tall. Those “old bricks” are sold for a lot of money in some places. Hmmm wondering if the 2 prior generations and their weapons sales pulled in a karmic hurricane? Good story, Gabi.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Lisa. Yes, and there are already some earth house projects. Not completely underground though, more like Hobbit Burrows.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Gabi,
Lofts are all the rage now, aren’t they? it would be hard to decide whether to build up or down. A good story in any case.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Rochelle! Yes, and outrageously expensive. I wouldn’t mind living in a half-underground house when the place is right.
LikeLike
Oh nice. Building down not up. Hopefully better for the planet too but I think, perhaps not in this case. I hope earthquakes are not next! Great story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! We’ll have to take earthquakes as they come, I suppose. But we could have done something against climate change.
LikeLike
I’m with Lisa in wondering about the weapons manufacturing. The family tradition seems to focus more on making money than helping humanity. I guess you’d call him a success – he’s resilient, resourceful, able to capitalise on what seems to be a disaster – with those skills he could contribute to alleviating the problems we face in today’s world, but he’s not. This is a great portrait – covers so much in the hundred words. Brilliant.
LikeLike
Thank you so much Margaret. That’s exactly the story I wanted to tell. Talent and resources wasted on greed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I get the sense this family contributed to the problems to which they’re planning to sell a solution.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly that. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person