I’ve decided to jump on the Flash fiction band wagon thanks to Ted Strutz‘s urging. *Waves to Ted* Writing something in only 100 words is new to me, but I’m willing to take on the challenge. Today’s prompt is also provided by Ted – yay Ted! Your comments and critiques are welcome, and feel free to join in and participate. You can find Friday Fictioneers here, hosted by the gracious Rochelle Wisoff-Fields.
**Trade of Change **
They crowded the tight space. Spread out before them were scores of jewelry, sunglasses, and something the man called DVD’s. People pushed and shoved to touch and feel the items.
Darlene picked up a pair of sunglasses, turned them over in her hand. “How much?”
“How much ya got?” The greasy guy flashed a golden tooth smile and looked her over.
A siren rang out. Everyone scattered. Darlene turned and ran. Glancing over her shoulder she saw the police cuff the golden tooth man. It was illegal to sell items from the dead yesteryear. She clutched her new sunglasses tightly.
100 words
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Since I do so much to music I thought I’d share a little black market shopping inspiration with you.
Can you imagine a future where the things we take for granted today would be considered illegal or contraband? It’s not beyond the realm of possibilities.
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To read more great stories by talented writers based on this photo prompt, click the link… 
To join the group and write your 100 Words, check out the Friday Fictioneers blog and visit… Rochelle…
Image copyrighted by Ted Strutz
~oOo~
Reminder: this blog will be relocating to a self-hosted site at some point near the end of the year. I hope you’ll follow us to the new digs. My fabulous designer, Laird Sapir, is working her tail off for us. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with.
Debra Kristi's Blog 
‘Dead yesteryear’ – great concept. Enjoyed this.
Thank you, Sandra. I’m so glad you liked it. Thanks for stopping by.
Great story, Debra! Being a Fringe fan, especially this final season, yes I can imagine a world like this. Love your song choice! I’ve never heard it before, and was surprised at how it just kind of pulled me in. Think I’m adding it to my Spotify playlist. 🙂
Oh yeah, this season especially. How easy would it be to slip into a total big brother or watcher controlled state? Too easy, I’m afraid. Glad I could share a new song with you. I’ve always like this treatment in particular.
I enjoyed your story, Debra – great concept to work with. And I’m a Fringe fan, too. 🙂 Welcome to the Fictioneering gang. 🙂
Thanks, Joanna. Glad to be here. It’s always great to meet another writer and Fringe fan. It’s funny, I hadn’t even considered this season of Fringe until Kristy mentioned it. But I can really see the influence now. Ha!
Hi Debra,
So glad you listened to Ted and jumped in. I enjoyed the subtlety of your piece, the clues that let us know this is set in a bleak future. You set the tone without bashing us over the head with it. I’m looking forward to reading more of you in the near and not so bleak future.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you for the warm welcome. I’m glad I joined in as well. I really appreciate the compliment on my short piece. Thank you. I had fun and look forward to more in the future.
Well done, Debra. You certainly nailed that one nicely. Could be a lot more to come from this scenario.
Thank you so much! Indeed, this lends itself to a lot of possibilities. May need to file that thought away. Thanks for stopping in!
Well, that’s such a huge possibility coming on the world. Glad you wrote this and fun too…Welcome aboard!
Hmm. Yes, a scary one. Thank you, Charles. I appreciate you stopping in and welcoming me. 🙂
I love this! Very visual and intriguing. I’d suggest connecting the sentences in the last paragraph somehow…to keep the flow. 😉
Thank, Krystal. I’ll take a look at that. I love that you took the time to critique my little story. 😀
Cool story! It takes skill to work in a twist like that in so few words. Oh yeah, I can easily imagine a future like that. 1984, anyone?
1984 may have come and gone, but the concept hangs over our heads. It could still happen. It’s a frightening thought. Thank you for your thoughtful words. It helps to know I am developing my skills as I’d hoped to be.
Hey! You joined the gang! I was one of the originals and named the group. Since I love photography, I do my own thing some Fridays.
Well done Debra! The future’s so bleak, who needs shades?
I did! I did! A few little bird told me they preferred my stories to my other blogs, so… here it is! I love writing this stuff, too! And I can share my writer’s voice this way. It’s a win, win. I thought you used to be in the Madison Wood gang. I also noticed you’d started writing based on your own pictures. I get that. You take some lovely pictures.
Yep. Not enough word to cover what the sky looks like. But maybe the government doesn’t want them hiding their eyes for other reasons. So many possibilities.
Thanks Debra!
You’re welcome.
That music is chilling. Love the word ‘yesteryear’.
I thought so too. Her rendition brings goosebumps to the surface, unlike the original version. Thanks for the compliment. 🙂
This is a great piece, Debra. Loved it. Flash fiction isn’t something I’ve really tried before, but it fascinates me. Not that I need more stuff to do… lol. But, I think shorter pieces challenge us differently as writers, and it might be good to flex those less developed muscles from time to time. Thanks for the link! I’m going to check it out.
I agree with you completely. I find it much easier to write something at 300 to 500 words than 100. This posses a unique challenge. But I also like the nice quick read and blog size. It’s a win on multiple levels. I hope you decide to join in. I really appreciate the compliment. Thank you.
I’m following the blog now, and will probably lurk for a while, until inspiration suddenly strikes, and I can’t stop myself from giving it a try. LOL
May inspiration strike you sooner rather than later. 😉
I really enjoyed this piece. Like others have said, it feels like a snippet of a larger work. The song is absolutely haunting.
Thanks so much. I appreciate you taking the time to stop in. I hadn’t thought about it becoming a larger piece, but I always keep an open mind. You never know where that next story may come from.
Interesting to see if she ever gets to wear her contraband shades. Good story.
Yes, I wonder if she will. Thanks so much for stopping in and reading, V.B. I appreciate the compliment. I really enjoyed your story, “Oozin’ Liquid Rubies.”
Love the “dead yesteryear” also and the whole feel of the story. It makes me want to keep reading to find out more about this world.
Ah, thanks bunches. That means a lot to me. I enjoyed the magic of your story as well.
I love this piece of fiction, and hope you continue. I loved the song, and I recognized so well. But it is a cover… Seems to be Tears for Fears.
You are spot on about the song. The original is by Tears for Fears, but I find this version much more suited to the feeling of the piece. I hope to stay with Friday fictioneers, schedule allowing. Thanks for stopping in, Bjorn.
Hi Debra,
I’m glad you decided to join us. Enjoyed your story and hope to read more from you. Thanks for stopping by mine.
Ah, yes. Your piece made me chuckle. Thanks for that, Russell. And thank you for the welcome. I’m so pleased you enjoyed my story.
Hi Debra,
Nice first story. Welcome and enjoy the ride. This seems lilke some kind of harsh futureworld, very creepy! I mistyped my link in the list. Here’s the real deal: http://bridgesareforburning.wordpresss.com Ron
Hi Ron! I’ve tried all your links but can’t get them to work. Same goes for this one. 😦 I’d like to read your story. You’re right, it is a bleak and harsh future world. I really appreciate your visit and comments.
Welcome, Debra. I liked the “dead yesteryear”, too. The golden tooth adds to the vendors general sleaziness. 🙂
So cool. Thank you, Janet. I’m pleased that you could stop in and I appreciate your comments.
What a great story, Debra! There is so much going on there. There seem to be so many things today that are leading us toward 1984 and Brave New World behaviors. We need to be alert, don’t you think? Anyway, loved your story.
Thanks, Diana. Like Rich (below) points out, there are many things that we used to think were alright that are now illegal (meds/smokes). But I sometimes fear a world heading in a deeper, darker direction than that. It’s like the saying, “Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Great story, Debra. You say so much in so few words. I’ve experimented with 55 Fiction, but perhaps need to try out the 100 word variety. (Anything more seems too intimidating!)
Wow. 55 Fiction. As in only 55 words? Now that has to be hard! I thought 100 words would be hard. You barely get started and you are done at 55. That takes talent. I wouldn’t mind a slightly longer flash, but I enjoyed this challenge. Maybe you’ll feel the urge to jump in at some point??? 😉
Very well done, i really like your take. Thanks so much for stopping by mine
Glad you liked it. I enjoyed yours as well. It was my pleasure to stop by your blog, you’re most welcome.
This is a very different take on the prompt!
Glad to have you onboard! I too would like to thank Ted for urging you, or we might have missed out on your writings and music!
Nice song too!
I might need a lot of pushing, but that’s only the shy introvert in me. Ted’s pretty good at pulling people out though. 😀 Thank you for your kind words, they mean a lot to me.
supply and demand, good one.
Supply and demand is the driving force behind so many things, isn’t it?
i think if we look hard enough, we’ll find lots of things that used to be legal and now are not. also, last sentence, change “tight” to “tightly.”
You’re right. We probably don’t have to look that hard. If we skip over the obvious years of prohibition and look a little further, doctors used to prescribe things as cures that today are known to be very dangerous and unsafe drugs. Again, you’re right about that last change. Thank you, Rich. 🙂
Yea! You made it… and in such fine fashion… start of a book??? I knew it was going to be special when I read ‘something called DVDs’.
My goodness! What are you doing taking the time to read blogs when you are in the beautiful state of Hawaii? I can guarantee you my husband won’t allow me such liberties when I get there. LOL. Now see what you did? 😀 I don’t know if this is the start of a new book. Maybe. I’ll have to let that idea simmer for a little while.
I’m working, and trying to get caught up on all these stories… I really liked yours.
Thanks, Ted. I hope you’re getting some fun in now. Hawaii, beaches, sunshine…
Dear Debra,
Thank you for your story and the song to accompany it. The dead yesteryear sent chills through me. Loved your imaginative take on the photo. The future will be far stranger than we can ever grasp and your story captured an image from those times yet to be. Well done.
Aloha,
Doug
Thanks so much, Doug. That’s a future I hope to never see. 😀 Although I didn’t mind bringing it to life for a short while. Thank you for your kind words and for your visit.
Oh, not at all beyond comprehension.
Scott
Mine: http://kindredspirit23.wordpress.com/2012/11/02/friday-fictioneers-6/
Sadly, I agree with you. Sometimes I wish I was more naive, and then I slap myself and find myself happy to be me.
You should be happy to be you. 🙂
I am. Thanks, Scott.
Good! My post for tomorrow is about bullying. I know that’s not what’s being talked about here, but self-image is so important and the need to be happy with who you are! Keep writing. It suits you well.
Scott
Bullying. A tough, but important topic. My son with through a little bit of that and a friend of mine wrote a really nice piece on it. I look forward to what you have to say. I agree with you, everyday everyone should remind themselves and everyone around them that is is more than alright to be yourself. It is the most amazing thing you can do. It is beautiful and a gift to the world.
Oh, that line needs to be immortalized onto a plaque and placed all over:
“everyday everyone should remind themselves and everyone around them that is is more than alright to be yourself.”
Wow! What a different world we would live in.
Scott
Oh, I just immortalized your saying. I placed it on my email signature with acknowledgment to your name. I hope that is okay; I will remove it if you wish.
Scott
Nah, that’s cool. I’m glad you liked it.
HI Debra ~ Welcome to FFictioneers. Thanks for joining us per Ted’s persuasion. Nice first story…chilling and scary. One World Order? I wonder…if DVD’s are dinosaurs … why do people still need sunglasses? I would think they’d have eye implants by then. I know this world is predicted, but glad I won’t be around to see it. Perhaps the “Rapture” will occur before then.
Glad to be here. Thanks so much, Lora. I’m thinking DVD’s are a bit of a dinosaur. I’m not sure what she’s going to use the sunglasses for yet, but I think only the privileged get the eye implants. You know how it is. And the sun will only continue to burn brighter before it burns out.
I will be okay if DVDs become dinosaurs as long as Blu-ray becomes just as cheap and that computers are retro-fitted to use DVDs for a long time to come.
Scott
I’m sure we will use something much smaller than DVD’s. Do you remember the first floppy discs? How big were those babies?
Oh yes, and they didn’t hold much comparatively.
Precisely. Now thing what tomorrow will bring in comparison.
Nice unique tale which travels a long way in a few words. I have a feeling that as long ago as it might have been “dead yesterday” is still sometime after I was born, so I’m clutching those glasses for dear life!
😀 Indeed. We might be a staggering old people in this tale, if we ARE at all. But that’s alright, I won’t hold your age against you. 😉
Welcome to Friday Fictioneers Debra, I hope you enjoy it as much as I have in the short time I’ve been here. I loved your story, well crafted. I hope she gets to enjoy the illicit pleasure of the glasses. Thanks for stopping by mine too.
I hope she does too. Maybe I’ll find out at some point in the future. Thanks for the welcome, Anne. I look forward to future flash fictions.
Awesome job.
Thanks so much, Shirley!
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Shades of Bradbury … my all-time favorite author. He would have loved this premise. So do I. More, please!
Thanks. I never know where the flash is going to take me. I liked yours as well. Nicely done. I’ll stop by a little later and leave my comment. I totally didn’t catch the “Ray” meaning the first time I read it. I like when a piece surprises me.
It certainly isn’t beyond the realm of imagining that we might find ourselves in this state, you only have to remember the book burnings in Russia a little over a century ago to realise we are never too far from the police state. Well done and nice to meet you too – thanks for stopping by mine and sorry I’ve taken so long to respond and reciprocate 🙂