THE SHRUNKEN SPACE (word count: 183)
By Neel Anil Panicker
“What’s the matter?”
Angie was not her usual self ever since she had come from the other end of town.
She had squeezed herself into a corner, obstinately refusing the fervent pleas of her siblings to come and join them for a round of ‘catch me if you can’.
Come lunch time and Mary could no longer ignore.
Angie flatly refused to gorge on her favourite dish__ luscious large sized bites of fresh and leafy sparkling green water hyacinths.
“What’s the matter, my love,” the concerned mother inquired, “at least have some duckweeds. You need these vitamins to survive”
‘He will not us live, you, me, Nathan…all of us’.
Mary sidled up to her.
She had seen the boy…had come over once…the two were madly in love.”
“ Who is threatening you?”
‘Mother, he is new, is big, very big, keeps shouting, spitting, insulting, hissing…’
Mary knew.
She had heard stories about the new man in town__ the orange flamed one; the who strutted around with his menacing entourage__marking space, building walls, gobbling up all he saw.
She shivered even though the waters were warm.
(c)neelanilpanicker2017#fiction#shortstory#
Your Photo Prompt for Week #05 – 2017
Written for https://flashfictionforthepracticalpractitioner.wordpress.com/
FLASH FICTION FOR THE PURPOSEFUL PRACTITIONER- 2017 WEEK #05
FLASH FICTION FOR THE PURPOSEFUL PRACTITIONER- 2017
WEEK #05
neelwritesblog 
Interesting take! I wasn’t sure if they were fish until the last (great) line, then I re-read it and liked it even more the second time.
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Yes, the idea was to convey the harsh changed reality of today’s turbulent times. The fish served as an apt metaphor.
Thank you Joy for your very appreciation.
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Poor Angie, doesn’t seem like she’s made wise relationship choices. Or maybe she really didn’t have much choice as her Mom seems to reveal?
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Well done. Darn bully fish!
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