PHOTO PROMPT © Liz Young
The shimmer caught her eye. At first Naledi thought it was a bottle, dumped by the storm. She let go of Mother’s hand and leaped over a broken door to get a closer look. She squealed, her hand flew to her mouth. She peeked behind her, Mother dabbed her eyes and Father rubbed her back.
She poked the shiny red stone, the gold necklace twisting around it. The storm fairies brought it here! Naledi clutched it to her chest. She knew exactly where to hide it: in her jewellery box Father gave her on her birthday.
96 words
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At this very moment Cyclone Dineo has hit Mozambique. What was first a tropical storm was upgraded to a full cyclone status in the last twenty four hours. It’s effects will be felt as far as South Africa and Botswana, where I live. Although it will have weakened and only heavy rainfall is expected in the northernmost parts such as the Okavango delta. It is quite unusual to have cyclones in Southern Africa, perhaps global warming is to blame. The last cyclone I remember personally experiencing was over a decade ago in Cape Town, but that was considered an exception rather than the norm.
This week’s flash fiction is inspired by Cyclone Dineo. Praying and hoping the destruction is minimal and no loss of life will occur in my neighbouring countries.
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Thanks to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers. Why not give it a try? Read more flash fiction here.
Thanks for connecting the fiction to fact.
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Thank you James, and you’re welcome! Guess it’s the journalist in me.
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Hoping the storm fairies are gentle with you
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Me too! We’re expecting only heavy rainfall and thunderstorms by the time the storm reaches Botswana. So I think we’ll be okay.
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Good story, stay safe.
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Gruesome discovery! Hope nothing similar occurs in real life. Stay safe.
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I hadn’t heard about this cyclose – hope there isn’t too much damage.
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Thanks for reading Liz, and for the unique photo prompt! We’ll have to wait and see. It literally is just making landfall now, Mozambique bearing the brunt of it. There are live tweets going if you want to follow.
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Dear Fatima,
Nicely done. Stay safe.
Shalom,
Rocelle
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Thank you, Rochelle!
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Oh dear… I’ve a friend on her way home to Botswana as we speak!
Stay safe, Fatima. Oh… and good story! 😉
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I hope your friend arrives safely too. Thanks Dale!
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So do I… mind you, she was grounded at Heathrow at our last chat..
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And I think she’ll stay grounded till Friday at least by the look of things.
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Oh my…
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Love it!
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Thank you ! 🙂
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Such a deep meaning behind this story. I pray for minimal damage.
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Thanks for taking time to read my fiction. And for your prayers too 🙂
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Thinking of you in the storms. We had a nasty storm here yesterday and more rain, lightening and thunder now. The clouds yesterday had a real sinister quality. We had a blackout,but fortunately lights came back on before it went dark.
Hope your storm clears without too much damage.
xx Rowena
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I gleaned from your blog that you stay in Tasmania? What a beautiful place. I think Botswana got the least impact only threat of flash floods but on alert. Thank you Rowena!
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I live in Greater Sydney but we’ve just spent 3 weeks in Tasmania and there was so much to share that I still haven’t arrived home on the blog. I think I’ve been back 3 weeks.
Hope the floods settle down quickly.
xx Rowena
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That was great and the background helped immensely. I hope all goes well.
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Thank you Michael. The storm has lessened to heavy rains. If news reports are reliable, Mozambique has had some structural damage and a few deaths. Not much, but one life lost is always one too many. We’re okay in Botswana.
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Hope you and your dear ones are well, Fatima.
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Thank you for reading and for your well wishes! We are okay, just more rain than usual. But it comes after a dreadful drought, so it’s welcome too. Prayers for Mozambique which was devastated by the storm.
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It is the global warming. We have plenty of Cyclones here in Bangladesh. Nasty things. Nice story though.
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Well if global warming is to blame, then it looks like we are set for more bad weather as it gets worse over the years. Thank you Tamal. 🙂
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