THE FLOOD

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Shopping carts in water--Janet M. Webb--2013

Photo Copyright: Janet M. Webb

Here we are for another week. Today we’re in virtual boats in a virtual flood. Our hostess for this weekly gathering is the talented and gracious author and artist, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. We’re the Friday Fictioneers group. Our challenge this week and every week is to write an original story with no more than 100 words not including the title. It’s supposed to have a beginning, middle, end, and follow the picture prompt for the week. This week’s prompt was a repeat requested by Kent Bonham and supplied by Janet M. Webb. Thanks, Kent and Janet.

To read the other stories by the group members, just click on the link given below, then on the little blue frog in the blue box.

The link for this week’s stories is as follows:

https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2016/07/27/29-july-2016/

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Word Count: 100 Words

THE FLOOD by P.S. Joshi

It had been dry for months. The ground got hard and cracked open. The river all but dried up.

Pa said, “It’ll rain soon. We’ll pray.”

We prayed and the rain came, but the ground was so hard it couldn’t soak in. It ran right into the river, and the river banks rose covering our land. We had to move to higher ground.

A smart man at an office there said, “Y’all are living on something called a flood plain.”

Pa said, “I just thought the land was rich. I didn’t know anythin’ about no flood plain.”

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41 thoughts on “THE FLOOD”

    • Thanks, Mike. Yes, many people don’t understand. Even though they may now, their homes are already there. Their ancestors didn’t understand. I’m pleased you liked the story, especially the voice. 🙂 — Suzanne

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  7. Dear Suzanne,

    There are a couple of places in the KC area that flood every time the Mighty MO rises. Yet, people insist on building and rebuilding their businesses in these places. Go figure. Good story.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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    • Thanks, Rochelle. I don’t understand it either except they own the land and think it’s worth the risk. I’ve read some insurance companies won’t sell them flood insurance anymore. I’m pleased you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne.

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  8. The joys of alluvial soil come with a few drawbacks too. I was amazed, in Cambridgeshire, at just how many developments were built on flood plains. An interesting take on the prompt, Suzanne.

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    • Thanks, Sandra. I know what you mean. I guess it’s hard to give up on your home. Their family members who built there might not have realized it was a flood plain. There are people who build near volcanoes also. Even worse. I’m pleased you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne

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    • Thanks, Yarnspinnerr. Hopefully, when people learn to recognize a floodplain they’ll know not to make their homes on one. The rich land is irresistible for many when they’re not aware of the danger. The farmers of Egypt learned long ago to take advantage of the Nile floodplain while living elsewhere. It’s made more difficult by overcrowding. I’m pleased you liked the story. —- Suzanne

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  12. Excellent narrative voice, Suzanne! You’ve harnessed a mountaineer perspective here perfectly. I can picture people Husband knows who would say/think this way…and, unfortunately, suffer at the hands of nature and government. Well done!

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    • Thanks, MW. I’m so pleased you liked my narrative voice. I tried not to make it too pronounced but to get the idea across. It’s often not that people aren’t intelligent. They’re just not educated for various reasons. It’s often not their fault. The son now knows and won’t make the same mistake. I was a teacher and feel strongly education is a valuable weapon. I hate to see people being taken advantage of instead of being helped by those with more education. I’m pleased you liked the story. —- Suzanne

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  13. A few years ago, i was going fishing down by the river and a man told me he was going to build a house in that area. I told him I’d lived here my entire life and had seen that area under water on more than one occasion. He built anyway. Things went well for about ten years, then he had water up to the door knob three times in a five year period. It’s best to build on the high ground.

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    • Thanks, Russell. What you say is true. I’ve found intelligence and education don’t always go along with common sense. It’s strange but true. It’s like the saying, “If common sense was common, everyone would have some.” I’m pleased you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne

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    • Thanks, Kent. My dad always bought homes on top of hills also. It’s a smart move. Droughts can be bad at times also if they’re like the Dust Bowl in the 30’s. Here in India the word “drought” is feared as it means a poor monsoon. That can be devastating. Although a flood can be also. Thanks for the great comment. I appreciate it. 🙂 — Suzanne

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      • My dad lived through the Dustbowl Years. He said the Depression didn’t hit Kansas as hard as it did other places, but the dust storms came up. He said a good rain would have healed the economy.

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  18. In truth, there probably should not be any houses built on flood plains at all, but people have short memories and developers thrive on greed. At least there will be “water views”. Nicely narrated.

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    • Thanks, Subroto. You’re right on both points. People forget and developers and builders are greedy. A large multi-storied building being built here suffered a collapse on the top floor–an illegal top floor. A number of workers died. Construction is being attempted on hills which have been called “the lungs of Pune”. I’m pleased you liked the story. —- Suzanne

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