The opening sentence for the March 25th Flash Fiction for the Purposeful Practitioner: This week’s’ challenge is an apology for the difficulty of last week’s challenge… Please include the words “a blinding light” somewhere in your flash.
The Jump
I’d only been there for three days when I first attempted the ‘jump.’ They say in Calais that you never forget your first one, but I firmly believed my first would be my last. I figured that the others had just been unlucky, and those who were still there after a few months, very unlucky! I was different though; things had always gone well for me.
So as we set off towards the motorway on that chilly November evening, I felt strangely optimistic. When we began to smell the sea and hear the rumble of traffic after a couple of hours, I laughed and picked up the pace a little, but my friend, Zidane, merely raised his head slightly and said, ‘you won’t make it tonight, you know that don’t you?’
I opened my mouth to reply but decided against it. The poor chap had been there three months already – he was bound to feel defeatist.
A few minutes later the motorway appeared like a blinding light out of the darkness. I felt a rush of excitement as I half walked, half ran towards it.
That was six months ago. They say you never forget your first attempt.
Written for Flash Fiction for the Purposeful Practitioner: Week #13 – 2016
Flotsam and Jetsam 
Wow that was very good. I was caught up in your story. Enough mystery to keep me enthralled. Well done.
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Thanks very much, Michael 😀
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Excitement and mystery, perfect!
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Thanks, Mandibelle 🙂
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The voice is so confident, you had me fooled. I expected the narrator to make it… Nicely done!
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Thanks, Sonya! 🙂
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Thanks, Sonya 🙂
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I’m very curious as to what this jump is. Did she make it? I guess not if she is still there. Great story!
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It’s based on the so-called ‘Jump’ that the migrants who are staying in the ‘Jungle’ (the camp near Calais) attempt & it refers to them trying to get into the back of lorries so they can try to get to the UK. I’ve just written a short story on one of them. Sad situation..
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Thank you so much for explaining this to me. Incredible!
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This reminds me of teens who feel like they’re invincible and nothing bad can ever happen to them. There’s a dangerous mix of bravado and illusion at play. This situation isn’t quite the same, but your piece captures that sense of risk very well.
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Thanks, Amy. It was a great prompt!
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