Flash Fiction / Gods vs 21st Century

Flash Fiction: Eternal Lamps

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PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers. Other stories featuring the prompt can be found here.

The ferryman paused at his girlfriend’s kitchen table. His eternal lamps burned, waiting for him. At least they never went out. That could make travelling the Acheron bleak. He rocked a miniature trolley on the table with his fingers. Payment for travel to the underworld. Cheapskates. 

Charon sighed. Who wouldn’t he kill for a day off? But doing so would only add to his workload on his return. He went on strike once, and the backlog was horrendous. You can’t get good help. Overworked, no support, and crap pay. He might as well join a union and be human. 

~*~

Note:
This week’s story features Charon (Kharon), the ferryman from Greek mythology. According to custom, coins were placed on the deceased’s eyes. The coins were said to pay the ferryman for a boat ride into the underworld.

More stories featuring the gods in the 21st century can be found here.

29 comments

  6. I love it, Tannille! I keep intending to get into Greek and Roman mythology and even bought two books by Stephen Fry on the subject. Have you read them? They’re quite good. Need more train trips as I get much more reading done.
    Did you follow the death of the Queen much? I have been interested, intrigued etc although I’m a Republican. I think she’d accumulated a lot of wisdom with all she’s done, the vast number and variety of people she met and yet colonization is a huge issue. There’s also the juxtaposition of a life of dedicated service and her massive wealth. An intriguing subject.
    I entered the SBS Emerging Writers’ Competition and am very pleased with my effort which was about being an emerging poet, in particular doing poetry readings. I hadn’t realized my first poetry reading back in 1989 was only weeks before the July launch of Dead Poets Society, which was good to find out get some context.
    Anyway, I’d better keep moving.
    Best wishes,
    Rowena

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I haven’t read the Stephen Fry books. Wikipedia is a fantastic source. Train trips are good for reading.

      The queen’s passing was history in the making. Culture wise I found the ceremony fascinating. End of an era. The decadence amazed me. Like everything there are pros, cons and mixed feeling.

      Good luck with the competition. I think as writers the aim should be personal happiness with our effort. We can get caught up in how other people will judge our work. Wow 1989, where does the time go?

      Thanks R!

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      Reply

  11. Yep, there is no rest for him these days; with the pandemic and war. Business most be brisk for the old man so is he not satisfied in his work? What’s this about unions–wait till the boss hears his thoughts.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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