PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz
Time traveling tourist Glinn Tanning staggered into the restaurant dressed in surplus fatigues and dragging a canvas rucksack in his right hand. It contained a couple of canisters of pepper spray and the makings of several Molotov cocktails.
“Where are the protesters?” he complained to the bored looking woman behind the counter.
“We’re closing soon,” she said. “Didn’t you see the sign?”
“Where is everyone? Isn’t this December 1st?”
“It’s the last day in January,” she said. “You’re late.”
He checked his wrist-mounted chromotron. “Damn. Eight years late. I knew I should have had this thing adjusted before I left.
It’s Wednesday and once again time to participate in Rochelle Wisoff-Fields’ 7 February 2025 edition of Friday Fictioneers. The idea is to use the image above as the prompt to write a poem or short story no more than 100 words long. My word count is exactly 100.
I quick Google search for “Icon Grill” let me to this story of the establishment having closed its doors on the last day of January 2017 after 19 years in business.
The same story said:
The restaurant was well known for its marquee on 5th Avenue. One of its most famous posts came after the WTO demonstrations when the marquee read, “Thanks, it’s been a riot.”
I looked up “WTO demonstrations” can came up with the 1999 Seattle World Trade Organization riots sometimes called the “Battle of Seattle.”
Cover image for the anthology, “Shoot the Devil 3: Militia of Martyrs.”
I couldn’t figure out a way to include the active riots (or protests depending on your politics) in 100 words, so I settled for one of my old tropes, the time traveling tourist. Imagine you’re hobby is visiting famous riots throughout history and participating in the carnage, then disappearing back to your present before having to suffer any of the consequences (like getting hurt or arrested).
My friend was aiming for December 1999 but landed in January 2017.
To read other tales based on the prompt, visit inlinkz.
Last Friday, I participated in a podcast promoting the anthology Shoot the Devil 3: Martyr’s Militia. My short story “The Book of Names” appears in its pages.
You can watch the ninety minute conversation between me and the other authors on https://www.youtube.com/live/qIGZAddSpk4, and if so, please leave a like and if you are so inclined, subscribe.
A number of my stories are due to appear (more or less) soon and I’ll keep you posted. Yes, I’m still writing.
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Must have been a shock to end up way out of time 🙂
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It was his own fault.
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A time traveler, who doesn’t understand the maintenance of his key tool.
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He’s an anarchist from a world where disorder and freedom of expression have been submerged until the public’s need for security and safety. He has the same relationship with his time travel device as most people have with their car or smartphone.
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It pays to keep up with maintenance!
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It sure does. Thanks, Clare.
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he came late. that was a good thing.
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He doesn’t think so. Thanks.
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I hate it when that happens!
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I know, right?
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That sure gave me a smile and a chuckle. Hate it when transportation is late (A common fixture in my life these days).
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I’m glad you liked it, Bon.
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Dear James,
There’s nothing wore than your watch being eight years slow.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very true. Thanks.
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Hehehe! You gotta keep your equipment up to date.
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He’s not very diligent.
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That reminds me ….. I need a new battery in my wrist-mounted chromotron.
Fun read, James.
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Thanks, Nancy.
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I love a good time traveling story.
Very enjoyable and funny to boot!
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Thank you, Dawn.
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I enjoyed the story, but I especially enjoyed the synopsis of how it came to be. Thank you.
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Thanks Violet and you’re welcome.
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