In the ghetto the F/O/R/K people shuffle along, grey heads bowed, orange jumpsuits stained with the muck and mire of persisting. I wonder how they persist? I wonder why? Once your assessment comes back and it places you in the Feasible-Online-Risk-Klass, national security takes over and it’s cut and dried – you get tagged and all bets are off. Finito. The ghetto’s the only option. It’s a fascinating spectacle to come by and watch if you want to get a break from the office. I have lunch here sometimes, watch them salivate and go round and round. Superiority makes me happy.
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This piece of flash fiction was written for Friday Fictioneers: a story in 100 words prompted by a picture that Rochelle Wisoff-Fields posts every Wednesday. Here’s the link to the stories and this week’s picture is below, copyright Marie Gail Stratford.
Sweet FA by Blake 
Oh! You Pretty Things!
You had me with the title, of course, and then the Orwellian nature of your disturbing little tale made good on the promise.
(Incidentally, did you know that Diamond Dogs was originally conceived as a musical version of 1984, but Orwell’s widow wouldn’t give Bowie the go-ahead?)
Thanks, if you borrow a classic lyric for a title then there’s an obligation to deliver, hey. So, I’m glad I didn’t flunk it completely. Yes, I did know about 1984. Probably for the best it fell through – great pop music tends to get a bit creaky under the weight of too much concept. Would hate for Rebel Rebel to have been spoiled. Btw have you heard this? Once you get passed the dead air it’s pretty cool – https://soundcloud.com/brainpicker/david-bowie-ziggy-stardust-vocal-track
Groovy
Hmm…I agree with Helena. Well written story.
I agree with Helena that this has all the elements of a great Orwellian story, especially the reveling in superiority and making sure the FORKs know it.
What a meany-pants. Superiority make me happy while sitting there eating food and watching F/O/R/K people lumber around in orange jumpsuits! Well told.
Definitely a meany pants! The quote about happiness in superiority seemed like it could become a bit sinister to me, so I thought I’d let it take that route.
Very well told. Gave a haunting view.
That’s good. Haunting is the kind of feel I was going for 🙂
Blake, Creative version of Fork People. Very descriptive and well written. 🙂 —Susan
Thanks, Susan. I did struggle with the concept of Fork People for a while 🙂
And now something completely different! Well done.
“Completely different” – that’s nice 😉
Dear Sue,
This is one that begs to be read twice. Intriguing.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks Rochelle, it’s always nice if a story generates a 2nd reading – assuming, of course, it isn’t made necessary because the 1st reading descended into incomprehension 🙂
Intriguing story. The David Bowie reference apart, was there a nod to the X-Men’s mutants (http://marvel.com/universe/Mutants) here?
No, it wasn’t a deliberate reference to the mutant phenomenon; rather, it was intended to bring to mind any time and place when people have been rounded up and ghettoised throughout history (or today). But Marvel has explicitly linked the idea of mutant persecution with real life (Magneto’s powers first manifesting at the gates of a concentration camp, for instance), so it’s a completely valid point. Also, I’ve been a fan of Marvel comics since I was a kid 🙂