FFfAW — Dropping Out

Fandango

img_2171Laura sat in her car growing impatient. She hated her new job. She hated this commute to the mainland from the island where she and Jonathan bought a house five years ago. She hated having to wait in a long line of vehicles for the ferry that was almost always running late.

Jonathan said it was their chance to get away from the hustle bustle of the city. He could work from home — telecommuting, he called it — and she could work on her novel. It would be peaceful and serene, he told her.

And for a while it was. But then Jonathan started to change. He grew restless. He got angry at politicians and at the government. He started believing all these conspiracy theories. He started acting paranoid and went out and bought a handgun and a rifle. He started talking about living off grid. They were starting to argue a lot.

A month ago she woke up and saw a note on the kitchen table. It simply said, “I’m dropping out.”

(174 words)

Written for this week’s Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers from Priceless Joy. Photo credit: Ted Strutz.

23 thoughts on “FFfAW — Dropping Out”

  2. James Pyles August 14, 2018 / 6:47 am

    Actually, given the current political climate, I can imagine people on both sides of the aisle wanting to live off of the grid.

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    • Fandango August 14, 2018 / 7:51 am

      I’ve thought about it. But then I’d have to give up my blog. And then who would I preach to? As it is, my wife ignores my rants.

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      • James Pyles August 14, 2018 / 8:00 am

        Actually, there are various levels of living “off the grid” which would allow for internet connectivity, usually via satelite. It doesn’t always mean living in some shack in the middle of nowhere like the Unibomber. Here are three options.

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        • Fandango August 14, 2018 / 9:09 am

          Thanks. An informative article. Maybe, rather than going off grid, I just need to stop watching the cable news networks, reading my iPhone’s newsfeed, and keeping up with what’s going on in Trumpistan.

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          • Marleen August 14, 2018 / 12:00 pm

            Definitely get the notes/newsfeed off your phone. I couldn’t stand that, the hit of nerves and distraction.

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  5. Priceless Joy August 14, 2018 / 12:41 pm

    Sad ending! Well, hopefully, she will move to the mainland where she doesn’t have to commute so far to go to work and can start her life anew. Great story!

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  8. abhiray59 August 14, 2018 / 9:56 pm

    Dreams go sour. Plans go awry. Nice plot.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Fandango August 14, 2018 / 9:58 pm

      Thanks. Yes, dreams and the best laid plans oft go awry.

      Like

      Reply
  9. leigha66 August 17, 2018 / 5:23 am

    Laura needs to get back to the city and stay it sounds like. Good story.

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  10. michael1148humphris August 20, 2018 / 12:55 pm

    He sounds to have become unstable, I fear for them both. Sharp writing

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