Picture by Mon Lan from Google Maps
THAT HOLIDAY
© Kelvin M. Knight, 2019
The air crackled with excitement. Standing at the rear of the crowd about to surge forward, Peter tried to be a part of the crowd without feeling apart from the crowd.
Who was he kidding. He hated crowds. For decades, he’d prided himself on always standing apart from the crowd. He used to argue fiercely that he would even stand apart if he was caught up in an emergency situation and everyone was running for their lives. Until that day it happened to him.
When this crowd surged forward to touch that golden boulder, he tasted smoke, he heard screaming and choking, then he was stampeding to that emergency exit, his elbows sharper than everyone else’s.
Everyone else.
So many people didn’t make it, including children and pregnant mothers. His selfishness saddened him deeply, but what could he do? When it came to the crunch, he was human after all.
(150 words)
The above story was written in response to the What Pegman Saw prompt, which this week took us to:
You are warmly invited to the Inlinkz link party to read other globetrotting contributors’ stories inspired by this week’s prompt.
Thank you, as ever, Karen and Josh, for hosting this great weekly prompt, and for everyone who takes part in posting their stories, and those who support this community by reading and commenting.
Kelvin M. Knight 
I liked the action at the end – but I really feel like you gave us three “experiences” with Peter –
first – we feel him there and that ever-so-common self-talk about society and human effort:
“Peter tried to be a part of the crowd without feeling apart from the crowd” w
then the second part was his reality check and the thinking behind the thinking – the metacognition stuff that is so typical with your psychological character development – and then the third part – with tall the action – could feel the elbows with his exit –
and okay – maybe one more dimensions – his sad reflection.
– and the crazy part is that you did this in 150 words – well done
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There’s a lot going on in there. Especially like how he is undone by his fear. Great to see you, Kelvin!
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Dear Kelvin,
I understand Peter. This past weekend I went to a fair (All things British in fact) and it was so crowded I couldn’t see over the person ahead of me. It made me feel like I was suffocating. Needless to say I didn’t stay long. At any rate, you described the feeling very well. Good to read your writing again.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a strange story! Peter thinks he is different, but when push comes to shove, he isn’t. And yet, of course, he is different, because he has no fellow-feeling for the other victims. He’s sad, but more or less shrugs his shoulders. I suspect I haven’t grasped the point of the story…
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Oh dear Penny. You okay? You sound out of sorts. Hope you can reply to my prying response. 🙏
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Dear Kelvin,
I’m fine, thank you – and very glad to see a post from you! I’ve been rather intermittent with my own posting as I try to find an agent for my novel “The Owl on the Pergola”. All rejections so far, but then, nobody said it would be easy! And I’m encouraged because everyone who’s read it has enjoyed it!
With very best wishes – and with thanks for your thoughtfulness in asking after me
Penny
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I don’t know why the smoke and the deaths, but I do understand the feeling of being apart, and preferring it.
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