Red flakes fall like leaves from the body of the truck. Rust creeps relentlessly over the old metal. The flag is still bright: he replaces it with a new one as often as he can, tries to make sure the colours are vibrant, the white pure, the red still like blood and not pink.
He buys flag after flag, but the truck is still falling apart. Putting a new flag on it won’t make it run. He knows this – he has to. But he won’t accept it.
“The truck will run again soon,” he says. “It used to be able to haul a mountain and handle like a cloud.”
This is a lie – perhaps he knows this. Perhaps it’s a lie he’s told so many times it has become a memory.
The truck is stuck, engine dead, wheels unable to turn.
Deep down, he knows it will never run again.
Word Count: 150
This is for Flash Fiction for the Aspiring Writer. Thanks to Priceless Joy for running the challenge and Mike Vore for providing the prompt photo!
“Perhaps it is a lie that he’s told so many times it has become a memory.” Favorite Line!!!! Love ❤️.
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Thank you!
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Ahhh, that’s sweet! He wants to believe in the old truck again. I love the way he keeps a new flag on it. Great story J.A.!
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Thank you!
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“Perhaps it’s a lie he’s told so many times it has become a memory” is my favorite line, too! Along with that, this whole piece is as thought-provoking and sentimental as it is heartbreaking. Ooh, the lies we tell ourselves; they can stop us from moving forward. Awesome job with the prompt!
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Thank you!
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Yeah, maybe its time to buy a new truck huh. I get the metaphor 🙂
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I’d certainly say a new truck is called for. Thanks for commenting!
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This is so sad, you describe well the effects of age on him and his truck.
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Thank you!
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Funny, your take is about the truck slowly dying, mine has it coming back to life! I’m sure there must be some psychology there 😉
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Probably. Thanks for commenting!
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Love the parallel to the autumn season, life ending as the truck reaches it’s winter months! Nicely done.
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Thank you!
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Sometimes all we have is our beliefs to keep this going. Love this story
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There’s something about this photo that just screams memories and loss, but juxtaposed with an apparently new American flag, also says hope. My story is pretty similar, also sad, but there there’s a small light at the end.
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There is definitely something about it. Thanks for commenting!
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I’m not sure if I admire him for his belief, or to be sympathetic for him clinging to the past. Either way, it was beautifully melancholy.
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Thank you!
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Memories don’t allows start in reality, but always seem that way
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Very true. Thanks for commenting!
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No harm in dreaming! A delightful little tale.
My story is called Daisy May
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Thank you!
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Oof…you’ve got such beautiful lines here. Sometimes, the hardest part is letting go, right?
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Indeed it is. Thank you!
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Items such as vehicle can like dream catchers or memory catchers, reminding us if good times, so much we don’t want to let them go, they’re like triggers. Wonderful take,
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Very true. Thank you!
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He’s hopeful and tenacious.
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Or stubborn. 😉 Thanks for commenting!
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