Chicken Little

Sia tapped an unsuspecting puddle with her toe. Startled it rippled away, gently distorting the realities reflected on its surface.

The ripples transformed her brother, straining to peer into the dark general store, to a boy scavenging after Christmas. Barren trees became crumbling sticks, not even good for fire.

The sky was falling.

“Something’s wrong.”

Marta’s back spasmed and her lungs burned as she coughed. Thin strings of blood stretched from her lips to the palm of her hand.

Only her son caught sight of the panic in Marta’s eyes.

“Nothing’s wrong Sia. Stop daydreaming and come on.”

PHOTO PROMPT © Jean L. Hays

Word Count: 98
For Friday Fictioneers courtesy of Rochelle Wisoff Fields. Thank you as always.

24 responses to “Chicken Little”

  1. Marta coughing blood, Sia day dreaming of a dire future. A sad story. Nicely told.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It appears bleak! Thank you so much for reading

      Like

  2. Sia perhaps has a skill of premonition of dark times ahead. Nice one.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Good writing …

    gramswisewords.blogspot.com

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Sia appears to have a gift – not that it is pleasant to foresee bad times…
    Well done, Kelley!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. This is descriptively written, and rather enigmatic. It would be possible to write off Sia’s thoughts as those of someone always seeing disaster – the Chicken Little of the title who expects the sky to fall in – except that Sia’s brother saw panic in Marta’s eyes. Perhaps you are contrasting a real emergency where Marta should be obtaining medical help with Sia’s imagined disasters?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I think that’s part of the mystery here. We don’t know whether or not Sia’s brother also saw the blood in Marta’s hand or only the panic in her eyes. Maybe he believes Marta is just worried that Sia’s over active imagination will get the best of her. Of course, what if Sia isn’t imagining? Thanks for reading Penny

      Like

  6. Maybe Sia’s foresight will buy them enough time to change the future she sees.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Maybe, if anyone takes her seriously. One can hope. Thanks for reading Violet

      Like

  7. That’s as graphic a description of a haemhorrage as I’ve read in a while. Thankfully it’s some while since I had lunch.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m glad I didn’t ruin lunch! Thank you for reading

      Like

    1. An illusion or the truth? Thanks for reading

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  8. Doesn’t sound like good things are coming their way.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Not at all! Thank you for reading

      Like

  9. Wonderfully thought provoking little tale. Well done.

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

    Liked by 1 person

  10. That was a very creative interpretation of the picture.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Great story, Kelley! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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