Sunday Scribblings "Human or Humanity"

The prompt over at Sunday Scribblings is human… or if you like, you could use “humanity.”

Finality

I crest a ridge under a moonless night and am nearly blinded by the fires.
Whole neighborhoods are in flames, roiling pyres in various shades of oranges and yellows. It is hell on Earth. Created by our own hands, sponsored by Pepsico and brought to you with limited commercial interruption.
I strip myself from the sweaty chemical gear, the heat drying my moist skin instantly. I'm nude as the day I came in and it feels good.
I dig into my ruck, pull out some tins, the Beluga caviar, the Petrossian pate and the duck confit, toss open a red-checkered tablecloth. I arrange a picnic lunch as black soot falls like snowflakes across the landscape. Next to the bottle of Petrus Pomerol merlot – yes, the ’99 – I place a Glock 30 and two extra clips of .45-caliber ACP.
Just in case.
It’s the end of the world as we know it, humanity’s final hurrah, and I just want to enjoy it in peace and quiet.

Comments

Donna said…
The man knows from wine, caviar, pate, foie gras, and guns. Stop me if I've said this before - I think I'm in love! :)

Fabulous piece! Loved it!
quin browne said…
sponsered by pepsico... one of my favourite things you've written, my friend.
Dee Martin said…
I like this - especially the peace and quiet.
Jeeves said…
Like this....Finality
murat11 said…
Of course, the red-checkered tablecloth. My demented brain, I see Pepsico and fires and I'm thinking of Michael Jackson's hair on fire once again - wasn't that the beginning of the end? A fine piece: as compact and fully loaded as that ruck - and the Glock.
irene said…
Good microfictional write. The picnic with gourmet fare complete red checked tablecloth is a hoot against the burning pyres
cause if i'm at an mj concert? it can't be good. :)
Daily Panic said…
I think this is how I felt when I woke up this morning!
"It’s the end of the world as we know it, humanity’s final hurrah, and I just want to enjoy it in peace and quiet."

truly gritty!
Anonymous said…
Oooh, this is good, really good! I can see it, I can feel it. I think I'm going to like reading here! :-)
Thom, I love how some of these stories of yours are like running a quarter mile drag race. Pin your ass to the seat back, cheeks folding over your ears. It's over in 10.6 seconds, but man, that was a hell of a ride!

Naked picnicking under the fallout?! You are ever the outdoorsman, my man!
Tammie Lee said…
Wonderful read. The details and images you paint with words take me there.
Cathryn said…
Wow. My brain's in flames.

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