Splish Splash (FF)

FF - Flash Fiction

copyright - C.E. Ayr

Last Sunday I went up to New York to visit my cousin Kevin, and as always we spent most of the time talking about how to contend with the relentless global warming. Just as we do in Philadelphia, when the heat gets unbearable New Yorkers splash around in any of the multiple bodies of water surrounding the city.

Monday morning it was so hot we joined thousands of New Yorkers and dove into New York Harbor.  The water was blessedly cool and just as I surfaced I saw what looked like a majestic crown also surfacing above the waters.

"Lady Liberty too?"  I asked.

"Ahh shit," bellowed Kevin, "there goes the day and every play on Broadway as well."

"But why?"

"It's Midtown's day to towel dry her."

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I'm pleased to present this cautionary tale about climate change.  If we're not careful about the environment, we'll all be required to towel down the iconic statues in every city where we live, and frankly I don't feel like getting that up close and personal with Rocky.

The other Friday Fictioneers have their own takes on the picture prompt above and you can check them out by clicking here.  If you don't do it, you're all wet!

I hate that joke.  I deserve to be drying Lady Liberty's private parts.

Taking Liberties with Ms. Liberty

"Such an impressive sight, Dad, the Statue of Liberty!" said Brandon. "I'll bet the last time we were here, I was five years old."

"I guess that's about right, Brandon," I moaned. "I dunno, I'm so damn nauseous!"

"Oh, Dad, your  impossible tendency to sea sickness!  Why didn't you wear the patch?"

"Who'd think I'd need it for the boat ride to Liberty Island?  Ooooohhhh, if only that big fat guy would stop eating that meat ball sandwich!" 

"Come on, Dad!  This is a 20 minute boat ride.  What about our ancestors who had to journey weeks and months by ship to get here?"

"If I'd been one of our ancestors, Brandon," I gasped, pressure rising steadily in my esophagus, "right now you and I'd be speaking  in some language with not enough vowels and that bright red Phillies cap you've got on?

"Yes?"

"Would probably get us shot!"

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Fortunately we live today in a land where freedom means you don't get shot for wearing a Philadelphia Phillies baseball cap, even if you're in New York City.  That's not exactly what the Statue of Liberty truly symbolizes, but it's a secondary theme I guess in this, my weekly contribution to the fabulous flying Friday Fictioneers. 

I won't comment on the word count on my post based on the picture prompt above except to say it's excessive, but excessive in the cause of freedom at least.  I'm sure many of the other Fictioneers, whose works are available by clicking here, have hopefully curbed my enthusiasm for verbal excess.

If you don't mind now, I'm gonna be sick!   See you next week.